Luxembourg

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1839

Luxembourg as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalLuxembourg
LocationWestern Europe, between Belgium and Germany
1994

Every edition of Luxembourg

Populationas each edition published it
401,900 people July 1994 est. · 383,813 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.8% 1994 est. · 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
1.64 children per woman 1994 est. · 1.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$22,600 1993 · $21,700 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1% 1993 · 2.5% in 1993

Geography

Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany

22 fields
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked
Land boundaries
359km
total · Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Location

Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

2,586 sq km

land area

2,586 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

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

Natural resources

iron ore (no longer exploited)

arable land

24%

permanent crops

1%

meadows and pastures

20%

forest and woodland

21%

other

34%

current issues

deforestation

natural hazards

NA

international agreements

  • party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Note

landlocked

People

21 fields
Population
401,900
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.8% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
12.81Death
9.47Net migration
4.7
Labor force
177,300
(one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1980 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

76.69 years

male

73.01 years

female

80.52 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Luxembourger(s)

adjective

Luxembourg

Ethnic divisions

Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages

Luxembourgisch, German, French, English

total population

100%

male

100%

female

100%

by occupation

services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)

Government

Constitutional monarchy

34 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%

Legislature, 60 seatsone dot, one seat

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

conventional long form

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

conventional short form

Luxembourg

local long form

Grand-Duche de Luxembourg

local short form

Luxembourg

Type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Luxembourg

Administrative divisions

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

National holiday

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

Constitution

17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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)

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the sovereign

Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes)

  • elections 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

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)

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

Other political or pressure groups

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

Member of

ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, 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, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC

chief of mission

Ambassador Alphonse BERNS

chancery

2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 265-4171

FAX

(202) 328-8270

consulate(s) general

New York and San Francisco

chief of mission

Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL

embassy

22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City

mailing address

PSC 11, Luxembourg City; 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, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low | inflation, and negligible unemployment.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,600
(1993)
Real growth rate
1%
(1993)industrial production growth: growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Unemployment rate
5.1%
(March 1994)

Overview

The stable, prosperous 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, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and as a member of the 12-member European Union enjoys the advantages of the open European market.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.7 billion (1993)

revenues

$3.5 billion

expenditures

$3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exports

$6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

commodities

finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products

partners

EC 76%, US 5%

Imports

$8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)

commodities

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

partners

Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%

External debt

$131.6 million (1989 est.)

capacity

1,238,750 kW

production

1.375 billion kWh

consumption per capita

3,450 kWh (1990)

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

Currency

1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

  • Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 36.242 (January 1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989);
  • note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

15 fields

Railroads

  • Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 272 km 1,435-mm standard gauge;
  • 178 km double track;
  • 197 km electrified

total

5,108 km

paved

4,995 km (including 80 km of limited access divided highway)

unpaved

gravel 57 km; earth 56 km

Inland waterways

37 km; Moselle River

Pipelines

petroleum products 48 km

Ports

Mertert (river port)

Merchant marine

50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,477,998 GRT/2,424,994 DWT, bulk 8, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 2, container 4, liquefied gas 9, oil tanker 5, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4

total

2

usable

2

with permanent-surface runways

1

with runways over 3,659 m

1

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

0

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

0

Telecommunications

  • 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

Defense Forces

Army, National Gendarmerie

4 fields

Branches

Army, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 103,872;
  • fit for military service 86,026;
  • reach military age (19) annually 2,235 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.2% of GDP (1992)

Affiliation

(overseas territory of Portugal)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Luxembourg.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/luxembourg/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →