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Background:
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 Founded
in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than
half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger
measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867.
Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality
in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and
when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg
became one of the six founding countries of the European
Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it
joined the euro currency area. |
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Location:
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Western Europe,
between France and Germany |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total:
2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller
than Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 359
km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany
138 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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modified
continental with mild winters, cool summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly gently
rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to
slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore (no
longer exploited), arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land:
25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km
(includes Belgium) (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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air and water
pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur
85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the
only Grand Duchy in the world |
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Population:
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462,690
(July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 19% (male 45,422; female 42,638)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 155,519; female 151,891)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 26,981; female 40,239)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
38.3 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 39.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.28%
(2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.21
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.42
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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8.97
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
4.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 78.58 years
male: 75.31 years
female: 82.07 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less
than 100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg |
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Ethnic groups:
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Celtic
base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European
(guest and resident workers) |
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Religions:
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87%
Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000) |
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Languages:
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Luxembourgish
(national language), German (administrative language), French
(administrative language) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg |
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Government type:
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constitutional
monarchy |
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Capital:
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Luxembourg |
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Administrative divisions:
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3 districts;
Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg |
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Independence:
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1839 (from the
Netherlands) |
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National holiday:
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National Day
(Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June |
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Constitution:
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17 October 1868,
occasional revisions |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11
November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER
(since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER
(since 7 August 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime
minister and appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following
popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of
the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the deputy
prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are
responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and DP |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members
are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by
June 2004)
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as
an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of
State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice
of the prime minister
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV
29.79%, DP 21.58%, LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%,
the Left 3.77%; seats by party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR
6, Green Party 5, the Left 2 |
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Judicial branch:
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judicial courts
and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and
1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and
tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts
and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all
courts are appointed for life by the monarch |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action Committee
for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN]; Christian
Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian Social
Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or
DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS];
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN];
Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no
formal leadership]; other minor parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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ABBL (bankers'
association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale
Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP
(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing
civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce);
Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation
of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL
(center-left trade union) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535
Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit
1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy
Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01 |
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Economy - overview:
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This
stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low
inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector,
initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly
diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products.
Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about
22% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in
steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive foreign
dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms.
The economy depends on foreign and trans-border workers for
more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like
all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,
the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and
enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living. |
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GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $25.01 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.2%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $55,100 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
0.5%
industry: 16.6%
services: 82.9% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2%
(2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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262,300
(of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily
from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services
90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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3%
(2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$5.5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital
expenditures of $760 million (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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banking,
iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products,
engineering, tires, glass, aluminum |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1.5%
(2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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457
million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
other: 17.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.07
billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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50,650
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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865
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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barley,
oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products |
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Exports:
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$8.571
billion f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products,
glass |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany
23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Spain
4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$11.61
billion c.i.f. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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minerals,
metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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Belgium
29.7%, Germany 23%, France 13.2%, Taiwan 7.3%, Netherlands
4.6% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA,
$147 million (2002) |
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Currency:
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euro
(EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by
financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002,
the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions
within the member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros
per US dollar - 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09
(2000), 0.94 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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355,400 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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473,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried
cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on
TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM 9,
shortwave 2 (1999) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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5 (1999) |
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Internet country code:
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.lu |
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Internet hosts:
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17,260 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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165,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 274
km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km
electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
5,189 km
paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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37 km (on the
Moselle) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 155 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mertert |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 40
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 11, container 8, liquefied gas
4, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: Belgium 7, Denmark 1, Finland 3, France
3, Germany 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 5, Switzerland 1, United
Kingdom 7, United States 3
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army |
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Military manpower - military age:
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19 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 115,721 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 95,107 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
2,601 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$231.6 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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