Luxembourg is a country of Western Europe. It covers an area of 2586 km2 and borders Belgium in the north and west, France in the south and Germany in the east. The most important cities are Luxembourg, the capital, with 79 800 residents (2004), Esch-sur-Alzette (27 200 residents), Differdange (28 300 residents), Dudelange (18 100 residents) and Petange (7200 residents).
The climate is temperate, in the transition between sea and continental, with mild summers and cold winters, but with a high degree of humidity.
Economy
Luxembourg has an economy that is based on industry and above all on services. The yield per capitais one of the highest in the world. The metallurgical industry continues to be extremely important for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in addition to the chemical and mechanical industries developed by several foreign multinationals. More than 160 banks have branches in the city of Luxembourg, which has become one of the most important financial centers in Western Europe. Iron deposits are depleted which makes smelters dependent on French iron. The country imports oil and other fossil fuels. Agriculture is not very prosperous, it only produces some quantities of barley, wheat, potatoes, rye and oats. Luxembourg’s main trading partners are Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita(metric tons, 1999), is 18.6.
Population
The population was, in 2006, 474 413 residents, which corresponds to a density of approximately 181.21 residents/km2. The birth and death rates are, respectively, 11.94% and 8.41%. Average life expectancy is 78.89 years. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.930 and the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is 0.920 (2001). It is estimated that, in 2025, the population will be 563,000 residents. It is a country of strong immigration, which is reflected in the composition of the population: 67% from Luxembourg; 13% Portuguese; 5% Italians; 4% French; 3% Belgian; and 2% German. The majority religion is Catholic (95%). The languages of culture are German and French, but the national language is Luxembourgish.
History
Luxembourg was ceded to the House of Burgundy in 1441 and, six years later, it was administered by the Habsburgs. In the middle of the 16th century, it was dominated by Spain. Following the Spanish War of Succession, between 1701 and 1714, Luxembourg was again dominated by Austria. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna turned the country into a grand duchy and awarded it to William I, prince of Nassau and Orange and king of the Netherlands. In 1830, when the Belgians revolted against William I, they were followed by the Luxembourgians. After the revolt, the French-speaking zone was separated and became part of Belgium. In 1867, the European powers made the duchy an independent state, in addition to guaranteeing perpetual neutrality in European policies. But in 1914, Luxembourg neutrality was violated by Germany. For Luxembourg democracy and rights, please check intershippingrates.
During World War II the country was again occupied by German troops and the royal family fled to England. The territory was liberated in 1944 and abandoned neutrality by joining the North Atlantic Treaty Union (NATO) in 1949. Since then, it has lived in great political, social and economic stability. In 1952, it joined the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and, five years later, became a member of the European Union (EU).
Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of Luxembourg, sorted by city location and acronyms.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Luxembourg. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Luxembourg
Check out the maps of this western European country, between France and Germany. Includes a shaded relief map of Luxembourg.
