Luxembourg

§1. Luxembourg Introduction

Background:
  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.

§2. Luxembourg Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates:
  49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references:
  Europe

Area:
  total: 2,586 km²
  land: 2,586 km²
  water: 0 km²

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: 23.94%
  permanent crops: 0.39%
  other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  40 km² (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- 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

Geography - note:
  landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

§3. Luxembourg People

Population:
  474,413 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)
  15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)
  65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 38.7 years
  male: 37.7 years
  female: 39.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.23% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 78.89 years
  male: 75.6 years
  female: 82.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Luxembourger(s)
  adjective: Luxembourg

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

Religions:
  87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

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.)

§4. Luxembourg Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  conventional short form: Luxembourg
  local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
  local short form: 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 Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004)
  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 LSAP

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 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
  election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP
    16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP
    10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
  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

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 [Gast GIBERYEN];
  Christian Social People's Party or CSV (also known as Christian Social
  Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH];
  Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP
  [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (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); Greenpeace (environment protection);
  LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of
  ecology); OGBL (center- left trade union)

International organization participation:
  ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
  FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND
  chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
  FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
  consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER
  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

§5. Luxembourg Economy

Economy - overview:
  This stable, high-income economy - benefitting from its proximity to
  France, Belgium, and Germany - 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 28%
  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 cross-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 enjoys
  an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita ranks first in
  the world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $29.43 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $31.96 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $55,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 1%
  industry: 13%
  services: 86% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  316,500 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
  primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  4.9% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  19.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $9.195 billion
  expenditures: $9.573 billion; including capital expenditures of $975.5
    million (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy products,
  livestock products

Industries:
  banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology,
  telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal
  products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
  4.4% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
  6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
  2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports:
  5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  55,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
  50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  1.205 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  867 million m³ (2001 est.)

Exports:
  $13.39 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass

Exports - partners:
  Germany 22.2%, France 19.8%, Belgium 10%, UK 8.5%, Italy 7.3%, Spain 6%,
  Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:
  $18.74 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:
  Belgium 29.8%, Germany 22.6%, China 12.6%, France 12%, Netherlands 4.2%
  (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $173.5 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $NA

Economic aid - donor:
  ODA, $235.59 million (2004)

Currency (code):
  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

Exchange rates:
  euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626
  (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Luxembourg Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  360,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  539,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
  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)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
  5 (1999)

Internet country code:
  .lu

Internet hosts:
  70,465 (2005)

Internet users:
  270,800 (2005)

§7. Luxembourg Transportation

Airports:
  2 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2005)

Heliports:
  1 (2005)

Pipelines:
  gas 155 km (2004)

Railways:
  total: 274 km
  standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 5,210 km
  paved: 5,210 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2002)

Waterways:
  37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)

Merchant marine:
  total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 509,517 GRT/517,644 DWT
  by type: chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3,
    petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 11
  foreign-owned: 41 (Belgium 15, Finland 3, France 9, Germany 8, Netherlands
    3, US 3) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Mertert

§8. Luxembourg Military

Military branches:
  Army

Military service age and obligation:
  a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for
  voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat
  or with peacekeeping missions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 17-49: 110,867 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 17-49: 90,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 2,775 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $231.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.9% (2003)

§9. Luxembourg Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none


<Factbook 2006>
