By the middle of the 20th century, women in most countries across Europe had been given the vote.

Hard-fought campaigns had taken place in many nations across the continent, including the Suffragette movement here in Britain.

However one tiny Alpine nation held out on giving women the right to vote until just 40 years ago.

The tiny Principality of Liechtenstein only agreed to give half its population a chance to have their say at the ballot box in 1984.

And even then it was a closely run thing, with a referendum on the issue seeing 51.29 per cent vote in favour of the change compared to 48.71 per cent again.

This is far from the only unusual fact about the tiny Alpine country, which is nestled between Switzerland and Austria, however.

Liechtenstein, which is home to around 40,000 people, abolished its army in the mid-19th century, having not seen combat since 1866.

Sitting between neutral Switzerland, which has accidentally sent troops over the border into its smaller neighbour on several occasions, and Austria, the German-speaking country is also one of only two-doubly landlocked countries in the world.

This means it is a landlocked country completely surrounded by other landlocked countries (the other one is Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

The country also has what is regarded as one of the worst international football teams in the world, and recently lost 3-1 against San Marino, another European microstate whose performance on the pitch is often the subject of ridicule.

The country is ruled by Prince Hans Adam, who lives in a castle overlooking the capital city of Vaduz. 

Despite its size, it enjoys one of the highest GDPs in the world when adjusted for spending power, and is home to many businesses in its financial sector.

Sitting in the mountains, the country also brings in tourists hoping to take part in winter sports or visit one of the most obscure countries on the continent.