Page Type: countryLiechtenstein | Ethnologue

LI

Principality of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein

Summary

Official Name
Principality of Liechtenstein
International Conventions
ECRML (1997), FCPNM (1997), ICCPR (1998), UNCRPD (2020), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
38,700
Principal Languages
Standard German
Literacy Rate
100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Liechtenstein is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 2 are developing, and 1 is in trouble.

Languages

Alemannic gsw
Widespread. Users: 34,400 in Liechtenstein (2019 UNSD). Listed as German in the 2015 census (2019 UNSD). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Alemannisch, Schwytzertuetsch, Schwyzerdütsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
German, Standard deu
Users: 1,300 in Liechtenstein (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1921, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Swiss-German Sign Language sgg
Scattered. Users: 40 in Liechtenstein (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimate assuming 0.1% of total population. Status: 5 (Developing). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Walser wae
Triesenberg Commune, including Saminatal and Malbun enclaves; otherwise, scattered in southeast. Users: 1,300 in Liechtenstein (1995 C. Buchli). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Walscher Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic

Languages by Status

    German, Standard
    [deu] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1921, Constitution, Article 6). 1,300 in Liechtenstein (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
    Alemannic
    [gsw] 5* (Developing). 34,400 in Liechtenstein (2019 UNSD). Listed as German in the 2015 census (2019 UNSD).
    Swiss-German Sign Language
    [sgg] 5 (Developing). 40 in Liechtenstein (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimate assuming 0.1% of total population.
    Walser
    [wae] 6b (Threatened). 1,300 in Liechtenstein (1995 C. Buchli).

Liechtenstein and Switzerland

Language Vitality Profile

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Language Status Profile

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Resources