Mundo's country rating is essentially a freedom index whereby our team of specialists rates a combination of freedoms, which include freedom from violence and personal attacks, financial freedom from high taxes, business freedom from government interference, and especially from socialism and communism.

Political stability: 10

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy. In today’s world, that generally means a government led by a prime minister and a king or queen as a decorative figure. That’s not the case with Liechtenstein, where the prince exercises executive power.

Liechtenstein’s royal family understands the importance of furthering their citizens’ financial and personal freedoms and that translates into a country that’s light years away from Europe’s moral, political, and economic decay and especially far away from socialism. You can rest assured that Liechtenstein will remain stable for years to come, both economically and politically. No socialism, no high taxes, and no corruption or political turmoil. This is the place to be.

Personal safety: 10

Liechtenstein is as safe as it can get, as most years don’t even register one homicide. The crime rate is so low that the country has only one prison, which allows for sentences under two years; those sentenced for over two years are jailed abroad in Switzerland or Austria. Even petty crimes such as pickpocketing, which are common in most safe countries, are rare in Liechtenstein. It’s a 40,000-people country; everyone knows everybody!

Lifestyle: 10

Liechtenstein is one of the calmest places on the planet. You can go there to restore your energy and relax, watching the mighty alps. Locals are fantastically welcoming, and you will enjoy the views of a lifetime. Plus, the country doesn’t have that many visitors, so you don’t have to bother too much about hoards of tourists. Oh, and as we told you: you can have dinner with the Prince on the national holiday (Staatsfeiertag) in the Vaduz Castle on August 15.

And what if you get bored with Liechtenstein’s calmness? You’re an hour and a half drive away from Zürich, two hours from Basel, and four hours from Geneva and Salzburg. So, whenever you want more action, you can take a train or drive a little bit and enjoy the city life in one of these major European metropolises.

Taxation: 9

Liechtenstein has one of the best tax systems in Europe. First, on the personal side, the country applies a progressive system that goes from 2.5 to 22.4% when you add the national tax plus the communal surtax. This means that Liechtenstein’s top tax rate is about half of most European countries. Further, capital gains and dividends are tax-free.

On the corporate side, the country has a flat 12.5% corporate tax rate, which is among the lowest in Europe, the same rate as Cyprus, and only higher than Hungary, Montenegro, and Malta. Capital gains from sale of shares are tax-exempt but those coming from sale of real estate might be liable to a 24% tax rate. Dividends are also tax-exempt, albeit certain conditions apply.

Investment potential: 10

Liechtenstein is one of the smallest independent countries in the world. Thus, you probably think there’s not much to do here. You are wrong: Liechtenstein has one of the freest economies in Europe. It is the premier destination for financially-oriented family offices and wealth managers. It is one of the most exclusive destinations you can find globally.

Mundo’s freedom rating: 49/50, AAA.