Luxembourg

Luxembourg Background

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.

Luxembourg Information

• Population: 462,690 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg
• Location:: Western Europe, between France and Germany
• Religions:: 87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
• Ethnic Groups:: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and resident workers)
• Land Boundaries:: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
• Area: total: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 2,586 sq km
• Coast Line: 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
• Maritime Claims: none (landlocked)
• Land Use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)
• Environmental Issues: air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
• Natural Resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
• Highways: total: 5,189 km paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
• Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Mertert
• Airports: 2 (2003 est.)