General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 2 February 1997 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. The Patriotic Union (VU) won a majority of thirteen seats, with the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) winning ten. The Free List (FL) won two seats. Voter turnout was 86.8%.
Incumbent prime minister Mario Frick of the VU sought-re-lection for a second term, while the FBP nominated deputy prime minister Thomas Büchel. Following the elections, the FBP ended the coalition government that had existed since 1938 and moved into the opposition; the VU subsequently formed a sole majority government under the leadership of Frick. The new government was sworn in on 14 April 1997.
The 25 members of the Landtag are elected by open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats. Voters vote for a party list and then may strike through candidates for whom they do not wish to cast a preferential vote, and may add names of candidates from other lists. The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%. Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet. Voting is compulsory by law and most is carried out by post. Polling stations are open only for one and a half hours on election day. Citizens over 20 years of age who have been resident in the country for one month prior to election day are eligible to vote.
A total of 67 candidates were presented for the election; 47 men and 20 women.