Liechtenstein, officially known as the Principality of Liechtenstein, is a tiny country located in Western Europe, nestled between Switzerland and Austria. This small territory is one of the least visited places in Europe, attracting only around 85,000 tourists in 2018. Despite its low profile and lesser-known status internationally, Liechtenstein is incredibly wealthy and packed with fascinating features.
1. Liechtenstein is the 6th smallest country in the world
Liechtenstein is the 4th smallest country in Europe.
With a tiny area of about 160 km2, which is roughly 1/8 the size of Los Angeles, Liechtenstein ranks as the 4th smallest country in Europe. It is larger than three other microstates: Vatican City, Monaco, and San Marino. Globally, it is recognized as the 6th smallest country. Liechtenstein is also landlocked, situated entirely inland.
2. Liechtenstein has a population of about 38,000
In terms of population, this is also the 6th least populated country in the world.
The current population of this European principality is nearly 38,000 people. The population density of Liechtenstein is quite low, at just 227 people/km2. Similar to its area, in terms of population, it ranks as the 6th least populated country in the world. The largest city, the capital Vaduz, has only around 5,400 residents.
3. Liechtenstein is the richest country in the world by GDP per capita
The unemployment rate in this country is only 1.5%.
For many consecutive years, Liechtenstein has consistently ranked among the top 5 countries with the highest GDP per capita globally. In 2020, this principality held the championship title with an average income of $180,227 (approximately 4.2 billion VND), which is more than 7 times the world average GDP.
Moreover, Liechtenstein is so wealthy that it has virtually no foreign debt. The unemployment rate in this beautiful country is also extremely low, at just 1.5%. In 2016, only 406 citizens of Liechtenstein were unemployed, including women on maternity leave. The prosperity of this tiny nation largely stems from its financial banking services.
4. The Liechtenstein royal family is the wealthiest in Europe
The current head of the monarchy in this country is Prince Hans-Adam.
Although less famous, it is hard to find a royal family in Europe that can compete with the wealth of the Liechtenstein family. The current head of the monarchy is Prince Hans-Adam. Unlike other constitutional monarchies, most of the royal family’s assets are managed by the government with many restrictions; however, the nearly $5 billion fortune of the Liechtenstein royal family is entirely personal wealth. Prince Hans-Adam’s personal fortune is approximately 10 times that of Queen Elizabeth II.
The royal family owns LGT Bank, the largest bank in the country, with total assets of around $41.9 billion. The royal members also enjoy great trust and affection from the people. Every year on August 15 and National Day, the Prince of Liechtenstein invites all citizens to his castle for celebrations and drinks.
5. Liechtenstein has no military
The only security force here is the national police.
Liechtenstein is one of the rare countries in the world that has complete independence without a military. The security force here consists solely of the National Police Force (NPF), with a mere 125 personnel (including 90 officers and 35 supporting civilian staff). Nevertheless, the crime rate in this tiny country remains very low.
Due to its small size, this principality has no airport and no embassies. To visit Liechtenstein, travelers must fly to an airport in neighboring Switzerland and then travel by land.
6. Liechtenstein is the “Dentures Kingdom”
Small like a district of ordinary cities, Liechtenstein is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of dentures. It supplies about 20% of the global denture production. This industry thrives thanks to a company named Ivoclar Vivadent, located in the province of Schaan. Each year, this enterprise produces approximately 60 million dentures, exporting them worldwide.
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