Filed under Europe and more precisely Western Europe, Liechtenstein is a sovereign state. The long form of the name is Principality of Liechtenstein. The capital is Vaduz.
Its territory runs to 160 km², which ranks it 225th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Aruba and just ahead of the British Virgin Islands. That makes it roughly half the size of the Maldives.
Some 40,450 people call it home, placing it 216th of 250 by population — between Sint Maarten above it and the British Virgin Islands below. Within Western Europe alone it is the 7th largest of 8 and the 7th most populous.
How Liechtenstein sits on the globe
Plotted on a globe it falls at 47.3° north, 9.5° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 5,262 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Saint Pierre and Miquelon — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
2 countries share a land border with it: Austria and Switzerland. The largest of them by area is Austria, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 18.2 million people.
It has no sea coast of its own. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, and it means every shipment in or out has to cross someone else's border first. 2 of its neighbours, Austria and Switzerland, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Density comes out at around 253 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
The one official language is German. It shares that with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Namibia.
The demonym is Liechtensteiner, so residents are Liechtensteiners.
Inside Europe it places 47th of 53 by population, and it accounts for under 1% of everyone living in Western Europe.
Currency and codes
It uses the Swiss franc (Fr, CHF). It shares that currency with Switzerland.
Vaduz is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
The top-level domain is .li. The international dialling code is +423. In ISO terms it is li in two letters and LIE in three.
Liechtenstein is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Liechtenstein shares borders with 2 countries:
Fun facts about Liechtenstein
- Its full official name is Principality of Liechtenstein.
- It shares land borders with 2 countries: Austria and Switzerland.
- People from Liechtenstein are known as Liechtensteiners.
- German is official here and in 4 other entries worldwide.
- It is landlocked, one of 45 entries here with no coastline of its own.
- It lies about 5,262 km from the equator, in temperate latitudes.
- Population density works out at roughly 253 people per square kilometre.
Liechtenstein — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Liechtenstein?
- The capital of Liechtenstein is Vaduz.
- Which countries border Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein borders 2 countries: Austria and Switzerland. Austria is the largest of them by area.
- Is Liechtenstein a country?
- Yes. Liechtenstein is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein has a population of about 40,450, which makes it the 216th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Sint Maarten sits just above it and the British Virgin Islands just below.
- What currency does Liechtenstein use?
- Liechtenstein uses the Swiss franc, written Fr (currency code CHF). It is shared with 1 other entry: Switzerland.
- Where is Liechtenstein located?
- Liechtenstein is in Western Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 47.3° north and 9.5° east, roughly 5,262 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- What language is spoken in Liechtenstein?
- The official language of Liechtenstein is German. It is also official in 4 other entries on this list.
- Is Liechtenstein landlocked?
- Yes. Liechtenstein has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- How big is Liechtenstein?
- Liechtenstein covers 160 km², ranking 225th of 250 by land area. That makes it roughly half the size of the Maldives.
