Luxembourg

Location

• Western Europe, between France and Germany
• landlocked

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Luxembourg	76,684	Capital
Esch-sur-Alzette	36,625
Dudelange	18,013

Size

• 998 square miles
• 2,586 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware

History

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna. When Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands in 1839, Luxembourg lost more than half of its territory to Belgium but gained a larger measure of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  Luxembourg gained full independence in 1867 by promising to remain permanently neutral. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, its neutrality ended in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the EEC (later the EU), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency zone.

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

Languages

Luxembourgish (official administrative, judicial, and national language) 48.9%, Portuguese 15.4%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 14.9%, Italian 3.6%, English 3.6%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 2.9%, other 10.8% (2021 est.)

Religions

Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6%, Muslim 2.3%, other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4%, unaffiliated 26.7% (2020 est.)

Government

constitutional monarchy

• Constitution: history: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868amendment process: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
• Legal System: civil law system
• Executive Branch: chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Luc FRIEDEN (since 17 November 2023)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarchelections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice includes Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation (consists of 27 judges on 9 benches); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts appointed by the monarch for lifesubordinate courts: Court of Accounts; district and local tribunals and courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des députés)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 60 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 10/8/2023parties elected and seats per party: Christian Social People's Party (CSV) (21); Democratic Party (PD/DP) (14); Socialist Workers' Party (POSL/LSAP) (11); Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) (5); Greens (DEI GRÉNG) (4); Pirate Party (PIRATEN) (3); Other (2)percentage of women in chamber: 35%expected date of next election: October 2028note: a 21-member Council of State is appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister and serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income EU and eurozone economy; global, highly capitalized banking sector; one of highest GDP-per-capita countries; strengthened domestic demand and lower interest rates contributing to economic growth; challenges include pension-system sustainability, labor-market dynamics, and energy price volatility
• Budget: revenues: $33.533 billion (2022 est.)expenditures: $33.054 billion (2022 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
• Industries: banking and financial services, construction, real estate services, iron, metals, and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation and logistics, chemicals, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism, biotechnology
• Agricultural Products: milk, wheat, barley, triticale, potatoes, pork, grapes, beef, rye, rapeseed (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 51.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 24.1% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.6% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 26.7% (2022 est.)forest: 34.5% (2022 est.)other: 14.2% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, gas turbines (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Belgium 26%, Germany 23%, France 10%, Netherlands 5%, USA 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: iron blocks, gas turbines, plastic products, rubber tires, plastics (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Germany 18%, France 15%, Belgium 8%, Netherlands 7%, Italy 6% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports