2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 44,182; female 41,640) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 152,963; female 151,061) 65 years and over: 14.2% (male 26,060; female 38,251) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2002)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Area

land

2,586 sq km

total

2,586 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

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. Geography Luxembourg

Birth rate

11.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$5.5 billion

Capital

Luxembourg

Climate

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Country name

conventional long form

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

conventional short form

Luxembourg

local long form

Grand Duche de Luxembourg

local short form

Luxembourg

Currency

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

Currency code

EUR

Death rate

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD

consulate(s) general

New York and San Francisco

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $160 million (1999)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

6.07 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

744 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

6.389 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

457 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

57.3%

hydro

25.2%

nuclear

0%

other

17.5% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Buurgplaatz 559 m

lowest point

Moselle River 133 m

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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August 1999)

note

government coalition - CSV and DP

Exports

$10.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Spain 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 328-8270

[352] 46 14 01

telephone

[1] (202) 265-4171

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Luxembourg

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 Luxembourg

GDP

purchasing power parity - $21.94 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

30%

services

69% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $48,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Geography - note

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world People Luxembourg

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Luxembourg

Highways

paved

5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)

total

5,189 km

unpaved

0 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$13.25 billion c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners

Belgium 29.7%, Germany 23%, France 13.2%, Taiwan 6.7%, Netherlands 4.6% (2002)

Independence

1839 (from the Netherlands)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

4.84 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Internet country code

.lu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

8 (2000)

Internet users

100,000 (2001) Transportation Luxembourg

Irrigated land

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

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

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 90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

total

359 km

Land use

arable land

25%

other

75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.15 years (2003 est.)

male

74.38 years

total population

77.66 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (2000 est.) Government Luxembourg

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

38.9 years (2002)

male

37.2 years

total

38.1 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 2, chemical tanker 12, container 8, liquefied gas 18, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 8

total

60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,507,258 GRT/2,118,597 DWT

Military branches

Army, Grand Ducal Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$147.8 million (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (FY01/02) Transnational Issues Luxembourg

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

114,326 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

93,994 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

2,636 (2003 est.)

National holiday

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Nationality

adjective

Luxembourg

noun

Luxembourger(s)

Natural gas - consumption

865 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

867 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Net migration rate

9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 155 km (2003)

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)

Population

454,157 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.23% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Mertert

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

285,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2002)

total

274 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable

general assessment

highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables

international

3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Telephones - main lines in use

314,700 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

215,741 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

5 (1999)

Televisions

285,000 (1998 est.)

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

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2002 est.)

Waterways

37 km (on the Moselle)