This is a small country located in Europe but has the second highest GDP per capita in the world.
Interesting Facts About Liechtenstein
- 1. Liechtenstein is nearly 8 times smaller than the city of Los Angeles
- 2. Its largest city has only 6,000 residents
- 3. It is the second least visited country in Europe
- 4. Liechtenstein’s GDP per capita is $169,260 – the second highest in the world
- 5. Liechtenstein has virtually no national debt
- 6. The only billionaire in the country owns 50% of its GDP – and he built his fortune through dental products
- 7. Liechtenstein has had no army since 1868
- 8. More than half of Liechtenstein’s workforce commutes from neighboring countries daily
- 9. There were only 406 unemployed individuals in Liechtenstein in 2016, including those on maternity leave
- 10. Liechtenstein has no airport
- 11. Liechtenstein has the longest lunch break in the world
1. Liechtenstein is nearly 8 times smaller than the city of Los Angeles
With an area of approximately 160,579,263 square meters, it is the fourth smallest country in Europe, following Vatican City, Monaco, and San Marino. The official language of Liechtenstein is German.
Liechtenstein on the world map. (Image: Insider.com).
2. Its largest city has only 6,000 residents
Schaan is the largest city in Liechtenstein with a population of 6,000, but the capital, Vaduz, which is only about 11 miles away, has even fewer residents: approximately 5,400.
3. It is the second least visited country in Europe
According to the World Tourism Organization, Liechtenstein welcomed only 85,000 tourists in 2018. Lacking basic transportation facilities such as an international airport, seaport, or train station, Liechtenstein makes it difficult for travelers to visit the country.
Main train station in Schaan, Liechtenstein at night. (Image: Insider.com).
In a travel blog sharing insights about visiting the country, travel blogger Nota Bene mentioned that there isn’t much to do or experience in the capital city: “We strolled through the entire city center in just… 20 minutes! We had coffee and pastries at a café. The downside was that the café only accepted cash.”
4. Liechtenstein’s GDP per capita is $169,260 – the second highest in the world
Liechtenstein’s GDP is surpassed only by Monaco, the luxurious wealthy city along the French Riviera, where it is estimated that one-third of the population are millionaires.
GDP per capita ranking. (Image: World Population Review).
Liechtenstein has a thriving financial services sector, with other main industries including electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, optical instruments, and pharmaceuticals. Low tax rates, loose company formation regulations, and a strict tradition of banking secrecy have significantly contributed to the ability of financial intermediaries in Liechtenstein to attract capital from outside the country.
5. Liechtenstein has virtually no national debt
According to the Public Policy and Constitutional Law Organization of Liechtenstein, the country has a debt-to-GDP ratio of just 0.5%.
6. The only billionaire in the country owns 50% of its GDP – and he built his fortune through dental products
The richest man in Liechtenstein. (Image: Internet).
Christoph Zeller, who served as CEO of the dental product company Ivoclar Vivadent AG for 13 years, has a net worth of $3.1 billion, accounting for half of the $6.2 billion GDP of this small European nation.
7. Liechtenstein has had no army since 1868
This has occasionally led to it being inadvertently invaded by the Swiss army during training exercises in the forests near the border with Liechtenstein.
8. More than half of Liechtenstein’s workforce commutes from neighboring countries daily
According to the Public Policy and Constitutional Law Organization of Liechtenstein, in 2016, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce came from neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.
Beautiful scenery of the small country. (Image: Internet).
9. There were only 406 unemployed individuals in Liechtenstein in 2016 – including those on maternity leave
The country’s unemployment rate stood at 2.1%, according to the Liechtenstein Statistics Office.
10. Liechtenstein has no airport
The nearest airport to this country is located in Zurich, about an hour and a half drive from the capital of Liechtenstein. This is likely a significant drawback that makes it difficult for the country to develop tourism.
Liechtenstein seen from above. (Image: Internet).
11. Liechtenstein has the longest lunch break in the world
Residents are also discouraged from making any noise during a 90-minute lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, and they should avoid causing disturbances after 10:00 PM to prevent police intervention.
