Luxembourg

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1839

Luxembourg as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 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 km

Populationas each edition published it

392,405 people July 1992 · 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

1.6 children per woman 1992 · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields

Total area

2,586km

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries

359km

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

392,405

(July 1992), growth rate 1.0% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages

Luxembourgisch, German, French; many also speak English

Labor force

177,300;
one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and FRG;
services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)

Organized labor

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

31.7%

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)

Leaders

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)

Political parties and leaders

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

Elections

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

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Alphonse BERNS;
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;
PSC 11 (mailing address is APO AE 09132-5380);
telephone [352] 460123;
FAX [352] 461401

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

Inflation, consumer prices

3.7%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

1.3%

(1990)

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.

GDP

purchasing power equivalent - $7.83 billion, per capita $20,200; real growth rate 2.5% (1991 est.)

Exports

$6.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities:: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products
partners:: EC 75%, US 5%

Imports

$7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities:: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
partners:: Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%

Industrial production

growth rate - 0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity

1,500,000 kW capacity; 1,163 million kWh produced, 3,170 kWh per capita (1991)

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 - 32.462 (January 1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987);
note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

9 fields

Merchant marine, 49 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 3container 5roll-on/roll-off 5petroleum tanker 6chemical tanker 4combination ore/oil 3liquefied gas 8passenger 1bulk 8combination bulk 649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,592,985 GRT/2,642,249 DWT

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

highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables;
230,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable;
1 direct-broadcast satellite earth station;
nationwide mobile phone system