People and Society of Liechtenstein

Nationality

Liechtensteiner(s)

Ethnic Groups

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Population

35,002

Population in Major Urban Areas

VADUZ (capital) 5,000

Medical care in Liechtenstein is good. For serious illnesses or complicated bone fractures, patients are transferred to the appropriate specialized hospitals in Switzerland and Austria. Over-the-counter medicine is available at pharmacies, and a pharmacist is on call 24/7. Information regarding the pharmacy and pharmacist on duty is given over the medical emergency telephone line by dialing 144.

Literacy Definition

age 10 and over can read and write

• Roman Catholic76.2%
• unknown10.6%
• Protestant7.0%
• other6.2%

German (official), Alemannic dialect

• German

• Prince Hans Adam II

  Government Leader · 1945

  In 1984, the 45th year of his reign, Prince Franz Joseph II appointed Prince Hans-Adam II his permanent representative under Article 13bis of the Constitution. On 13 November 1989, following the death of his father Prince Franz Joseph II, Prince Hans-Adam II assumed the regency. Already before succeeding his father, Prince Hans-Adam II promoted an independent foreign policy for Liechtenstein. Under his leadership Liechtenstein successfully became a member of the UNO in 1990 and the EEA in 1995.

Crime Information

Liechtenstein has a low rate of violent crime. However, crimes of all types which may include violence do occur. Pick-pocketing and purse snatching are the most common and frequently occur in the vicinity of train and bus stations, airports close to Liechtenstein and some public parks, especially during peak tourist periods (such as summer and Christmas). Take sensible precautions to protect your passport and money. Be especially vigilant in regional airports and railway stations, as these locations experience multiple incidents of petty theft almost every day. You should be careful on trains, especially on overnight trains to neighboring countries. Thieves, who steal from passengers while they sleep, can enter even locked sleeping compartments. Thieves have been known to work in pairs to target train passengers; while one member of the pair creates a diversion at a train window or on a platform, the other steals items you have left briefly unattended. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. The local equivalent to “911” emergency line in Liechtenstein is “144.” Dial 112 for health emergencies, dial 117 for the police, dial 118 for fire /oil or chemical accidents.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Liechtenstein, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offense; the legal tolerance for driving is 0.05% blood alcohol content (whereas the legal limit in the United States is 0.08%). Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. In Liechtenstein, this is a serious criminal offense, and offenders will be placed directly in police custody. If you break local laws in Liechtenstein, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not, wherever you go. Persons violating Liechtenstein laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Liechtenstein are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Arrest notifications in Liechtenstein: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy in Bern as soon as you are arrested or detained in Liechtenstein.