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National Map
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Luxembourg |
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National Flag
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Luxembourg |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Luxembourg |
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National Anthem
Of |
Luxembourg |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Luxembourg |
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Western
Europe, between France and Germany |
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Geographic coordinates:
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49 45 N,
6 10 E |
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total:
2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km,
Germany 138 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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modified
continental with mild winters, cool summers |
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Terrain:
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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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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore
(no longer exploited), arable land |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km
(includes Belgium) (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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air and
water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental
Modification |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world |
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Population:
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468,571
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 18.9% (male 45,768/female 42,980)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 157,453/female 153,927)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 27,573/female
40,870) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
38.51 years
male: 37.56 years
female: 39.48 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.25%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.06
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.41
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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8.86
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
4.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 78.74 years
male: 75.45 years
female: 82.24 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.79
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg |
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Ethnic groups:
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Celtic
base (with French and German blend), Portuguese,
Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo)
and European (guest and resident workers) |
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Religions:
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87% Roman
Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000) |
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Languages:
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Luxembourgish (national language), German
(administrative language), French (administrative
language) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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Luxembourg |
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Administrative divisions:
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3
districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg |
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Independence:
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1839
(from the Netherlands) |
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National holiday:
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National
Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June |
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Constitution:
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17
October 1868; occasional revisions |
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Legal system:
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based on
civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000);
Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born
11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude
JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister
Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the
prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies,
the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister
by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed
by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes
(60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be
held by June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV
36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%;
seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green Party 7,
ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that
serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies;
the Council of State has 21 members appointed by the
Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister |
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Judicial branch:
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judicial
courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2
district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals);
administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's
Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the
Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are
appointed for life by the monarch |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action
Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast
GIBERYEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known
also as Christian Social Party or PCS) [Francois
BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green
Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers'
Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed
Communist Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal
leadership]; other minor parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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ABBL
(bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade
union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural
producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP
(trade union representing civil service); Chambre de
Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers
(Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of
industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL
(center-left trade union) |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT,
AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535
Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg,
Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American
Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123
(personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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This
stable, high-income economy - in between 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 22% 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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$27.27
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.3%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $58,900 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 16.3%
services: 83.1% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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293,700
(of whom 105,000 are foreign cross-border workers
commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany)
(2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.5%
(December, 2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.4%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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19.8% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $13.74 billion
expenditures: $14.49 billion, including capital
expenditures of $760 million (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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barley,
oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock
products |
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Industries:
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banking,
iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum,
information technology, tourism and banking |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2.9%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.511
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.735
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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2.9
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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6.3
billion kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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50,650
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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634
bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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50,700
bbl/day (2001) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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865
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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867
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Exports:
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$13.4
billion f.o.b. (2003) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany
22.1%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.2%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%,
Spain 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$16.3
billion c.i.f. (2003) |
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Imports - commodities:
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minerals,
metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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Belgium
29.8%, Germany 22.6%, China 12.6%, France 12%,
Netherlands 4.2% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $147
million (2002) |
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Currency (code):
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euro
(EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary
Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be
used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1
January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for
everyday transactions within the member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per
US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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355,400
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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473,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: highly developed, completely
automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system;
buried cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels
leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North
America) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM
9, shortwave 2 (1999) |
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Radios:
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285,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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5 (1999)
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Televisions:
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285,000
(1998 est.) |
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Internet country code:
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.lu |
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Internet hosts:
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28,214
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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8 (2000)
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Internet users:
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165,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km
electrified) (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
5,210 km
paved: 5,210 km (including 126 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002) |
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Waterways:
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37 km (on
Moselle River) (2003) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 155
km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mertert
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Merchant marine:
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total:
40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 16, container 6,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll
on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 40 (Belgium 12, Finland 3, France
8, Germany 10, Netherlands 4, United States 3) (2005)
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Airports:
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2 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army |
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Military service age and obligation:
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a 1967
law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of
age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18
are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping
missions (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 110,867 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 90,279 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
2,775 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$231.6
million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9%
(2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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