Luxembourg

Luxembourg

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Grand-Duché de Luxembourg/Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Area 2,586 sq km/998 sq mi Capital Luxembourg Language Letzeburgisch (a German-Moselle-Frankish dialect; official), English Religion Roman Catholic about 95%, Protestant and Jewish 4% Time difference GMT +1 Major holidays 1 January, 1 May, 23 June, 15 August, 1–2 November, 25–26, 31 December; variable: Ascension Thursday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Shrove Monday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, Dudelange, Pétange Physical features on the River Moselle; part of the Ardennes (Oesling) forest in north Airports one international airport; total passengers carried: 1.5 million (2002 est) Railways total length: 275 km/171 mi; total passenger journeys 286,621 per week (2000) Roads total road network: 5,210 km/3,237 mi, of which 100% paved (2002 est); passenger cars: 694.5 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Grand Duke Henri from 2000 Head of government Jean-Claude Juncker from 1995 Political system liberal democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions 12 cantons within three districts Political parties Christian Social Party (PCS), moderate, left of centre; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (POSL), moderate, socialist; Democratic Party (PD), left of centre; Communist Party of Luxembourg, pro-European left wing Death penalty abolished in 1979 Armed forces 900; plus gendarmerie of 600 (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 1 (2005 est) Education spend (% GDP) 3.6 (2001 est) Health spend (% GDP) 6.2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency euro (Luxembourg franc until 2002) GDP (US$) 33.8 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 4 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 30 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 65,340 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 2.6% (2006 est) Unemployment 4.5% (2006 est) Labour force 1.2% agriculture, 20.9% industry, 77.9% services (2005) Major trading partners EU25, Belgium, Germany, France, Americas, Asia Resources iron ore Industries steel and rolled steel products, chemicals, rubber and plastic products, metal and machinery products, paper and printing products, food products, financial services Exports machinery and transport equipment, base metals and manufactures, mechanical and electrical equipment, rubber and related products, plastics, textiles and clothing. Principal market: EU25 85.1% (2005) Imports machinery and electrical apparatus, transport equipment, mineral products, chemicals, plastics, food, beverages, tobacco. Principal source: EU 90.2% (2005) Arable land 23.9% (2006 est) Agricultural products maize, roots and tubers, wheat, forage crops, grapes; livestock rearing and dairy farming


POPULATION

Population 470,800 (2006 est) Population growth rate 1.1% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 182 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 92 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 19%, 15–59 63%, 60+ 18% (2005 est) Ethnic groups majority descended from the Moselle Franks (French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and other European guest and resident workers Life expectancy 76 (men); 82 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 6 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 10 Literacy rate 99% (men); 99% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 25.5 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 6.8 (2003 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.2 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <100 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 52.6 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 154.8 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 683 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 598 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 62.4 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 67.7 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

963 Luxembourg became autonomous within Holy Roman Empire under Siegfried, Count of Ardennes. 1060 Conrad, descendent of Siegfried, took title Count of Luxembourg. 1354 Emperor Charles IV promoted Luxembourg to status of duchy. 1441 Luxembourg ceded to dukes of Burgundy. 1482 Luxembourg came under Habsburg control. 1555 Luxembourg became part of Spanish Netherlands on division of Habsburg domains. 1684–97 Much of Luxembourg occupied by France. 1713 Treaty of Utrecht transferred Spanish Netherlands to Austria. 1797 Conquered by revolutionary France. 1815 Congress of Vienna made Luxembourg a grand duchy, under King William of the Netherlands. 1830 Most of Luxembourg supported Belgian revolt against the Netherlands. 1839 Western part of Luxembourg assigned to Belgium. 1842 Luxembourg entered Zollverein (German customs union). 1867 Treaty of London confirmed independence and neutrality of Luxembourg to allay French fears about possible inclusion in a unified Germany. 1870s Development of iron and steel industry. 1890 Link with Dutch crown ended on accession of Queen Wilhelmina, since Luxembourg's law of succession did not permit a woman to rule. 1912 Revised law of succession allowed Marie-Adelaide to become grand duchess. 1914–18 Occupied by Germany. 1919 Plebiscite overwhelmingly favoured continued independence; Marie-Adelaide abdicated after allegations of collaboration with Germany; Charlotte became grand duchess. 1921 Entered into close economic links with Belgium. 1940 Invaded by Germany. 1942–44 Annexed by Germany. 1948 Luxembourg formed Benelux customs union with Belgium and the Netherlands. 1949 Founding member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 1958 Founding member of European Community (EC). 1964 Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated in favour of son Jean. 1994 Former premier Jacques Santer became president of European Commission (EC). 1995 Christian Democrat Jean-Claude Juncker became prime minister. 2000 Grand Duke Jean abdicated in favour of son Henri. 2002 Luxembourg adopted single European currency (euro). 2004 Juncker formed new coalition government with socialists.


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