Map of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a country in Europe with its capital at Vaduz, home to about 41,024 people across 160 km². The interactive map below plots 1 cities and towns and 1 mountain summits recorded for Liechtenstein in YearMaps.
- Population
- 41,024
- Area
- 160 km²
- Capital
- Vaduz
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Liechtenstein
Centred on Vaduz at 47.1337° N, 9.5167° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein ( , LIK-tən-stine; German pronunciation: [ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn] ; Alemannic German: Liachtaschta), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein [ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn] ), is a doubly landlocked country in the Central European Alps. A microstate, it is located between Austria to the east and north-east and Switzerland to the north-west, west and south.
Formed in 1719, Liechtenstein became fully independent upon the dissolution of the German Confederation in 1866. Liechtenstein is a monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein has reigned over Liechtenstein since 1989. Liechtenstein is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and a population of 41,389. It is the world's smallest country to border two countries. The official language of Liechtenstein is German.
Liechtenstein is divided into 11 municipalities. Its capital is Vaduz, and its largest municipality is Schaan. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade Association, and the Council of Europe. It is not a member state of the European Union, but it participates in both the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area. It has a customs union and a monetary union with Switzerland, with its usage of the Swiss franc. It is one of the few countries with no debt. A constitutional referendum in 2003 granted the monarch greater powers, including the power to dismiss the government, nominate judges and veto legislation. This was reaffirmed in 2012. As such, the monarch is not a figurehead. This creates a semi-constitutional monarchy.
Liechtenstein has a strong financial sector centred in Vaduz. It was once known as a billionaire tax haven, culminating in a tax affair in 2008, but the principality has since made significant efforts to shed this reputation. An Alpine country, Liechtenstein is mountainous, making it a winter sport destination.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Liechtenstein (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Liechtenstein
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 German 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.
- Location
- Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland.
- Climate
- Continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers.
- Terrain
- Mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third.
- Highest point
- Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m.
- Lowest point
- Ruggeller Riet 430 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (doubly landlocked)
- Land borders
- Total: 75 km; border countries: Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km.
- Natural resources
- Hydroelectric potential, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.); arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.); permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.); forest: 36.3% (2023 est.); other: 31.4% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Avalanches, landslides.
- Geographic note
- Along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation.
- Languages
- German 91.5% (official, Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant 0.7%, other Christian 0.3%, other 0.8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)
- Economy
- High-income European economy; Schengen Area participant; key European financial leader; integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user; one of the highest GDP per capita countries; relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Liechtenstein in Numbers
- Population
- 41,024
- GDP
- US$8.9 billion
- GDP per person
- US$220,167
- Life expectancy
- 84.2 years
- Population growth
- 1.41% a year
- Population density
- 253 per km²
- Urban population
- 14.6%
- Surface area
- 160 km²
- Forest cover
- 36.8%
- Arable land
- 10.8%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 98.3%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Liechtenstein in Depth
History
The oldest traces of human existence in the area that later became Liechtenstein date back to the Middle Paleolithic era. Neolithic farming settlements appeared in the valleys around 5300 BC.
The Hallstatt and La Tène cultures flourished during the late Iron Age, from around 450 BC—possibly under some influence of both the Greek and Etruscan civilisations. During the Iron Age and into the Roman era, the Vennones occupied the Alpine Rhine valley. In 58 BC, at the Battle of Bibracte, Julius Caesar defeated the Alpine tribes, thereby bringing the region under Roman subjugation. By 15 BC, Tiberius—later the second Roman emperor—with his brother, Drusus, conquered the entire Alpine area.
Geography
Liechtenstein is situated in the Upper Rhine valley of the European Alps and is bordered to the east by the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, to the south by the canton of Grisons (Switzerland) and to the west by the canton of St. Gallen (Switzerland). The Rhine forms the entire western border of Liechtenstein. Measured south to north the country is about 24 km (15 mi) long. New surveys using more accurate measurements of the country's borders in 2006 have set its area at 160 km2 (62 sq mi), with borders of 77.9 km (48.4 mi). As a result, Liechtenstein's area is slightly larger by 0.5 km2 (0.2 sq mi) and its borders are 1.9 km (1.2 mi) longer than previously thought.
Economy
As of September 2019 the Prince of Liechtenstein is the world's seventh wealthiest monarch, with an estimated wealth of US$3.5 billion.
Despite its limited natural resources, Liechtenstein is one of the few countries in the world with more registered companies than citizens; it has developed a prosperous, highly industrialized free-enterprise economy and a financial service sector as well as a living standard that compares favourably with those of the urban areas of Liechtenstein's much larger European neighbours.
Liechtenstein participates in a customs union with Switzerland and employs the Swiss franc as the national currency. The country imports about 85% of its energy.
Demographics
With a population of 40,542 as of August 2026, Liechtenstein is Europe's fourth-smallest country after Vatican City, San Marino and Monaco. It is ranked #214 in world population. Its population is primarily Alemannic-speaking, although one third is foreign-born, primarily German speakers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, along with other Swiss, Italians, and Turks. Foreign-born people make up two-thirds of the country's workforce.
Liechtensteiners have an average life expectancy at birth of 82.0 years, subdividing as male: 79.8 years, female: 84.8 years (2018 est.). The infant mortality rate is 4.2 per 1,000 live births, according to 2018 estimates.The median age of citizens is 44.7 years.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Liechtenstein (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Liechtenstein: Key Facts
| Currency | Swiss franc |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| Head of state | Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein |
| Head of government | Brigitte Haas |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Calling code | +423 |
| Internet domain | .li |
| Highest point | Grauspitz |
| Lowest point | Rhine |
| Established | 12 July 1806 |
Facts from Wikidata Q347 (CC0).
History of Liechtenstein: Empires and States
The atlas records 19 polities whose mapped territory included part of Liechtenstein, from The Roman Empire in 14 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Roman Empire | 14 BCE – 475 CE | Nearly all |
| Western Roman Empire | 395–475 CE | Nearly all |
| Ostrogoths | 490–499 CE | Nearly all |
| Ostrogothic Kingdom | 500–533 CE | Nearly all |
| Merovingian Empire | 534–643 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of the Franks | 534–849 CE | Nearly all |
| Frisia Kingdom | 612–717 CE | Nearly all |
| Carolingian Empire | 718–910 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Alamannia | 724–731 CE | Nearly all |
| East Franks | 850–910 CE | Nearly all |
| West Franks | 876–886 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Germany | 911–961 CE | Nearly all |
| The Holy Roman Empire | 922–1525 CE | Nearly all |
| Vassalage of Kingdom of Bohemia to Holy Roman Empire | 1202–1452 CE | Nearly all |
| House of Hohenstaufen | 1260–1271 CE | Nearly all |
| Holy Roman Empire Minor States | 1272–1525 CE | Nearly all |
| Vassalage of Electorate of Brandenburg to Holy Roman Empire | 1422–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| Swiss Confederation | 1526–2024 CE | Nearly all |
| Helvetic Republic | 1799–1814 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny, alpine, German-speaking country with a population of 38,000, doubly landlocked by Switzerland and Austria.
The principality enjoys a very high standard of living and is home to some incredibly beautiful mountain scenery. The principality's capital, Vaduz, is a major centre of commerce and international banking.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Liechtenstein (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Liechtenstein
1 city recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaduz | 36,281 | — | National capital |
Highest Mountains in Liechtenstein
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grauspitze | 2,599 m | 8,527 ft | Europe |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Liechtenstein
1 landform recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alps | 176,042 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
Alps
Range/mtn · 176,042 km²
Alps is a range/mtn in Europe, covering an estimated 176,042 km². It extends across Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Hungary. It is the 24th-largest of the 216 mountain ranges with a mapped extent in YearMaps.
The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across several Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia.
The Alpine arch extends from Nice on the western Mediterranean to Trieste on the Adriatic and Vienna at the beginning of the Pannonian Basin. The mountains were formed over tens of millions of years as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided. Extreme shortening caused by the event resulted in marine sedimentary rocks rising by thrusting and folding into high mountain peaks such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. The Alpine region area contains 82 peaks higher than 4,000 m (13,000 ft). The altitude and size of the range affect the climate in Europe, and in the mountains, precipitation levels vary greatly and climatic conditions consist of distinct zones.
Evidence of human habitation in the Alps goes back to the Palaeolithic era. A mummified man ("Ötzi"), determined to be 5,000 years old, was discovered on a glacier at the Austrian–Italian border in 1991.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Alps (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 176,042 km²
- Size rank
- #24 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Europe
- Countries
- Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Hungary
- Coordinates
- 46.7662°, 10.7276°
- Settlements:
- Vaduz (11 km)
More about Alps
Geography
The Alps are a crescent shaped geographic feature of central Europe that ranges in an 800 km (500 mi) arc (curved line) from east to west and is 200 km (120 mi) in width. The mean height of the mountain peaks is 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The range stretches from the Mediterranean Sea north above the Po basin, extending through France from Grenoble, and stretching eastward through mid and southern Switzerland. The range continues onward toward Vienna, Austria, and southeast to the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia. Depending on the definitions used, the Alpokalja foothills in western Hungary may also qualify as part of the Alps.
To the south it dips into northern Italy and to the north extends to the southern border of Bavaria in Germany.
Geology
Important geological concepts were established as naturalists began studying the rock formations of the Alps in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, the now-defunct idea of geosynclines was used to explain the presence of "folded" mountain chains. This theory was replaced in the mid-20th century by the theory of plate tectonics.
The formation of the Alps (the Alpine orogeny) was an episodic process that began about 300 million years ago. In the Paleozoic Era the Pangaean supercontinent consisted of a single tectonic plate; it broke into separate plates during the Mesozoic Era and the Tethys sea developed between Laurasia and Gondwana during the Jurassic Period.
Ecology
Thirteen thousand species of plants have been identified in the Alpine regions. Alpine plants are grouped by habitat and soil type which can be limestone or non-calcareous. The habitats range from meadows, bogs, and woodland (deciduous and coniferous) areas to soil-less scree and moraines, and rock faces and ridges. A natural vegetation limit with altitude is given by the presence of the chief deciduous trees—oak, beech, ash and sycamore maple. These do not reach the same elevation, nor are they often found growing together, but their upper limit corresponds accurately enough to the change from a temperate to a colder climate that is further proved by a change in the presence of wild herbaceous vegetation.
History
When the ice melted after the Würm glaciation, Paleolithic settlements were established along the lake shores and in cave systems. Evidence of human habitation has been found in caves near the Vercors Cave System, close to Grenoble and Echirolles. In Austria, the Mondsee lake shows evidence of houses built on piles. Standing stones have been found in the Alpine areas of France and Italy. About 200,000 drawings and etchings have been documented, and are known as the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica.
A mummy of a Neolithic human, known as Ötzi, was discovered on the Similaun.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Alps (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alps: Key Facts
| Length | 1,200 km |
|---|---|
| Area | 190,000 km² |
| Highest point | Mont Blanc |
Facts from Wikidata Q1286 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Liechtenstein
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Liechtenstein: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Liechtenstein?
- The capital of Liechtenstein is Vaduz.
- What is the population of Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein has a population of about 41,024, the #212 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein covers 160 km², ranking #218 by area, with about 256 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Liechtenstein in?
- Liechtenstein is in Europe.
- Which countries border Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein shares a land or maritime border with Switzerland, Austria.
- What is the largest city in Liechtenstein?
- Vaduz is the largest city in Liechtenstein, with a metropolitan population of about 36,281.
- What is the highest mountain in Liechtenstein?
- The highest summit recorded for Liechtenstein in YearMaps is Grauspitze at 2,599 m (8,527 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.