Luxembourg

Grand Duchy of LuxembourgGrand-Duche de Luxembourg

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1839 (from the Netherlands)

Luxembourg as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 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

Position49 45 N, 6 10 E

Area2,586 sq km

LocationWestern Europe, between France and Germany

Populationas each edition published it

437,389 people July 2000 est. · 383,813 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.27% 2000 est. · 1.04% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.13 years 2000 est. · 76.43 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.7 children per woman 2000 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

4.83 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$34,200 1999 est. · $21,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.2% 1999 est. · 2.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

Western Europe, between France and Germany

18 fields

Land useshare of 2,586 sq km

arable land 24%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 20%forests and woodland 21%other 34%irrigated 10 sq km (including Belgium) (1993 est.)

Area

2,586sq km

land: 2,586 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Rhode Island

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

559m

Burgplatzlowest point: Moselle River 133 m

Land boundaries

359km

border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Location

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references

Europe

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 flood plain in the southeast

Natural resources

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution in urban areas

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked

People

15 fields

Population

437,389

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.27% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

12.45Death

8.91Net migration

9.21

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)77.13

73.84 · 80.63

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)100%

100% · 100%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 19% (male 42,375; female 40,109)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 148,205; female 145,325)
65 years and over:: 14% (male 24,446; female 36,929) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

4.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Luxembourger(s)
adjective:: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages

Luxembourgian, German, French, English

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August 1999)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

29.79%

CSV 29.79%DP 21.58%LSAP 23.75%ADR 10.36%Green Party 9.09%the Left 3.77%last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2004)

Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes, 60 seats, elected 13 June 1999one dot, one seat

CSV 19DP 15LSAP 13ADR 6Green Party 5the Left 2

Percent of vote

CSV 29.79%DP 21.58%LSAP 23.75%ADR 10.36%Green Party 9.09%the Left 3.77%

Country name

conventional long form:: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form:: Luxembourg
local long form:: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form:: Luxembourg

Data code

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Luxembourg

Administrative divisions

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence

1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday

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

Constitution

17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964);
Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955);
note - Grand Duke JEAN intends to abdicate in September 2000 in favor of his oldest son, Prince HENRI
head of government:: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August 1999)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the monarch, following popular election to the Chamber of Deputies;
they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies

note: government coalition - CSV and DP

Legislative branch

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

elections:: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2004)
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

note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch

Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch;
Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders

Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES];
Democratic Party or DP [Lydie POLFER];
Green Party [Jean HUSS];
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN];
Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [Andre HOFFMAN];
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)

International organization participation

ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS
chancery:: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX:: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general:: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador James C. HORMEL
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
FAX:: [352] 46 14 01

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

The stable, high-income economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment.

31 fields

Real growth rate

4.2%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 1.6% (1999 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.1%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.7%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

236,400

(one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 23%services 76% (1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

12%

Belgium

36%

33%

Germany

27%

20%

France

12%

Netherlands

Exports $7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)Imports $9.6 billion (c.i.f., 1998)(1998)

Budget

Revenues

$4.73 billionExpenditures

$4.71 billion (2000 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 60.73%hydro 24.86%other 14.41% (1998)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

382 million (1998)Electricity consumption

5.856 billion (1998)Electricity exports

900 million (1998)Electricity imports

6.4 billion (1998)

Economy - overview

The stable, high-income economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. During the past decades, 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. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $34,200 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$9.6 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $160 million (1999)

Currency

1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note - centimes no longer in use

Exchange rates

euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999);
Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995);
note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro;

the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

95,400

(1999)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

314,700

(1999)

Telephone system

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

domestic:: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international:: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

8 (1999)

Televisions

285,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 48 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1999 est.)

bulk 2chemical tanker 10container 1liquified gas 18passenger 4petroleum tanker 6roll-on/roll-off 7

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

Networkskm

Highways

5,166Railways

274Waterways

Highways: paved: 5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways) · unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1998) · Waterways: ; Moselle