Luxembourg

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1839

Luxembourg as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLuxembourg

Area2,586 km2

Populationas each edition published it

388,017 people July 1991 · 383,813 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.04% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 76.43 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.5 children per woman 1991 · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $21,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.5% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

2,586km2

land area: 2,586 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries

359km total

Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

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 floodplain in the southeast

Land use

arable land 24%;
permanent crops 1%;
meadows and pastures 20%;
forest and woodland 21%;
other 34%

People

14 fields

Population

388,017

(July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

12Death

10Net migration

Literacy

100%

(male 100%, female 100%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Nationality

noun--Luxembourger(s); adjective--Luxembourg

Ethnic divisions

Celtic base, with French and German blend; also guest and worker residents from Portugal, Italy, and European countries

Religion

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Language

Luxembourgish, German, French; many also speak English

Labor force

169,600;
one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and FRG;
services 50%, industry 23.2%, government 14.4%, construction 9%, agriculture 3.4% (1987)

Organized labor

100,000 (est.) members of four confederated trade unions

Government

Constitutional monarchy

17 fields

Chamber of Deputies, 60 seats, elected 18 June 1989one dot, one seat

CSV 22LSAP 18DP 11Greens 4PAC 4KPL 1

Percent of vote

CSV 31.7%LSAP 27.2%DP 16.2%Greens 8.4%PAC 7.3%KPL 5.1%other 4.1%

Administrative divisions

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

National Day (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday), 23 June (1921)

Executive branch

grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes);
note--the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch

Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice) Chief of State--Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964);
Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984);
Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984) Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER;
Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Jacques POOS;
Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH;
Communist (KPL), Andre HOFFMANN;
Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS

Suffrage

universal and compulsory at age 18 Chamber of Deputies--last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held by June 1994);
results--CSV 31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL 5.1%, other 4.1%;
seats--(60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1

Other political or pressure groups

group of steel industries representing iron and steel industry, Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers;
Christian and Socialist labor unions;
Federation of Industrialists;
Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation

ACCT, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, EMS, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Andre PHILIPPE;
Chancery at 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 265-4171;
there are Luxembourg Consulates General in New York and San Francisco;
US--Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL;
Embassy at 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City (mailing address is APO New York 09132);
telephone [352] 460123

Flag

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

The stable economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and negligible unemployment.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$6.9billion

per capita $18,000; real growth rate 2.5% (1990)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.5%

(1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.3%

(1990 est.)

External debt

$131.6million

(1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.5 billionExpenditures

$2.3 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Overview

The stable economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small but highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified, particularly toward high-technology firms.

During the past decade, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters and is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands.

Exports

$5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
commodities--finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products;
partners--EC 75%, US 5%

Imports

$6.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.);
commodities--minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods;
partners--Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%

Industrial production

growth rate - 1% (1990 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity

1,500,000 kW capacity; 1,163 million kWh produced, 3,170 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry);
principal products--barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes;
cattle raising widespread

Economic aid

none

Currency

Luxembourg franc (plural--francs); 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1--31.102 (January 1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987), 44.672 (1986), 59.378 (1985);
note--the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

9 fields

Airports, 2 total, 2 usable

permanent-surface runways

1runways over 3,659 m

1runways less than 1,220 m

Networkskm

Highways

5,108Inland waterways

Highways: ; 4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km earth; about 80 km limited access divided highway · Inland waterways: ; Moselle River

Railroads

Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 270 km 1.435-meter standard gauge;
162 km double track;
162 km electrified

Highways

5,108 km total;
4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km earth;
about 80 km limited access divided highway

adequate and efficient system, mainly buried cables;
230,000 telephones;
stations--2 AM, 4 FM, 6 TV;
2 communication satellite earth stations operating in EUTELSAT and domestic systems