Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg (Luxembourgish) Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (French) Großherzogtum Luxemburg (German) Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn"  (Luxembourgish) "We want to remain what we are"
Anthem: Ons Hémécht "Our Homeland" Royal anthem: De Wilhelmus 1
Capital (and largest city)		Luxembourg 49°36′N, 6°7′E
Official languages		French, German, Luxembourgish (de jure since 1984)
Demonym		Luxembourgers
Government		Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional grand duchy
-	Grand Duke	Grand Duke Henri (List)
-	Prime minister	Jean-Claude Juncker (List)
Independence
-	From French empire (Treaty of Paris )	9 June 1815
-	1st Treaty of London	19 April 1839
-	2nd Treaty of London	11 May 1867
-	End of personal union	23 November 1890
EU accession		March 25, 1957
Area
-	Total	2,586.4 km² (175th) 998. The flag of Luxembourg consists of three horizontal stripes red white and blue and can be in 12 or 35 ratio The coat of arms of Luxembourg has its origins in the Middle Ages, and was derived from that of the Duchy of Limburg, in modern day Belgium A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn, Luxembourgish for "We wish to remain what we are" is the National motto of Luxembourg. Luxembourgish (lb Lëtzebuergesch Luxembourgeois Luxemburgisch Luxemburgs Lussimbordjwès also called Luxembourgian, also spelled Luxemburgish, is one of A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's A royal anthem is a patriotic song much like a National anthem but specifically praising or praying for a Monarch or royal dynasty The following is an overview of the demographics of Luxembourg. The city of Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg Luxemburg also known as Luxembourg City (Stad Lëtzebuerg Ville de Luxembourg Luxemburg Stadt is a commune with city An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Luxembourgish (lb Lëtzebuergesch Luxembourgeois Luxemburgisch Luxemburgs Lussimbordjwès also called Luxembourgian, also spelled Luxemburgish, is one of A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Luxembourgers are defined as an Ethnic group, sharing Luxembourgian culture and being of Luxembourgian descent For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which A constitutional monarchy, or a limited monarchy, is a form of Constitutional Government, wherein either an elected or hereditary Monarch is A grand duchy is a territory whose Head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the Sovereign Monarch and Head of state of Luxembourg. Childhood and education Grand Duke Henri has four siblings Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria (b The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the Head of state of Luxembourg. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the Head of government in Luxembourg. Jean-Claude Juncker (born December 9, 1954) is a Luxembourgian politician, the leader of the Christian Social People's Party. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the Head of government in Luxembourg. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The Empire of the French (1804-1814 also known as the Empire of France, Greater French Empire, First French Empire, French Empire, or The Treaty of Paris of 1815 was signed on November 20, 1815, following the defeat and second abdication of Napoleon. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 1815 ( MDCCCXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Treaty of London, also called the First Treaty of London or the Convention of 1839, was a Treaty signed on 19 April 1839 between Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Treaty of London (Traité de Londres often called the Second Treaty of London after the 1839 Treaty, was an international Treaty signed Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting A personal union is the combination by which two different States are governed by the same Monarch, while their boundaries their laws and their interests remain distinct Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in A Member State of the European Union is any one of the twenty-seven sovereign Nation states that have acceded the European Union (EU since its De facto Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. 6 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	2007 estimate	480,222 (171st)
-	2001 census	439,539
-	Density	186/km² (59th) 481/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$32. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 6 billion (97th)
-	Per capita	$81,511(2006) (1st)
GDP (nominal)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$40. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita 577 billion (65th)
-	Per capita	$87,995 (1st)
HDI (2004)		0. PLEASE NO RANDOM FIGURES THERE ARE NO FIGURES BASED ON NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THIS ARTICLE Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 945 (high) (18th)
Currency		Euro (€)2 (EUR)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.lu3
Calling code		+352
1	Not the same as the Het Wilhelmus of the Netherlands. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e The euro sign (€ is the Currency sign used for the Euro, the official currency of the European Union (EU ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. Daylight saving time ( DST Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Het Wilhelmus ( ( English Translation: The William) is the National anthem of the Netherlands and is the oldest national anthem in
2	Before 1999: Luxembourgian franc. The franc ( French, Frang Franken was the Currency of Luxembourg between 1854 and 1999 (except during the period 1941 and 1944
3	The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg), also spelled Luxemburg, is a small landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. Luxembourgish (lb Lëtzebuergesch Luxembourgeois Luxemburgisch Luxemburgs Lussimbordjwès also called Luxembourgian, also spelled Luxemburgish, is one of French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Luxembourg has a population of under half a million people in an area of approximately 2,586 square kilometres (999 sq mi). Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. ^[1]

Luxembourg is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a Grand Duke. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A constitutional monarchy, or a limited monarchy, is a form of Constitutional Government, wherein either an elected or hereditary Monarch is The Title grand duke (in Latin, magnus dux; in Spanish, gran duque; in Russian, Великий Герцог It is the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy. A grand duchy is a territory whose Head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. The country has a highly developed economy, with the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world (U. This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the S. Central Intelligence Agency 2007). Its historic and strategic importance dates back to its founding as a Roman era fortress site and Frankish count's castle site in the Early Middle Ages. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire (imperium Francorum Frankish Kingdom (Latin regnum Francorum, "Kingdom of the A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 It was an important bastion along the Spanish road when Spain was the principal European power influencing the whole western hemisphere and beyond in the 14th–17th centuries. The " Spanish Road " was a military supply/trade route used from 1567–1620 which stretched from Northern Italy to the Low Countries. Power in international relations is defined in several different ways

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, Benelux, and the Western European Union, reflecting the political consensus in favour of economic, political, and military integration. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The North Atlantic Treaty The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that includes three neighboring monarchies, '''Be'''lgium, the '''Ne'''therlands, and The Western European Union ( WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization established on the basis of the Treaty of Brussels of 1948 Economic integration is a term used to describe how different aspects between economies are integrated The city of Luxembourg, the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union. The city of Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg Luxemburg also known as Luxembourg City (Stad Lëtzebuerg Ville de Luxembourg Luxemburg Stadt is a commune with city

Luxembourg lies on the cultural divide between Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. Luxembourg is a trilingual country; French, German, and Luxembourgish are official languages. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Luxembourgish (lb Lëtzebuergesch Luxembourgeois Luxemburgisch Luxemburgs Lussimbordjwès also called Luxembourgian, also spelled Luxemburgish, is one of An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Although a secular state, Luxembourg is predominantly Roman Catholic. A secular state is a State or Country that is officially neutral in matters of Religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious beliefs

Contents 1 History 2 Government and politics 3 Military 4 Districts, cantons, and communes 4.1 Districts 5 Geography and climate 6 Demographics 6.1 Ethnicity 6.2 Language 6.3 Religion 7 Economy 8 Culture 8.1 Media 9 See also 10 References 10.1 Footnotes 11 External links

History

Main article: History of Luxembourg

The recorded history of Luxembourg begins with the acquisition of Lucilinburhuc^[2] (today Luxembourg Castle) by Siegfried, Count of Ardennes in 963. The history of Luxembourg is inherently entwined with the histories of surrounding countries peoples and ruling dynasties The city of Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg Luxemburg also known as Luxembourg City (Stad Lëtzebuerg Ville de Luxembourg Luxemburg Stadt is a commune with city Siegfried or Sigefroy (c922&ndash 28 Oct 998) is considered the first Count of Luxembourg. Around this fort, a town gradually developed, which became the centre of a small state of great strategic value. Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for A town is a type of settlement ranging from a few to several thousand (occasionally hundreds of thousands inhabitants although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan In 1437, the House of Luxembourg suffered a succession crisis, precipitated by the lack of a male heir to assume the throne, that led to the territory being sold to Philip the Good of Burgundy. The House of Luxembourg was a mediæval Luxembourgian noble family Philip the Good (Philippe le Bon also Philip III Duke of Burgundy ( July 31, 1396 &ndash June 15, 1467) was Duke of Burgundy The Duchy of Burgundy was a feudal territory once existing within the Kingdom of France. ^[3] In the following centuries, Luxembourg's fortress was steadily enlarged and strengthened by its successive occupants, the Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns, and the French, among others. The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Luxembourg was disputed between Prussia and the Netherlands. The Treaty of Paris of 1815 was signed on November 20, 1815, following the defeat and second abdication of Napoleon. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising United Kingdom of the Netherlands (or Kingdom of the United Netherlands) (1815 - 1830 (1839 (Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas was the unofficial The Congress of Vienna formed Luxembourg as a Grand Duchy in personal union with the Netherlands. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich A grand duchy is a territory whose Head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. Luxembourg also became a member of the German Confederation, with a Confederate fortress manned by Prussian troops. The German Confederation (Deutscher Bund was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to serve as the successor to ^[4]

The Belgian Revolution of 1830–1839 reduced Luxembourg's territory by more than half, as the predominantly francophone western part of the country was transferred to Belgium. The Belgian Revolution was a conflict in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands that began with a riot in Brussels in August 1830 and eventually led to the The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places List of governors Jean-Baptiste Thorn (1830 – 1836 Victorin de Steenhault (1836 – 1841 Joseph de Riquet The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Luxembourg's independence was reaffirmed by the 1839 First Treaty of London. The Treaty of London, also called the First Treaty of London or the Convention of 1839, was a Treaty signed on 19 April 1839 between In the same year, Luxembourg joined the Zollverein. The Zollverein or German Customs Union was formed among the majority of the states of the German Confederation in 1834 during the Industrial Revolution ^[5] Luxembourg's independence and neutrality were again affirmed by the 1867 Second Treaty of London, after the Luxembourg Crisis nearly led to war between Prussia and France. The Treaty of London (Traité de Londres often called the Second Treaty of London after the 1839 Treaty, was an international Treaty signed The Luxembourg Crisis (Luxemburgkrise Luxemburgse kwestie was a Diplomatic dispute and confrontation in 1867 between France and Prussia over the political ^[6] After the latter conflict, the Confederate fortress was dismantled. ^[7]

The King of the Netherlands remained Head of State as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, maintaining personal union between the two countries until 1890. The Netherlands has been an independent Monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the Sovereign Monarch and Head of state of Luxembourg. A personal union is the combination by which two different States are governed by the same Monarch, while their boundaries their laws and their interests remain distinct At the death of William III, the Dutch throne passed to his daughter Wilhelmina, while Luxembourg (at that time restricted to male heirs by the Nassau Family Pact) passed to Adolph of Nassau-Weilburg. William III ( Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk, anglicised William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis of Orange-Nassau) ( February 19, Wilhelmina (Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Marie 31 August 1880 &ndash 28 November 1962) was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the The Nassau Family Pact (Nassauischer Erbverein was a mutual pact of Inheritance and Succession made in 1783 by princes of the old German noble and sovereign Ancestors ^[8]

Luxembourg was invaded and occupied by Germany during the First World War, but was allowed to maintain its independence and political mechanisms. The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I was the first of two Military World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All It was again invaded and subject to German occupation in the Second World War in 1940, and was formally annexed into the Third Reich in 1942. The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was a period in the history of Luxembourg during which the country was occupied by Nazi Germany. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers

During World War II, Luxembourg abandoned its policy of neutrality, when it joined the Allies in fighting Germany. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including For other uses of Neutral and Neutrality see Neutral A neutral country takes no side in a War between other parties The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Its government, exiled to London, set up a small group of volunteers who participated in the Normandy invasion. A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power and instead resides in a foreign London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. It became a founding member of the United Nations in 1946, and of NATO in 1949. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The North Atlantic Treaty 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. The European Community (EC is one of the Three pillars of the European Union (EU created under the Maastricht Treaty (1992 The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e In 2005, a referendum on the EU treaty establishing a constitution for Europe was held in Luxembourg. The Luxembourg referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is a Referendum that was held on 10 July 2005 to decide whether Luxembourg should ^[9]

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a parliamentary democracy headed by a constitutional monarch. Politics of Luxembourg takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Under the constitution of 1868, executive power is exercised by the Governor and the cabinet, which consists of several other ministers. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. The Governor has the power to dissolve the legislature and reinstate a new one, as long as the Governor has judicial approval. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation However, since 1919, sovereignty has resided with the Supreme Court. A supreme court, also called a court of last resort or high court, is in some Jurisdictions the highest judicial body within that jurisdiction's ^[10]

Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral legislature of sixty members, who are directly elected to five-year terms from four constituencies. The Chamber of Deputies (Châmber vun Députéirten Chambre des Députés Abgeordnetenkammer abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national Legislature Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber A legislative circonscription is a multi-member electoral Constituency that elects representatives ('deputies' to Luxembourg 's Unicameral national A second body, the Council of State (Conseil d'État), composed of twenty-one ordinary citizens appointed by the Grand Duke, advises the Chamber of Deputies in the drafting of legislation. The Council of State (Staatsrot Conseil d'État Staatsrat is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature the Chamber of Deputies. ^[11]

The Grand Duchy has three lower tribunals (justices de paix; in Esch-sur-Alzette, the city of Luxembourg, and Diekirch), two district tribunals (Luxembourg and Diekirch) and a Superior Court of Justice (Luxembourg), which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. Esch-sur-Alzette (Esch-Uelzecht Esch-an-der-Alzette or Esch-an-der-Alzig, Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg The city of Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg Luxemburg also known as Luxembourg City (Stad Lëtzebuerg Ville de Luxembourg Luxemburg Stadt is a commune with city Diekirch (Dikrech from Diet-Kirch, ie "people's church" is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city There is also an Administrative Tribunal and an Administrative Court, as well as a Constitutional Court, all of which are located in the capital.

Military

Main article: Military of Luxembourg

Luxembourg's contribution to its defence and to NATO consists of a small army (currently consisting of around 800 people). The military of Luxembourg consists of a solitary branch the Army, which was formerly commanded by a colonel but as of 2008 is commanded by a General; Luxembourg An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces As a landlocked country, it has no navy, and it has no air force, except for the fact that the eighteen NATO AWACS aeroplanes were registered as aircraft of Luxembourg for convenience. An air force, also known in some countries as an air army or historically an army air corps, is in the broadest sense the national military or armed service ^[12] In a joint agreement with Belgium, both countries have put forth funding for one A400M military cargo plane, now currently on order. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Luxembourg still jointly maintains three NATO Boeing 707 model TCAs for cargo and training purposes based in NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, located near Geilenkirchen, Germany, is the main operating Airfield of the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control ^[12]

Districts, cantons, and communes

Main articles: Districts of Luxembourg, Cantons of Luxembourg, and Communes of Luxembourg

Further information: Administrative divisions of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is divided into 3 districts, which are further divided into 12 cantons and then 116 communes. The three districts of Luxembourg are the top-level Administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. |||}The Districts of Luxembourg are divided into 12 cantons. These cantons are subdivided into 116 communes. The communes of Luxembourg (Gemengen Gemeinden are the lowest nation-wide Administrative division in Luxembourg. |||} Districts See also Districts of Luxembourg Luxembourg is divided into districts Diekirch Grevenmacher The three districts of Luxembourg are the top-level Administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. |||}The Districts of Luxembourg are divided into 12 cantons. These cantons are subdivided into 116 communes. The communes of Luxembourg (Gemengen Gemeinden are the lowest nation-wide Administrative division in Luxembourg. Twelve of the communes have city status, of which the city of Luxembourg is the largest. There are twelve cities in Luxembourg, as defined by Statute. The city of Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg Luxemburg also known as Luxembourg City (Stad Lëtzebuerg Ville de Luxembourg Luxemburg Stadt is a commune with city

Districts

The districts are 1. Diekirch 2. The District of Diekirch is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Grevenmacher 3. The District of Grevenmacher is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Luxembourg

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe, and ranked 175th in size of all the 194 independent countries of the world; the country is about 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi) in size, and measures 82 km (51 miles) long and 57 km (35 miles) wide. The District of Luxembourg, sometimes of Luxemburg, is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a small country located in the Low Countries, part of North-West Europe It borders Belgium (148 Kilometres to the west and north This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. To the east, Luxembourg borders the German Bundesländer of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, and, to the south, it borders the French région of Lorraine. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Germany (Deutschland is a Federal Republic consisting of sixteen States, known in German as Länder (singular Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz is one of the 16 federal states (German Bundesländer) of Germany. Saarland (ˈzaːɐ̯lant in German; French: Sarre) is one of the 16 federal states (German Bundesländer) of Germany. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, Lorraine (Lothringen is one of the 26 régions of France. It is the only administrative region with two cities of equal importance Metz and Nancy The Grand Duchy borders the Belgian Walloon Region, in particular the latter's provinces of Luxembourg and Liège, more in particular the German-speaking Community of Belgium, to the west and to the north respectively. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Wallonia, or Wallonie, (Wallonie Wallonien Wallonië Waloneye is the Meridional part of Belgium belonging to the Romance linguistic field Belgium is divided into three regions two of them are subdivided into five Provinces each List of governors Jean-Baptiste Thorn (1830 – 1836 Victorin de Steenhault (1836 – 1841 Joseph de Riquet List of Governors 1830 - 1831 Etienne de Sauvage (Liberal 1831 - 1832 Jean-François Tielemans (Liberal The German-speaking Community of Belgium (Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens DGB) is one of the three federal communities in Belgium.

The northern third of the country is known as the 'Oesling', and forms part of the Ardennes. The Oesling or Ösling (Éislek is a region covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area that also covers For the political subdivision of France see Ardennes (department. It is dominated by hills and low mountains, including the Kneiff, which is the highest point, at 560 metres (1,837 ft). Kneiff is a Hill in the commune of Troisvierges, in northern Luxembourg. The region is sparsely populated, with only one town (Wiltz) with a population of more than four thousand people. Wiltz (Wolz is a commune with city status in north-western Luxembourg, capital of the canton Wiltz.

The southern two-thirds of the country is called the "Gutland", and is more densely populated than the Oesling. Gutland (Bon Pays is a region covering the southern and central parts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is also more diverse, and can be divided into five geographic sub-regions. The Luxembourg plateau, in south-central Luxembourg, is a large, flat, sandstone formation, and the site of the city of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg plateau is a large Early Jurassic Sandstone Plateau in south-central Luxembourg. Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. Little Switzerland, in the east of Luxembourg, has craggy terrain and thick forests. Little Switzerland (Kleng Schwäiz Petite Suisse Kleine Schweiz is a Nickname for a region in the east of Luxembourg, bestowed upon the region on account of its The Moselle valley is the lowest-lying region, running along the south-eastern border. The Moselle valley is a region in north-eastern France, south-western Germany, and eastern Luxembourg, centred on the river Valley formed by The Red Lands, in the far south and southwest, are Luxembourg's industrial heartland and home to many of Luxembourg's largest towns. The Red Lands (Minett Terres Rouges Roten Erde form a geographic region in southern and south-western Luxembourg.

The border between Luxembourg and Germany is formed by three rivers: the Moselle, the Sauer, and the Our. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The Moselle (Moselle Mosel Musel is a River flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany. The Sauer ( German, Luxembourgish) or Sûre ( French) is a River in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany The Our is also the name of a stream in the municipality of Paliseul which flows through the villages of Opont and Our into the Lesse Other major rivers are the Alzette, the Attert, the Clerve, and the Wiltz. The Alzette (Uelzecht Alzig is a River with a length of 73 kilometers in France and Luxembourg. The Attert (Atert is a River flowing through Belgium and Luxembourg, left tributary of the Alzette. The Clerve (Klierf is a River flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Wiltz at Kautenbach. The Wiltz (Wolz is a River flowing through Belgium and Luxembourg, joining the Sauer at Goebelsmuhle. The valleys of the mid-Sauer and Attert form the border between the Gutland and the Oesling. In Geology, a valley (also called a vale, dale, glen or strath and near or in Appalachia, a draw) is Gutland (Bon Pays is a region covering the southern and central parts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Oesling or Ösling (Éislek is a region covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area that also covers

Luxembourg has a marine west coast climate (Köppen: Cfb), marked by high precipitation, particularly in late summer. An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the Climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric ^[13]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Luxembourg

Ethnicity

The people of Luxembourg are called Luxembourgers. The following is an overview of the demographics of Luxembourg. Luxembourgers are defined as an Ethnic group, sharing Luxembourgian culture and being of Luxembourgian descent ^[14] The native population has a Celtic base with a French and Germanic blend. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic ^[15] The indigenous population was augmented by immigrants from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal throughout the twentieth century, with the majority coming from Portugal. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Since the beginning of the Yugoslav wars, Luxembourg has seen many immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. The Yugoslav Wars were a series of violent conflicts in the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY that took place between 1991 and Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan Montenegro ( British English) Montenegrin / Serbian: PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE LANGUAGES WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE! Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country Annually, over 10,000 new immigrants arrive in Luxembourg, mostly from EU states, as well as Eastern Europe. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in As of 2000, there were 162,000 immigrants in Luxembourg, accounting for 37% of the total population. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term There are an estimated 5,000 illegal immigrants in Luxembourg. ^[16]

Language

Main article: Languages of Luxembourg

Three languages are recognized as official in Luxembourg: French, German, and Luxembourgish, a Franconian language of the Moselle region very similar to the local German dialect spoken in the neighboring part of Germany, except that it includes more borrowings from French. The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterized by the practice and the recognition of three official languages French, German and Luxembourgish French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Luxembourgish (lb Lëtzebuergesch Luxembourgeois Luxemburgisch Luxemburgs Lussimbordjwès also called Luxembourgian, also spelled Luxemburgish, is one of 300px|right|thumb|The Franconian languages in Europe|'''Legend'''{{legend|#a0f288|Low Franconian dialects in [[the Netherlands]] The Moselle valley is a region in north-eastern France, south-western Germany, and eastern Luxembourg, centred on the river Valley formed by The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. So in principle Luxembourgish is a High German dialect with the status of a national language. Apart from being one of the three official languages, Luxembourgish is also considered the national language of the Grand Duchy; it is the mother tongue or "language of the heart" for nearly all Luxembourgers. A national language is a Language (or language variant, ie Dialect) which has some connection - de facto or de jure - with

Each of the three languages is used as the primary language in certain spheres. Luxembourgish is the language that Luxembourgers generally speak to each other, but it is not much written. Most official (written) business is carried out in French. German is usually the first language taught in school and is the language of much of the media and of the church. "Popular press" redirects here note that the University of Wisconsin Press publishes under the imprint "The Popular Press" ^[17] In fact, around 65% of all articles published in Luxembourg are in the German language, 25% are in French and only 10% in Luxembourgish.

Luxembourg's education system is trilingual: the first years of primary school are in Luxembourgish, before changing to German, while secondary school, the language of instruction changes to French. ^[18] However, as proficiency in all three languages is required for graduation from secondary school, half the students leave school without a certified qualification, with the children of immigrants being particularly disadvantaged. ^[19]

In addition to the three official languages, English is taught in the compulsory schooling and much of the population of Luxembourg can speak English, at any rate in Luxembourg City. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Portuguese and Italian, the languages of the two largest immigrant communities, are also spoken by large parts of the population, but by relatively few from outside their respective communities. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term

Religion

Main article: Religion in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a secular state, but the state recognises certain religions as officially-mandated religions. There are many active religions in Luxembourg. The most important in terms of size of congregation and historical importance is Roman Catholicism, but the state A secular state is a State or Country that is officially neutral in matters of Religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious beliefs This gives the state a hand in religious administration and appointment of clergy, in exchange for which the state pays certain running costs and wages. Currently, religions covered by such arrangements are Catholicism, Judaism, Greek and Russian Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Islam. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[20]

Since 1980 it has been illegal for the government to collect statistics on religious beliefs or practices. ^[21] It is estimated by the CIA Factbook that 87% of Luxembourgers are Catholics, the remaining 13% being made up of Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims and those of other or no religion. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion ^[22]

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005,^[23] 44% of Luxembourg citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 28% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 22% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". Eurobarometer is a series of surveys regularly performed on behalf of the European Commission since 1973 God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Luxembourg

Luxembourg's stable, high-income economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The economy of Luxembourg is largely dependent on the Banking, Steel, and industrial sectors An economic system is a System that involves the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services between Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over time In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. The industrial sector, which was dominated until the 1960s by steel, has diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. The field of finance refers to the concepts of Time, Money and Risk and how they are interrelated Services, especially banking and other financial exports, account for the majority of economic output. A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money A financial export is a business service provided by a domestic firm (regardless of ownership to a foreign firm within the scope of financial services Luxembourg is the world's second largest investment fund center (after the USA), the most important private banking center in the Eurozone and Europe's leading center for reinsurance companies. Euro Enlargement of the

Agriculture is based on small, family-owned farms. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands (see Benelux), and as a member of the EU it enjoys the advantages of the open European market. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that includes three neighboring monarchies, '''Be'''lgium, the '''Ne'''therlands, and The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Sao Paulo Stock Exchangejpg|thumb| Virtual market arena where buyer and seller are not present and trade via intemediates and electronical information Luxembourg possesses the highest GDP per capita in the world (US$87,995 as of 2006),^[22] the eighteenth highest Human Development Index, and the fourth highest rated in the quality of life index. This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP The Economist Intelligence Unit ’s quality of life index is based on a unique methodology that links the results of Subjective life-satisfaction surveys to the ^[24] As of March 2006, unemployment is 4. 8% of the labor force. ^[25] For the fiscal year of 2005 and 2006, Luxembourg has run a budget deficit for the first time in many years, mostly because of slower international economic growth. ^[26] Luxembourg is the world's most-industrialized nation, having $53,290 in income per person (Henslin, Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, page 182. )

Culture

Main article: Culture of Luxembourg

Luxembourg has been overshadowed by the culture of its neighbors, although, having been for much of its history a profoundly rural country, it retains a number of folk traditions. The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of the small European nation of Luxembourg. There are several notable museums, mostly located in the capital; these include the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA), the History Museum of the City of Luxembourg, and the new Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (Mudam). The National Museum of History and Art (Nationalmusée fir Geschicht a Konscht Musée national d'histoire et d'art Nationalmuseum für Geschichte und Kunst abbreviated to MNHA The Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (Musée d'art moderne Grand-Duc Jean abbreviated to Mudam, is a Museum of Modern art in Luxembourg City The National Museum of Military History (MNHM) in Diekirch is especially known for its representations of the Battle of the Bulge. The National Museum of Military History (Musée national d'histoire militaire Nationalen Museum für Militärgeschichte abbreviated to NMMH, is a national The Ardennes Offensive (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 was a major German offensive launched towards the end of World War II through the forested Ardennes Mountains The city of Luxembourg itself is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, on account of the historical importance of its fortifications. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

The country has produced some internationally known artists, including the painters Joseph Kutter and Michel Majerus, as well as the photographer Edward Steichen. Michel Majerus (b 1967 d 2002 was an artist whose work combined painting with Digital media. Edward Steichen (March 27 1879 – March 25 1973 was an American photographer, painter, and Art gallery and Museum curator born Steichen's The Family of Man exhibition is now permanently housed in Clervaux, and it has been placed on UNESCO's Memory of the World register. The Family of Man was a Photography exhibition curated by Edward Steichen first shown in 1955 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York Clervaux (Klierf Clerf is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, administrative capital of the canton of Clervaux. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 UNESCO 's Memory of the World Programme is an international initiative launched in 1992 in order to guard against collective amnesia calling upon the preservation of the

Luxembourg is the first city to be named European Capital of Culture for the second time. The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one Calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its The first time was in 1995. In 2007, the European Capital of Culture will be a cross-border area consisting of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland in Germany, the Walloon Region and the German-speaking part of Belgium, and the Lorraine area in France. The event will promote mobility and the exchange of ideas, crossing borders in all areas, physical, psychological, artistic and emotional.

Media

For many people in other parts of Europe, Luxembourg is best known for its radio and television stations, Radio Luxembourg and the RTL Group, Europe's largest TV, radio and production company. RTL Group ( is Europe's largest TV radio and production company and is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It is also the uplink home of SES Astra, carrier of major European satellite services for Germany and Britain. SES Astra SA, is a corporate Subsidiary of SES, based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg, that owns and operates the Astra

Studies show that the country Luxembourg consumes the most alcohol, according to Guinness World Records 2008. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U In the year 2003, on average 2. 8 gallons (12. 6 litres) of pure alcohol was consumed per citizen. This however is a statistical phenomenon, not actual, as the low taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and petrol in Luxembourg mean that Belgians, French and Germans living close to the border buy these products in Luxembourg, and increase the sales without being counted as consumers in the statistical analyses.

See also

References

• (French) Kreins, Jean-Marie (2003). Histoire du Luxembourg, 3rd edition, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. ISBN 978-21-3053-852-3.  
• Thewes, Guy (July 2003). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (PDF), Édition limitée (in French), Luxembourg City: Service Information et Presse. ISBN 2-87999-118-8. Retrieved on 2007-07-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia.  
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lu.html

Footnotes

External links

• Governments on the WWW: Luxembourg
• History of Luxembourg: Primary Documents
• Official Governmental Site
• Official Website for Luxembourg
• Luxembourg National Tourist Office
• Luxembourg Tourist Office - London
• Luxembourg City Tourist Guide
• Luxembourg Geography
• Luxembourg European Capital of Culture 2007
• World Factbook: Information on Luxembourg
• Over 200 images of important sights in Luxembourg
• Chabad Lubavitch of Luxembourg
• Worldwide Governance Indicators for Luxembourg, 1996-2006

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