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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.

Contents 1 Geography 2 People 3 Government 4 Economy 5 Communications 6 Transportation 7 Military 8 Transnational Issues

Geography

Location 

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates 

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references 

Europe

Area 

total: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries 

total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims 

none (landlocked)

Climate 

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain 

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

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources 

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use 

arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

NA

Environment - current issues 

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements 

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification

Geography - note 

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world, it is the smallest of the European Union member states

People

Population 

448,569 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 43,634; female 41,164)
15-64 years: 67% (male 151,364; female 149,156)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 25,486; female 37,765) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.25% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

12.06 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

8.83 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

9.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

4.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 77.48 years
female: 80.97 years (2002 est.)
male: 74.2 years

Total fertility rate 

1.7 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

0.16% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups 

Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest and resident workers)

Religions 

the greatest preponderance of the population is Roman Catholic with a very few Protestants, Jews, and Muslims
note: 1979 legislation forbids the collection of religious statistics

Languages 

Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg

Government type 

constitutional monarchy

Capital 

Luxembourg

Administrative divisions 

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence 

1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday 

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Constitution 

17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Legal system 

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch 

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

Legislative branch 

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

Judicial branch 

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

Political parties and leaders 

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

Political pressure groups and leaders 

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)

International organization participation 

ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US 

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

Diplomatic representation from the US 

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

Flag description 

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Economy - overview 

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 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.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $20 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

2.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $44,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 1%
industry: 30%
services: 69% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

1.6% (2002 est.)

Labor force 

262,300 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)

Labor force - by occupation 

services 90%, industry 8%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate 

4.1% (2002 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $5.5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $760 million $NA (2002 est.)

Industries 

banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Industrial production growth rate 

2% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production 

467.7 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 26%
other: 17% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

6.158 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

735 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

6.458 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products

Exports 

$7.85 billion f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities 

machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass

Exports - partners 

EU 84.7% (Germany 24.6%, France 19.6%, Belgium 12.3%), US 3.5% (2001)

Imports 

$10.25 billion c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities 

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners 

EU 86.7% (Belgium 34.3%, Germany 25.1%, France 12.8%), US 5.8% (2001)

Debt - external 

$NA

Economic aid - donor 

ODA, $160 million (1999)

Currency 

euro (EUR); Luxembourg franc (LUF)
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

Currency code 

EUR; LUF

Exchange rates 

euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Luxembourg francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997)

Fiscal year 

calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

314,700 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

215,741 (2000)

Telephone system 

general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios 

285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

5 (1999)

Televisions 

285,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code 

.lu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

8 (2000)

Internet users 

100,000 (2001)

Transportation

Railways 

total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2001)

Highways 

total: 5,166 km
paved: 5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Waterways 

37 km (on the Moselle)

Pipelines 

petroleum products 48 km

Ports and harbors 

Mertert

Merchant marine 

total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,487,752 GRT/2,123,579 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 13, container 8, liquefied gas 19, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 6
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (2002 est.)

Airports 

2 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Heliports 

1 (2002)

Military

Military branches 

Army, Grand Ducal Police

Military manpower - military age 

19 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 113,557 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 93,429 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 2,565 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$147.8 million (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

0.8% (FY01/02)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none