Luxembourg

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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.

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Western Europe, between France and Germany

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49 45 N, 6 10 E

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Europe

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slightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

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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

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iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

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0 sq km (2012)

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most people live in the south, on or near the border with France

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occasional flooding

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landlocked

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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 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by nationality

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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.)

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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 est.)

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1.26% (2025 est.)

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9.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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10.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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most people live in the south, on or near the border with France

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120,000 LUXEMBOURG (capital) (2018)

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31 years (2020 est.)

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12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.62 (2025 est.)

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2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

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4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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22.6% (2016)

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51.1% (2022 est.)

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

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modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

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9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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3.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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constitutional monarchy

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12 cantons; Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz

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civil law system

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR <br>Christian Social People's Party or CSV <br>Democratic Party or DP <br>Green Party <br>Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP <br>Pirate Party <br>The Left (dei Lenk/la Gauche) 

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ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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1839 (from the Netherlands)

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National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June

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<strong>note:</strong> this is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year

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<strong>description: </strong>three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue<br><br><strong>history:</strong> the colors are derived from the Grand Duke's coat of arms

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<strong>note: </strong>similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which is shorter and uses a darker blue

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red rampant lion

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red, white, light blue

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<p>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</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$93.197 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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milk, wheat, barley, triticale, potatoes, pork, grapes, beef, rye, rapeseed (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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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

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-1.1% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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350,000 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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17.3% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<strong>note:</strong> data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

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27.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Germany 18%, France 15%, Belgium 8%, Netherlands 7%, Italy 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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iron blocks, gas turbines, plastic products, rubber tires, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Belgium 26%, Germany 23%, France 10%, Netherlands 5%, USA 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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cars, refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, gas turbines (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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long national tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences; home to Europe's largest privately owned broadcast media group, the RTL Group, which operates 46 TV stations and 29 radio stations in Europe; also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Soci&eacute;t&eacute; Europ&eacute;enne des Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL Group operates TV and radio networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French and German stations available; satellite and cable TV services available

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.lu

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LX

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3 (2025)

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11 (2025)

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Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Grand Ducal Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Internal Security

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approximately 900 active military personnel (2025)

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the Luxembourg Army has a small mix of Western origin equipment (2025)

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18-26 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1969) (2025)

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<strong>note 1: </strong>since 2003, the Army has allowed EU citizens 18-24 years of age who have been a resident in the country for at least 36 months to volunteer<strong><br><br>note 2:</strong> 2024, women made up about 12% of the military's full-time personnel

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founded in 1881, the Luxembourg Army is responsible for the defense of the country and fulfilling the Grand Duchy’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping, as well as providing support to civil authorities in the event of emergencies, such as floods or disease outbreaks; the Army is an active participant in EU, NATO, and UN missions and has contributed small numbers of troops to a number of multinational operations in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia; it trains and exercises regularly with EU and NATO partners and has contributed to the NATO battlegroup forward deployed in Lithuania since 2017; Luxembourg was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949<br><br>in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2025)

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the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA; established 2018) (2025)

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Luxembourg Space Agency was established in 2018 to develop space policy, encourage and coordinate commercial space ventures, support space education, and promote the country&rsquo;s space-related capabilities internationally; has a national space strategy; has set up policy and funding initiatives (such as LuxIMPULSE) to encourage research, development, innovation, and entrepreneurship and attract space-based industries; focuses on developing commercial satellites and infrastructure, as well as other capabilities and technologies; hosts some of the largest commercial satellite companies in the world; member of the ESA since 2005 and participates in a variety of ESA programs; cooperates bilaterally with individual ESA and EU member states; also works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UAE, and the US (2025)

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1980s - began creating a satellite telecommunications infrastructure for Europe<br><br>2014 - first privately built probe to successfully fly by the Moon (launched by China)<br><br>2018 - developed communications satellite (GOVSAT-1) to support the EU’s secure communications and space situational awareness program (GOVSATCOM)<br><br>2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration and agreed to join the Moon exploration mission<br><br>2021 - launched Luxembourg’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure project (LuxQCI) in support of the EU’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI)<br><br>2025 - launched the Luxembourg Earth Observation System (LUXEOSys) satellite, part of a national space-based remote sensing program