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Luxembourg

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the landlocked nation in situated in Western Europe bordering Belgium, France, and Germany to the west, south and east respectively. Luxembourg is a member of European Union, NATO, the United Nations, Benelux, and the Western European Union. Luxembourg City is the capital of Luxembourg.

HISTORY:- Luxembourg was once incorporated into the empire of Charlemagne. In 963, Luxembourg became independent when Siegfried, count of Ardennes, became sovereign of Lucilinburhuc. Siegfried was followed by Conrad as the count of Luxembourg in 1060. The Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns, and the French annexed Luxembourg successively. In 1815 in the Congress of Vienna, Luxembourg gained the grandeur of grand duchy and William I, king of the Netherlands became the king of the region. During the Belgian Revolution, started in 1830, a major portion of the western part of the country was ceded to Belgium with the Treaty of London in 1839. The eastern part remained under Netherlands and gained independence in 1848. The affirmation of Luxembourg's independence was declared in the First Treaty of London in 1839 which was re-affirmed in the Second Treaty of London in 1867. During the World Wars I and II, Luxembourg was occupied by Germany. In the World War II, Luxembourg joined the Allied force to fight Germany.

GEOGRAPHY:- Luxembourg is located at 49 45 N, 6 10 E in Western Europe between France, Belgium and Germany. The landlocked nation is surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany. It is one of the smallest European nations comprising total 2,586 sq km area with no internal water sources. The lowest point is Moselle River (133 m) and the highest point is Buurgplaatz (559 m). The northern part of the country is known as Oesling while the southern part is known as Gutland. Luxembourg is mostly composed of gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys in the central; hilly to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Luxembourg is modified continental with mild winters and cool summers.

GOVERNMENT:- Luxembourg has a constitutional monarchy. The constitution has been adopted on 17th October 1868 but it is frequently revised. The legal system is base on the civil law system. The three branches of the government and their higher officials are as follows:

Executive branch comprises the Grand Duke (chief of state), the Prime Minister (head of government), the Deputy Prime Minister and the cabinet. The leader of the majority party or the majority coalition is generally appointed the prime minister by the Monarch. The deputy prime minister is also appointed by the monarch. Both the Prime minister and the deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. The monarch is hereditary. The council of ministers is appointed by the Monarch on the recommendation of the Prime minister.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the judicial courts and tribunals, and the administrative courts and tribunals. All the judges are appointed for life by the monarch.

Christian Social Union (CSV), Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), Democratic Party (DP), Green Party, and Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) are the major political parties in Luxembourg. Suffrage is universal and compulsory at the age of 18.

Grand Duke Grand Duke Henri

Prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker

Deputy Prime Minister Jean Asselborn

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Luxembourg is divided into 3 districts, which are further sub-divided into 12 cantons and then 116 communes.

The districts are: Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg.

CULTURE:- Luxembourg has gained the title of ‘European Capital of Culture’ twice in 1995 and in 2007. Folk traditions are prominent in the cultural traits of Luxembourg. Joseph Kutter and Michel Majerus are notable painters of the nation. The city of Luxembourg is itself listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are plenty of museums in the country like the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA), the History Museum of the City of Luxembourg, the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (Mudam), and the National Museum of Military History (MNHM).

ECONOMY:- The stable and high-income economy of Luxembourg is characterized by fast growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector is as developed as the financial sector of the nation.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $29.43 billion; per capita $55,600.

Real growth rate: 3.5%.

Inflation: 3.6%.

Unemployment: 4.9%.

Arable land: 23%.

Agriculture: Wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy products, livestock products.

Labor force: 316,500 of whom 121,600 are foreigners; agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.).

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

Natural resources: Iron ore, arable land.

Budget:

Revenues: $20.53 billion

Expenditures: $19.27 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 5.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $NA

Exports: $13.39 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass.

Exports - partners: Germany 19.3%, France 15.5%, Italy 9.5%, UK 9.4%, Belgium 8.8%, Spain 5.2%, Netherlands 4.4% (2006)

Imports: $18.74 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.): minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods.

Imports - partners: Belgium 26.4%, Germany 20.2%, China 16.8%, France 8.5%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands 4.2% (2006)

Major trading partners: Germany, France, Belgium, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, China (2004).

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly Luxembourg franc)

LANGUAGE:- Luxembourgish is the de jure national language of Luxembourg since 1984. German and French are considered as the administrative or official languages of the nation.

CITIES:- The capital of Luxembourg, Luxembourg city is the largest city as well. Other large cities are Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, and Dudelange.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Luxembourg is 480,222 with the average growth rate of 1.2%.

Density per sq mi: 481

Literacy rate: 100% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Luxembourger 63.1%

Portuguese 13.3%

French 4.5%

Italian 4.3%

German 2.3%

Other European 7.3%

Other 5.2% (2000)

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 87%

Other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13%

(2000)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 11.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 8.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.18 years

Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 5,521

UNICEF:- UNICEF’s priorities include children education, health, protection of children rights and prevention of HIV in Luxembourg.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 274 km (2002).

Highways: total: 5,189 km; paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2000).

Waterways: 37 km; Moselle.

Ports and harbors: Mertert.

Airports: 2 (2002).

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