Liechtenstein is a small country located between Austria and Switzerland. It is named after the original ruling family who first gained the fief of Vaduz in 1699 and later added the fief of Schellenberg in 1713. It was the Holy Roman Empire who first gave the country its independent status in 1719.
Liechtenstein was occupied by Napoleon and the French for a few years. Napoleon also founded the Rhine Confederation in 1806 and accepted Liechtenstein as a member. As a result, Liechtenstein has considered itself a free country since 1806.
Liechtenstein has no standing army and maintains neutrality. It declared neutrality in both world wars as well.
The Geography of Liechtenstein
Total Size: 160 square km
Size Comparison: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Natural Resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Major Exports: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Major Imports: agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
National GDP: $3,200,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.
