Principality of Liechtenstein
Western Europe
Alpine · Tiny · Wealthy
Liechtenstein (officially Principality of Liechtenstein) is a country located in Western Europe. Its capital city is Vaduz, with other major cities including Schaan and Balzers. With a population of approximately 38,000, the main language spoken is German. The country covers an area of 160 km². The official currency is the Swiss franc (Fr). Traffic drives on the right side.
Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world (the other is Uzbekistan) — it is surrounded by Switzerland and Austria, both of which are also landlocked.
Vaduz serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Liechtenstein, positioned in Western Europe. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Schaan, Balzers — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Vaduz occupies a narrow Rhine Valley strip between the river and the Alpine foothills, with the Prince's castle visible on the hill above — a capital of 5,500 people in one of Europe's last feudal monarchies, where the Prince holds more formal constitutional power than any other European monarch and where the country's per-capita GDP is among the world's highest despite having no seaport or airport.
With a population of approximately 38,000, Liechtenstein is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is German, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Liechtenstein is reached via the dialling code +423. Liechtensteiners maintain one of the world's most unusual national identities — a German-speaking microstate that uses the Swiss franc, belongs to no international organisations as a full member, was the last European country to grant women the right to vote (1984), and achieves extraordinary economic output from banking, precision manufacturing, and dental prosthetics production.
Liechtenstein spans 160 km², in the Western Europe subregion of Europe. Geographically centred around 47.3°N, 9.5°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Europe convention.
The official currency is the Swiss franc (Fr), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Liechtenstein's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+01:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
Football / Skiing holds a special place in the heart of Liechtenstein's national identity. Football is Liechtenstein's primary sport despite having only 6,000 registered players — the national team competing in UEFA qualifying (never qualifying for a major tournament but occasionally drawing with larger nations) — while skiing on the slopes above Vaduz represents the alpine sports culture expected from a country where peaks above 2,500 metres are 30 minutes from the capital.
The highest point in Liechtenstein is Grauspitz, rising to 2,599 metres above sea level. Liechtenstein's highest point is Grauspitz at 2,599 metres in the Rätikon Alps — a peak where the borders of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Austria converge in high alpine terrain where chamois, ibex, and golden eagles inhabit a landscape of limestone cliff and high pasture that the country's tiny size makes disproportionately accessible to even casual walkers.