Today, let's visit
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a country in Europe, home to about 607,728 people. Its capital is Luxembourg.
It covers 2,586 square kilometres (999 square miles). That's slightly smaller than Rhode Island.
A little 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.
What's it like there?
The weather is modified continental with mild winters, cool summers.
- Location
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Western Europe, between France and Germany
- Size
-
- Slightly smaller than Rhode Island
- About half the size of Delaware
- Climate
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Modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
- Landscape
-
- 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
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Iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
- Land use
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Agricultural land 51.7%
Arable land 23.8%
Permanent crops 0.6%
Permanent pasture 27.1%
Forest 34.5%
Other 13.9%
2023 estimate
- Good to know
-
Landlocked
Who lives there?
About 607,728 people live in Luxembourg, and the biggest city is Luxembourg.
- Largest cities
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Luxembourg Capital 76,684 Esch-sur-Alzette 36,625 Dudelange 18,013 - 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 estimate
- Religions
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Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6% Muslim 2.3% Other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4% Unaffiliated 26.7% 2020 estimate
- Ethnic groups
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Luxembourger 52.9% Portuguese 14.5% French 7.6% Italian 3.7% Belgian 3% German 2% Spanish 1.3% Romania 1% Other 14% 2022 estimate
Note: Data represent population by nationality
- Where people live
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Most people live in the south, on or near the border with France
- Cities and towns
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Urban population 92.1% of total population
2023
Rate of urbanization 1.43% annual rate of change
2020-25 estimate
- What people are called
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Noun Luxembourger(s)
Adjective Luxembourg
Who's in charge?
Its government is a constitutional monarchy.
- Leaders
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Head of state Grand Duke Guillaume (since 3 October 2025)
Head of government Prime Minister Luc Frieden (since 17 November 2023)
- Parliament
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Legislature name Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des députés)
Legislative structure Unicameral
Number of seats 60 (all directly elected)
Electoral system Proportional representation
Scope of elections Full renewal
Term in office 5 years
Most recent election date 10/8/2023
Parties 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 2028
Note: 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
- Courts
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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 life
Subordinate courts - Court of Accounts
- District and local tribunals and courts
- Constitution
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History - Previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856)
- Latest effective 17 October 1868
Amendment 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
- Legal system
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Civil law system
- Who can vote
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- 18 years of age
- Universal and compulsory
How does it make a living?
- In short
-
- 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
- Industries
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- 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
- Farming
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- Milk
- Wheat
- Barley
- Triticale
- Potatoes
- Pork
- Grapes
- Beef
- Rye
- Rapeseed
2023
Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- Exports
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- Iron blocks
- Gas turbines
- Plastic products
- Rubber tires
- Plastics
2023
Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- Sells most to
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Germany 18% France 15% Belgium 8% Netherlands 7% Italy 6% 2023
Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- Imports
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- Cars
- Refined petroleum
- Electricity
- Plastic products
- Gas turbines
2023
Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- Buys most from
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Belgium 26% Germany 23% France 10% Netherlands 5% USA 4% 2023
Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- Workforce
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350,000
2024 estimate
Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- Below the poverty line
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17.3%
2021 estimate
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- Electricity
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Electrification - total population 100%
2022 estimate
- Government budget
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Revenues $37.951 billion
Expenditures $38.263 billion
2023 estimate
Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Want to read more? Try the Wikipedia article or the Wikipedia portal.
Have a great day!
I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
The more we all learn about the world, the better a place it becomes. Thank you for your curiosity!