History of Liechtenstein in Timeline

Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, bordered by Austria and Switzerland. It's a semi-constitutional monarchy led by Prince Hans-Adam II. As Europe's fourth-smallest country, it spans just over 160 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 40,023. Notably, it's the smallest country bordering two nations and is one of the few countries that are debt-free.

November 1918: Liechtenstein Putsch

In November 1918, popular unrest resulting from the economic devastation caused by World War I led to the Liechtenstein putsch. This event initiated the process of introducing a new constitution based on constitutional monarchy.

1921: New Constitution Introduced

In 1921, a new constitution based on constitutional monarchy was introduced in Liechtenstein. This was a direct result of the November 1918 Liechtenstein putsch, which stemmed from popular unrest due to economic devastation caused by World War I.

1921: Previous Constitution

In March 2003, the current Constitution of Liechtenstein was adopted, amending the 1921 constitution.

1921: Constitution of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein's foreign policy has been influenced by strong direct-democratic and citizen-oriented decision-making mechanisms, which are anchored in the Constitution of 1921.

1923: Customs Treaty with Switzerland

In 1923, Liechtenstein concluded a Customs Treaty with Switzerland, which was followed by a range of other important bilateral treaties.

1927: Gampriner Seelein Formed

In 1927, Liechtenstein's only naturally-formed lake, the Gampriner Seelein, was created by a flooding of the Rhine with enormous erosion.

1929: Prince Franz I Succeeds to the Throne

In 1929, 75-year-old Prince Franz I succeeded to the throne. He had just married Elisabeth von Gutmann.

March 1938: Prince Franz Names Regent

In March 1938, just after the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, Prince Franz named his grandnephew, Prince Franz Joseph, as regent.

March 1939: Attempted Coup

In March 1939, there was an attempted coup in Liechtenstein while Franz Joseph II was on a state visit to Berlin. Pro-Nazi agitation remained in Liechtenstein throughout the 1930s.

1939: Death of Andreas Kieber

In 1939, Andreas Kieber, the last soldier to serve under the colors of Liechtenstein, died at age 95.

1943: Inland Canal Built

In 1943, an inland canal was built in Liechtenstein, connecting to the Rhine.

1944: Nazis Abandon Plan to Conquer Liechtenstein

In 1944, the Nazis abandoned implementing their plan for the conquest of Switzerland, which also included Liechtenstein, after the Allied invasion of France. Liechtenstein was thus spared from Nazi occupation.

1950: Accession to the Statute of the International Court of Justice

In 1950, post-war economic reconstruction was followed by accession to the Statute of the International Court of Justice.

1967: Da Vinci Painting Sold

In 1967, the Liechtenstein dynasty sold Ginevra de' Benci, a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, to the National Gallery of Art of the United States for US$5 million, then a record price for a painting.

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1968: Referendum Rejecting Women's Suffrage

In 1968, a referendum was held in Liechtenstein that rejected women's suffrage.

1971: Referendum Rejecting Women's Suffrage

In 1971, a referendum was held in Liechtenstein that rejected women's suffrage.

1973: Rikky von Opel Races in Formula One

In 1973, Rikky von Opel, racing under the flag of Liechtenstein, competed in Formula One.

1973: Referendum Rejecting Women's Suffrage

In 1973, a referendum was held in Liechtenstein that rejected women's suffrage.

1974: Rikky von Opel Races in Formula One

In 1974, Rikky von Opel, racing under the flag of Liechtenstein, competed in Formula One.

1975: Liechtenstein Signed the CSCE Helsinki Final Act

In 1975, Liechtenstein signed the CSCE Helsinki Final Act (today's OSCE) together with 34 other states.

1976: Manfred Schurti Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans

In 1976, Manfred Schurti competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a Porsche factory driver, finishing 4th overall.

1976: Hanni Wenzel wins bronze medal

In the 1976 Winter Olympics, Hanni Wenzel won a bronze medal in downhill skiing.

1978: Liechtenstein Joined the Council of Europe

In 1978, Liechtenstein joined the Council of Europe.

1980: Hanni Wenzel Wins Olympic Medals

In the 1980 Winter Olympics, Hanni Wenzel won two gold medals and one silver medal in downhill skiing, and her brother Andreas won one silver medal in the giant slalom event.

July 1984: Women Granted the Right to Vote

On 1 July 1984, Liechtenstein became the last country in Europe to grant women the right to vote, following three previous referendums which rejected it.

1984: Andreas Wenzel Wins Bronze

In 1984, Andreas Wenzel won a bronze medal in the giant slalom event.

1985: Swiss Army Burns Forest

In 1985, the Swiss Army mistakenly burned a patch of forest inside Liechtenstein during an exercise, which was resolved "over a case of white wine".

September 1990: Liechtenstein Admitted to the United Nations

On 20 September 1990, Liechtenstein was admitted into the United Nations as its 160th member state.

September 18, 1990: Liechtenstein Admitted to the United Nations (UN)

On September 18, 1990, Liechtenstein was admitted to the United Nations (UN).

1991: Liechtenstein Joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

In 1991, Liechtenstein joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a full member.

1992: Liechtenstein Joined the Forum of Small States

In 1992, Liechtenstein joined the Forum of Small States, a group founded by Singapore.

May 1995: Liechtenstein Joined the European Economic Area

Since May 1995, Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

1995: Liechtenstein Became a Member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Since 1995, Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

1996: FC Vaduz's Success in European Cup Winners' Cup

In 1996, FC Vaduz had a notable success in the European Cup Winners' Cup, drawing with and defeating FC Universitate Riga before facing Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

November 2000: Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein Completion

In November 2000, the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, designed by Swiss architects Morger, Degelo, and Kerez, was completed in Vaduz.

2000: Switzerland Appointed an Ambassador to Liechtenstein

Since 2000, Switzerland has appointed an ambassador to Liechtenstein, though he resides in Bern.

2002: Liechtenstein's Qualifying Campaign for 2002 World Cup

In 2002, British author Charlie Connelly based a book on Liechtenstein's unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup.

2002: Liechtenstein Established a Permanent Ambassador in Berlin

Since 2002, Liechtenstein has had a permanent ambassador in Berlin.

March 2003: New Constitution Adopted

In March 2003, the current Constitution of Liechtenstein was adopted, amending the 1921 constitution. This granted the prince extensive veto powers and the ability to dismiss the government.

2003: Constitutional Referendum Grants Monarch Greater Powers

In 2003, a constitutional referendum in Liechtenstein granted the monarch greater powers, including the ability to dismiss the government, nominate judges, and veto legislation. This occurred after the monarch threatened to leave the country should the referendum fail.

2004: Establishment of Radio Liechtenstein

In 2004, Radio Liechtenstein was established along with the public-service broadcaster Liechtensteinischer Rundfunk (LRF).

2004: Draw with Portugal

In 2004, the Liechtenstein national football team surprisingly drew 2-2 with Portugal.

2005: Investigation Reveals Jewish Slave Labour on Princely Estates

In 2005, a government-commissioned investigation revealed that Jewish slave laborers from the Strasshof concentration camp, provided by the SS, had worked on estates in Austria owned by Liechtenstein's Princely House. The report indicated that though no evidence was found of the House's knowledge of the slave labor, the House bore responsibility.

2006: New Border Measurements

In 2006, new surveys using more accurate measurements of Liechtenstein's borders set its area at 160 km, with borders of 77.9 km, 1.9 km longer than previously thought.

2006: Liechtenstein Defeats Luxembourg

In 2006, the Liechtenstein team defeated Luxembourg 4-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

2006: PISA Report Ranks Education 10th Best

In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report ranked Liechtenstein's education as the 10th-best in the world.

March 2007: Swiss Army Incursion

In March 2007, a 170-man Swiss infantry unit accidentally crossed 1.5 km into Liechtenstein during a training exercise, leading to an official apology from the Swiss Army.

October 2007: Liechtenstein Beats Iceland

On 17 October 2007, Liechtenstein beat Iceland 3–0, in what is considered one of the most dramatic losses of the Icelandic national football team.

2007: OECD Identifies Liechtenstein as Uncooperative Tax Haven

In 2007, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified Liechtenstein, along with Andorra and Monaco, as one of the remaining uncooperative tax havens.

February 2008: LGT Bank Implicated in Tax-Fraud Scandal

In February 2008, Liechtenstein's LGT Bank was implicated in a tax-fraud scandal in Germany, straining the ruling family's relationship with the German government.

2008: Liechtenstein Joined the Schengen/Dublin Agreement

In 2008, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen/Dublin Agreement together with Switzerland.

2008: Tax Affair

In 2008, Liechtenstein was known as a billionaire tax haven, culminating in a tax affair. However, the principality has since made significant efforts to shed this reputation.

2008: Creation of 1FLTV

In 2008, the private television channel 1FLTV was created in Liechtenstein.

2008: Unemployment rate at 1.5%

In 2008, the unemployment rate in Liechtenstein was 1.5%.

2008: Liechtenstein Beats Latvia

In the qualification stage of the European Championship 2008, Liechtenstein beat Latvia 1–0, which led to the Latvian coach's resignation.

May 2009: OECD Removes Liechtenstein from Blacklist

On 27 May 2009, the OECD removed Liechtenstein from its blacklist of uncooperative countries.

July 2009: Diplomatic Relations Established with the Czech Republic

On 13 July 2009, diplomatic relations were established between Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic, resolving a long-standing conflict over the postwar Beneš decrees that had prevented international relations.

August 2009: HM Revenue & Customs Agreement

In August 2009, the British government department HM Revenue & Customs agreed with Liechtenstein to start exchanging information regarding British investors with accounts in the country.

September 2009: Liechtenstein and Germany Sign Tax Agreement

On 2 September 2009, Liechtenstein and Germany signed an agreement on cooperation and the exchange of information in tax matters.

December 2009: Diplomatic Relations Established with Slovakia

On 9 December 2009, diplomatic relations were established between Liechtenstein and Slovakia, resolving a long-standing conflict over the postwar Beneš decrees that had prevented international relations.

September 2010: Near Draw Against Scotland

On 7 September 2010, Liechtenstein nearly drew 1–1 against Scotland in Glasgow but lost 2–1 due to a late goal.

2010: Religious Census

According to the 2010 census, 85.8% of Liechtenstein's population was Christian, with 75.9% Catholic and 9.6% Protestant or Eastern Orthodox, while Islam was the largest minority religion at 5.4%.

2010: Information Exchange Begins

The tax agreement signed in September 2009 between Liechtenstein and Germany provides for an exchange of information on tax matters upon request as of the 2010 tax year.

June 2011: Liechtenstein Defeats Lithuania

On 3 June 2011, Liechtenstein defeated Lithuania 2–0.

2012: Highest PISA Scores in Europe

In 2012, Liechtenstein had the highest PISA scores of any European country.

2013: Closure of Schaanwald Railway Station

In 2013, Schaanwald railway station in Liechtenstein was closed.

November 2014: Liechtenstein Defeats Moldova

On 15 November 2014, Liechtenstein defeated Moldova 0–1 with a late free kick goal by Franz Burgmeier.

2014: GDP Estimated at $4.978 Billion

As of 2014, the CIA World Factbook estimated Liechtenstein's gross domestic product (GDP) on a purchasing power parity basis to be $4.978 billion.

October 2015: Tax Agreement with EU

In October 2015, the European Union and Liechtenstein signed a tax agreement to ensure the automatic exchange of financial information in case of tax disputes.

2016: Liechtenstein at the Summer Olympics

In 2016, Julia Hassler and Christoph Meier represented Liechtenstein at the Summer Olympics, with Hassler as the nation's flag bearer.

2016: Data Collection Starts for Tax Agreement

In 2016, the collection of data started as part of the tax agreement between the European Union and Liechtenstein.

September 2017: Liechtenstein Signs UN Treaty

On 20 September 2017, Liechtenstein signed the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2018: Life Expectancy in Liechtenstein

In 2018, Liechtenstein had an average life expectancy at birth of 82.0 years, with male life expectancy at 79.8 years and female life expectancy at 84.8 years.

2018: Tina Weirather Wins Bronze

In 2018, Tina Weirather won a bronze medal in the Super-G.

September 2019: Prince of Liechtenstein Among World's Wealthiest

As of September 2019, the Prince of Liechtenstein is the world's fifth wealthiest monarch, with an estimated wealth of US$3.5 billion.

2019: Switzerland Shuts Down Digital Terrestrial Television

In 2019, Switzerland shut off its digital terrestrial television network, leaving German and Austrian channels as the only free television signals available in Liechtenstein.

March 2020: Electric Motorcycle World Record

In March 2020, the distance world record for electric motorcycles was set in Liechtenstein by Michel von Tell, who drove over 1,000 miles within 24 hours on an electric Harley-Davidson.

2020: German Language Statistics

In 2020, German was spoken by 92% of the population as their main language in Liechtenstein.

2020: Referendum Halts Rail Upgrade Plans

In 2020, plans to upgrade the railway line and increase rail traffic in Liechtenstein were halted by a referendum.

December 2021: Population of Liechtenstein

As of 31 December 2021, Liechtenstein's population was 39,315, making it Europe's fourth-smallest country.

2021: GDP Per Capita Estimated at $184,083

As of 2021, the estimated GDP per capita in Liechtenstein was $184,083.

2021: Tourism in Liechtenstein

In 2021, Liechtenstein welcomed nearly 80,000 tourists, continuing a trend of attracting between 60,000 to 100,000 tourists annually over the preceding twelve years.