2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2006)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2006)

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

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

Budget

expenditures

$19.79 billion; including capital expenditures of $975.5 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$19.07 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 6 10 E

name

Luxembourg

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (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

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$4.63 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

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

Debt - external

$NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND

telephone

[1] (202) 265-4171/72

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $235.59 million (2004)

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 about 60% 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.

Electricity - consumption

6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports

2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - production

3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)

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-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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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 Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004)

note

government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Exports

$19.55 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain 6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 328-8270

[352] 46 14 01

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

13%

services

86% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$68,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.37 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$32.6 billion (2006 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 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$24.22 billion c.i.f. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners

Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands 5.1% (2005)

Independence

1839 (from the Netherlands)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

4.73 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, 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

Internet country code

.lu

Internet hosts

88,661 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

8 (2000)

Internet users

315,000 (2005) Transportation Luxembourg

Investment (gross fixed)

18.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

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

203,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

13%

services

86% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

total

359 km

Land use

arable land

23.94%

other

75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)

permanent crops

0.39%

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 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

elections

last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)

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

82.38 years (2006 est.)

male

75.6 years

total population

78.89 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

Manpower available for military service

females age 17-49

108,758 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

110,867

Manpower fit for military service

females age 17-49

88,638 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

90,279

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 17-49

2,703 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,775

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

39.7 years (2006 est.)

male

37.7 years

total

38.7 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10, Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)

total

42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWT

Military branches

Army

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$231.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (2003) Transnational Issues Luxembourg

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)

National holiday

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Nationality

adjective

Luxembourg

noun

Luxembourger(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Net migration rate

8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

62,420 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 155 km (2006)

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)

Population

474,413 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.23% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Mertert Military Luxembourg

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

285,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)

total

274 km

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$232.2 million (August 2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

5,227 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2004)

total

5,227 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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

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

country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Telephones - main lines in use

244,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

720,000 (2005)

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

1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2006 est.)

Waterways

37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)