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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lu

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

88,661 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

315,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

244,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

720,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.195 billion expenditures: $9.573 billion; including capital expenditures of $975.5 million (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Current account balance [time series]

$3.56 billion

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]

ODA, $235.59 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This stable, high-income economy - benefitting from its proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump, the country enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita ranks first in the world.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$13.39 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain 6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$31.76 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$30.9 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$65,900 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$18.74 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands 5.1% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.5% (2005 est.)

Industries [time series]

banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

316,500 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.205 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

867 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

55,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$279.1 million (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Climate [time series]

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 23.94% permanent crops: 0.39% other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Location [time series]

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Capital [time series]

name: Luxembourg geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution [time series]

17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

1839 (from the Netherlands)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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 2004 (next to be held by June 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5 note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

National holiday [time series]

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV (also known as Christian Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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); Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 110,867 females age 17-49: 108,758 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 90,279 females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 2,775 females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.9% (2003)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075) 65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and resident workers)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.89 years male: 75.6 years female: 82.38 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2000 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 38.7 years male: 37.7 years female: 39.7 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg

Net migration rate [time series]

8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

474,413 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.23% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWT by type: bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10, Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 155 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Mertert

Railways [time series]

total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 5,210 km paved: 5,210 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2002)

Waterways [time series]

37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)