列支敦斯登(Liechtenstein)

正式名称列支敦斯登公国（Principality of Liechtenstein）

西欧公国。位於瑞士和奥地利之间。面积160平方公里。人口约33,000（2001）。首都：瓦都兹。列支敦斯登人系出阿勒曼尼人，约於西元500年以後进入此区。语言：德语（官方语）、阿勒曼尼方言、瓦尔瑟方言。宗教：天主教。货币：瑞士法郎（Sw F）。国土东部2/3地区为雷蒂孔山脉（属中部阿尔卑斯山脉）起伏的山麓丘陵地。西部为莱茵河泛滥平原。境内无具商业价值的天然资源，而几乎所有的原料（包括木材）都要靠进口。制造业包括金属加工、制药、光学镜片、电子和食品加工业等。该国是旅游中心，由於政治情况稳定且银行绝对保密，所以也是个金融中心。政府形式为君主立宪政体，一院制。国家元首是亲王，政府首脑是首相。

莱茵平原一向由神圣罗马帝国的两家独立贵族（瓦都兹和施伦贝格）统治，达数世纪之久。1719年由这两片贵族领地组成列支敦斯登公国，一直是神圣罗马帝国的一部分。1815～1866年归入日耳曼邦联。1866年独立，承认瓦都兹和施伦贝格为两个独特的地区，并形成不同的选区。1921年采用瑞士货币，1923年加入瑞士关税联盟。1997年近六十年的统治联合体面临瓦解，亲王被迫采取宪法改革。

English version：

Liechtenstein

Principality, western Europe. It is located between Switzerland and Austria. Area: 62 sq mi (160 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 31,000. Capital: Vaduz. The Liechtensteiners are descended from the Alemanni tribe that came into the region after AD 500. Languages: German (official), Alemanni dialect, Walser dialect. Religion: Roman Catholicism. Currency: Swiss franc. The eastern two-thirds of Liechtenstein's small territory is composed of the foothills of the Rh?tikon Massif, part of the central Alps. The western section of the country is occupied by the Rhine River floodplain. It has no natural resources of commercial value, and virtually all raw materials, including wood, have to be imported. Manufacturing includes metalworking, pharmaceuticals, optical lenses, electronics, and food processing. Liechtenstein, a tourist center, is also a center of banking because of its stable political situation and its absolute bank secrecy. It is a constitutional monarchy with one legislative house; its chief of state is the prince, and the head of government is the prime minister. The Rhine plain was occupied for centuries by two independent lordships of the Holy Roman Empire, Vaduz and Schellenberg. The principality of Liechtenstein, consisting of these two lordships, was founded in 1719 and remained part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was included in the German Confederation (1815-66). In 1866 it became independent, recognizing the regions of Vaduz and Schellenberg as unique regions forming separate electoral districts. In 1921 it adopted Swiss currency, and in 1923 joined the Swiss customs union. An almost 60-year ruling coalition dissolved in 1997, and the prince urged adoption of constitutional reforms.