Luxembourg Travel Guide - Facts on Luxembourg

		Luxembourg
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	Luxembourg Travel Guide: Facts on Luxembourg
History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation
Map of Luxembourg and its major cities

History		Top of Page
	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.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic Coordinates	49 45 N, 6 10 E
Area	Total: 2,586 sq km Water: 0 sq km Land: 2,586 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land Boundaries	Total: 359 km Border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline	0 km (landlocked)
Climate	Modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain	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
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Moselle River 133 m Highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural Resources	Iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Geography Note	"Landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
Natural hazards	None
People		Top of Page
Population	480,222 (July 2007 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 18.8% (male 46,478/female 43,656) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 161,466/female 158,261) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 28,530/female 41,831) (2007 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Luxembourger(s) Adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic Groups	Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest and resident workers)
Religions	87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Language	Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Literacy	Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 100%

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Conventional short form: Luxembourg Local short form: Luxembourg Local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government Type	Constitutional monarchy
Capital	Luxembourg
Administrative Divisions	3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence	1839 (from the Netherlands)
Flag Description	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
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	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.
Currency	Euro
Currency Code	EUR
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
Internet Country Code	.lu
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 275 km standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways	total: 5,227 km paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2004)
Waterways	37 km (on the Moselle)
Ports and Harbors	Mertert
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Facts on Luxembourg