Statistical information Luxembourg 1999

Luxembourg in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 2,586 km²
Land: 2,586 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundariesTotal: 359 km
Border countries: (3) Belgium 148 km;
, France 73 km;
, Germany 138 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
Extremes highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land useArable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 20%
Forests and woodland: 21%
Other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 km² (including Belgium (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 429,080 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Luxembourger(s)
Adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998)
15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717)
65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.35 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.78 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air and water pollution in urban areas
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.65 years
Male: 74.58 years
Female: 80.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (1980 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Conventional short form: Luxembourg
Local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
Local short form: Luxembourg
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955)
Head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
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 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5
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 leadersInternational 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, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS
In the us chancery: 2,200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-4,171
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 328-8,270
In the us consulates general: New York and San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY
From the us embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2,535 Luxembourg City
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 9,126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9,500, APO AE 9,123 (personal mail)
From the us telephone: [352] 46 01 23
From the us 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $32,700 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 1%
Industry: 22%
Services: 77% (1998 est.)
Agriculture products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)
By occupation services: 83.2%
By occupation industry: 14.3%
By occupation agriculture: 2.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $5.46 billion
Expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products
Partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%
Imports: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%, Netherlands 4%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1_34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994); note_the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
Note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.158 billion kWh (1997)
Production by source fossil fuel: 90.12%
Production by source hydro: 9.88%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 5.381 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 800 million kWh (1996)
Imports: 5.8 billion kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 279,736 (1997)
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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $124 million (FY97)
Percent of gdp: 0.8% (1995)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 48 km
RailwaysTotal: 275 km
Standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1995)
RoadwaysWaterways: 37 km; Moselle
Merchant marineTotal: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13, oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier 1 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs