World Atlas 2010 (4th edition)

263

Luxembourg

EUROPE

FACTFILE

OFFICIAL NAME: Grand Duchy of

Luxembourg

DATE OF FORMATION: 1867

CAPITAL: Luxembourg-Ville

POPULATION: 486,200

TOTAL AREA: 998 sq. miles (2586 sq. km)

DENSITY: 487 people per sq. mile

LANGUAGES: Luxembourgish*,

German, French

RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 97%, Jewish,

Greek Orthodox, and Protestant 3%

ETHNIC MIX: Luxembourger 62%,

foreign residents 38%

GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system

CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents

Part of the plateau of the Ardennes in western Europe,

Luxembourg is one of Europe’s richest states. A tax

haven and banking center, it is also home to key EU institutions.

GEOGRAPHY

Dense Ardennes forests in the

north, with a low, open plateau to the

south. Undulating terrain throughout.

CLIMATE

The climate is moist, with warm

summers and mild winters. Snow is

common only in the Ardennes.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Ethnic tensions are rare, despite a

large proportion of foreigners (over a

third of residents). Integration has been

straightforward; most are fellow western

Europeans and Catholics, mainly from

Italy and Portugal. Low unemployment

and high salaries promote stability.

Divorce rates are rising and marriage is

becoming less common.

THE ECONOMY

Traditional industries such as

steelmaking have given way to the

banking and service sectors. Low

taxes and banking secrecy laws attract

foreign investors.

INSIGHT: Luxembourg’s capital is

home to around 2000 investment

funds and over 150 banks

10 km

10 miles

0

0

500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

G E R M A N Y

F R A N C E

BELGIUM

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Pétange

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Echternach

LUXEMBOURG