https://www.humantruth.info/liechtenstein.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
Liechtenstein Principality of Liechtenstein | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 21st best |
Capital | Vaduz |
Land Area | 160km21 |
Location | Europe |
Population | 37 9102 |
Life Expectancy | 83.26yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | $146 830 (2017)4 |
ISO3166-1 Codes | LI, LIE, 4385 |
Internet Domain | .li6 |
Currency | Franc (CHF)7 |
Telephone | +4238 |
“The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9
“With a history and monarchy as story-book as its melodious mountain scenery, rich old Liechtenstein puts a whole new perspective on `doing a country´. If Liechtenstein didn´t exist, someone would have invented it. A tiny mountain principality governed by an iron-willed monarch in the heart of 21st-century Europe, it certainly has novelty value. Only 25km long by 12km wide (at its broadest point) - just larger than Manhattan - Liechtenstein doesn´t have an international airport, and access from Switzerland is by local bus. However, the country is a rich banking state and, we are told, the world´s largest exporter of false teeth.
Most blaze through Liechtenstein en route to Switzerland, stopping only for snapshots of the castle and a souvenir passport stamp. That´s a shame, as the country has an overwhelming amount of natural beauty for its size. Strike out into the Alpine wilderness beyond Vaduz and, suddenly, this landlocked sliver of a micro-nation no longer seems quite so small.”
#economics #human_development #liechtenstein #wealth
UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
2 | Norway | 0.961 |
3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
... | ||
13= | Belgium | 0.937 |
13= | New Zealand | 0.937 |
15 | Canada | 0.936 |
16 | Liechtenstein | 0.935 |
17 | Luxembourg | 0.930 |
18 | UK | 0.929 |
19= | S. Korea | 0.925 |
19= | Japan | 0.925 |
Europe Avg | 0.87 | |
World Avg | 0.72 | |
q=191. |
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
4 | Luxembourg | $84 649 |
5 | Ireland | $76 169 |
6 | Switzerland | $66 933 |
7 | USA | $64 765 |
8 | Norway | $64 660 |
9 | Brunei | $64 490 |
10 | Hong Kong | $62 607 |
11 | UAE | $62 574 |
12 | Denmark | $60 365 |
Europe Avg | $40 512 | |
World Avg | $20 136 | |
q=193. |
Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
1 | Denmark | 27.0 |
2 | Norway | 29.9 |
3 | Sweden | 31.8 |
... | ||
18 | France | 42.9 |
19 | Spain | 44.5 |
20 | Slovenia | 45.6 |
21 | Liechtenstein | 46.2 |
22 | Italy | 47.2 |
23 | Portugal | 47.5 |
24 | Taiwan | 50.3 |
25 | Uruguay | 52.4 |
Europe Avg | 55.7 | |
World Avg | 88.6 | |
q=199. |
The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..
The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
Some statistical methods are not suited to populations and countries as small as Liechtenstein. For example, in 1977, there were 17 people unemployed plus one "partially unemployed", according to Lichtenstein's State Bank, and 12 jobs currently available13. If just a few people leave a workplace together, it affects national statistics - an unthinking statistician would then see Liechtenstein at the top their list for some warning-label or other. So if some statistics look extreme, it's probably the effect of an anomaly, and it's worth finding longer-term data or a specific explanation.
#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population:
Liechtenstein's population is predicted to rise to 41 553 by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.47. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
188 | Marshall Islands | 58 413 |
189 | St Kitts & Nevis | 52 441 |
190 | Monaco | 38 682 |
191 | Liechtenstein | 37 910 |
192 | San Marino | 33 785 |
193 | Palau | 17 907 |
194 | Tuvalu | 11 508 |
195 | Nauru | 10 670 |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
4 | Australia | 84.5 |
5 | Switzerland | 84.0 |
6 | Malta | 83.8 |
7 | S. Korea | 83.7 |
8 | Liechtenstein | 83.3 |
9 | Norway | 83.2 |
10 | Spain | 83.0 |
11 | Sweden | 83.0 |
12 | Italy | 82.9 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
90 | Netherlands | 1.49 |
91 | Uruguay | 1.48 |
92= | Latvia | 1.47 |
92= | Liechtenstein | 1.47 |
94 | Channel Islands | 1.47 |
95 | Germany | 1.46 |
96 | Guam | 2.55 |
97 | Cuba | 1.45 |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Migration:
Immigrants16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %16 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
4 | Liechtenstein | 65.1% |
5 | Monaco | 54.9% |
6 | Andorra | 53.3% |
7 | Bahrain | 48.4% |
8 | Singapore | 46.0% |
9 | Luxembourg | 45.3% |
10 | Oman | 44.7% |
11 | Hong Kong | 39.1% |
12 | Saudi Arabia | 37.0% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %17 | |
1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
... | ||
32 | Belarus | 18.4% |
33 | Eritrea | 18.0% |
34 | Croatia | 17.1% |
35 | Liechtenstein | 17.1% |
36 | Cyprus | 17.0% |
37 | Marshall Islands | 16.6% |
38 | Ireland | 16.1% |
39 | Belize | 16.1% |
World Avg | 11.5% | |
q=192. |
#china #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #Liechtenstein #liechtenstein_politics #mass_media #morals #politics #prejudice #russia #tolerance
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank18 | |
1 | Sweden | 6.1 |
2 | Denmark | 8.6 |
3 | Norway | 9.0 |
... | ||
41 | Argentina | 53.3 |
42 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 54.2 |
43 | Croatia | 54.9 |
44 | Liechtenstein | 54.9 |
45 | Dominica | 57.3 |
46 | Hungary | 58.5 |
Europe Avg | 47.37 | |
World Avg | 86.55 | |
q=199. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #overpopulation #parenting #population
Compared to Europe (2025)25 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank25 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
4 | San Marino | 37.2 |
5 | Norway | 39.9 |
6 | Gibraltar | 40.6 |
7 | Sweden | 43.3 |
8= | France | 44.1 |
9 | Iceland | 45.9 |
10 | Finland | 46.9 |
11 | Denmark | 47.2 |
12 | Switzerland | 48.5 |
13 | Netherlands | 50.2 |
Europe Avg | 86.87 | |
q=52. |
Health (2025)25 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank25 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
4 | Greenland | 34.3 |
5 | San Marino | 37.2 |
6 | Norway | 39.9 |
7 | Gibraltar | 40.6 |
8 | Sweden | 43.3 |
9= | Japan | 44.1 |
9= | France | 44.1 |
11 | Iceland | 45.9 |
12 | Finland | 46.9 |
World Avg | 96.74 | |
q=212. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man26. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria26.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans26, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia26.
For more, see:
Health:
Public health in Liechtenstein is very good. Liechtenstein comes in the best 20 for its average life expectancy11 and in its adolescent birth rate27. It does better than average in its fertility rate15 (but bad for Europe). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Liechtenstein in the 2000s-2010s remained amongst the top 10 in the world, peaking at second-best in 2008. Overall it improved by +8.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, just over the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. No data from before year 2000. Its peak fertility rate since then was 1.71 in 2009.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
4 | Australia | 84.5 |
5 | Switzerland | 84.0 |
6 | Malta | 83.8 |
7 | S. Korea | 83.7 |
8 | Liechtenstein | 83.3 |
9 | Norway | 83.2 |
10 | Spain | 83.0 |
11 | Sweden | 83.0 |
12 | Italy | 82.9 |
Europe Avg | 78.36 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
90 | Netherlands | 1.49 |
91 | Uruguay | 1.48 |
92= | Latvia | 1.47 |
92= | Liechtenstein | 1.47 |
94 | Channel Islands | 1.47 |
95 | Germany | 1.46 |
96 | Guam | 2.55 |
97 | Cuba | 1.45 |
Europe Avg | 1.53 | |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better27 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Per 100027 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
... | ||
8 | Netherlands | 2.7 |
9 | Japan | 2.8 |
10 | UAE | 2.8 |
11 | Liechtenstein | 3.0 |
12 | Sweden | 3.3 |
13 | San Marino | 3.7 |
14 | Italy | 3.9 |
15 | Finland | 4.1 |
Europe Avg | 11.4 | |
World Avg | 43.8 | |
q=195. |
Throughout the 1990s to the 2010s, Liechtenstein was amongst the 10 countries with the lowest adolescent birth rate.
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #over-exploitation #the_environment
Compared to Europe (2025)28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank28 | |
1 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
2 | Denmark | 50.4 |
3 | Liechtenstein | 56.8 |
4 | Portugal | 58.0 |
5 | Germany | 58.2 |
6 | Spain | 59.5 |
7 | Austria | 59.6 |
8 | Greece | 61.4 |
9 | Italy | 63.1 |
10 | Ireland | 63.1 |
11 | Cyprus | 64.8 |
12 | Hungary | 65.8 |
13 | Norway | 66.9 |
Europe Avg | 86.45 | |
q=48. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank28 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
... | ||
15 | Rwanda | 56.4 |
16 | Chile | 56.4 |
17 | Peru | 56.7 |
18 | Liechtenstein | 56.8 |
19 | Japan | 57.4 |
20 | Uganda | 57.8 |
21 | Kenya | 57.9 |
22 | Portugal | 58.0 |
World Avg | 84.93 | |
q=199. |
All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
One of the lowest in Europe regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Liechtenstein comes 18th-best in the world. This rank is derived from 2 data sets. Liechtenstein does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-202029.Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better29 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total29 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
129= | Isle of Man | 0.0% |
129= | Tokelau | 0.0% |
129= | St Martin | 0.0% |
129= | Liechtenstein | 0.0% |
129= | Libya | 0.0% |
129= | Montserrat | 0.0% |
129= | Kiribati | 0.0% |
129= | Saudi Arabia | 0.0% |
Europe Avg | 8.2% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
1 | Sweden | 83% |
2 | Canada | 82% |
3 | Norway | 81% |
... | ||
47 | Nepal | 67% |
48 | Niger | 67% |
49 | Pakistan | 67% |
50 | Liechtenstein | 66% |
51 | Gambia | 66% |
52 | Hungary | 66% |
53 | Azerbaijan | 66% |
54 | New Zealand | 66% |
Europe Avg | 62.7% | |
World Avg | 57.5% | |
q=197. |
#education #modernity #technology #the_internet
Compared to Europe (2020)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
28 | Ukraine | 47.7 |
29 | Bulgaria | 47.8 |
30 | Croatia | 47.8 |
31 | Liechtenstein | 48.8 |
32 | Romania | 51.0 |
33 | Belarus | 51.5 |
34 | Cyprus | 55.6 |
35 | Turkey | 55.9 |
36 | Serbia | 57.1 |
Europe Avg | 39.81 | |
q=45. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
42 | Ukraine | 47.7 |
43 | Bulgaria | 47.8 |
44 | Croatia | 47.8 |
45 | Liechtenstein | 48.8 |
46 | St Kitts & Nevis | 48.8 |
47 | Chile | 48.8 |
48 | Romania | 51.0 |
49 | Belarus | 51.5 |
World Avg | 86.31 | |
q=190. |
The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark31. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone31. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots32.
“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)33
15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe31, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia31.
For more, see:
Modernity and Education:
Length of Schooling Higher is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years34 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
53 | Peru | 15.4 |
54 | Kuwait | 15.3 |
55 | Japan | 15.2 |
56 | Liechtenstein | 15.2 |
57 | Mauritius | 15.2 |
58 | Belarus | 15.2 |
59 | Croatia | 15.1 |
60 | Montenegro | 15.1 |
Europe Avg | 16.1 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
Technology and Information:
Internet Users Higher is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201635 | |
1 | Iceland | 100% |
2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
3 | Norway | 98% |
4 | Bermuda | 97% |
5 | Andorra | 97% |
6 | Denmark | 96% |
7 | Liechtenstein | 96% |
8 | Luxembourg | 95% |
9 | Netherlands | 94% |
10 | Sweden | 93% |
11 | Monaco | 93% |
12 | UK | 93% |
Europe Avg | 76.7% | |
World Avg | 48.1% | |
q=201. |
IPv6 Uptake Higher is better36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Ratio36 | |
1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
2 | Germany | 41.8 |
3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
... | ||
77= | Croatia | 0.1 |
77= | Costa Rica | 0.1 |
77= | Serbia | 0.1 |
80 | Liechtenstein | 0.0 |
81= | Cyprus | 0.0 |
82 | Philippines | 0.0 |
83= | Macedonia | 0.0 |
83= | Pakistan | 0.0 |
Europe Avg | 8.11 | |
World Avg | 3.82 | |
q=176. |
#buddhism #catholicism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism
Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below37:
Christian | 91.9% |
Muslim | 5% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 0.1% |
Folk Religion | 0.1% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 2.9% |
The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic (official) 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)38.
The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)39, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Liechtenstein states:
“The constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief. However, the constitution makes the Catholic Church the "National Church" of the country, and as such it enjoys the full protection of the state. The government gives money not only to the Catholic Church, but also to other denominations. Catholic and Protestant churches receive regular annual contributions from the government in proportion to membership as determined in the 2000 census; smaller religious groups are eligible to apply for grants for associations of foreigners or specific projects. Religious education is part of the curriculum at public schools. Catholic or Protestant religious education is compulsory in all primary schools. The curriculum for Catholic confessional education is determined by the Roman Catholic Church with only a minor complementary supervisory role by the municipalities. At the secondary school level, parents and pupils choose between traditional confessional education organized by their religious community and the nonconfessional (secular) subject "Religion and Culture." Since its introduction in 2003, 90 percent of Catholic pupils have chosen the non-confessional subject.”
"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)40
Links:
#Andorra #liechtenstein #Monaco #tax_evasion
Liechtenstein, Andorra and Monaco were on the OECD's blacklist of uncooperative tax havens, but positive reforms meant that come 2009, all three were removed42. Lichtenstein came to a deal with several countries that account holders would have a chance to declare their assets to their countries and pay appropriate tax (plus a fine), or, simply lose the accounts42. This has since been adopted as a general model as to how to close-down a tax haven in a civil manner, although, it prevents the media from reporting about rich abusers, and feels to be the public like a denial of justice.
See: Tax Evasion.