Editing Luxembourg

{{Short description|Country in Western Europe}}
{{About|the country|its capital|Luxembourg City|the Belgian province|Luxembourg (Belgium)|other uses}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Pp-move|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
| common_name            = Luxembourg
| native_name            = {{ubl|{{native name|lb|Groussherzogtum&nbsp;Lëtzebuerg{{wbr}}}}|{{native name|fr|Grand-Duché de Luxembourg{{wbr}}}}|{{native name|de|{{nowrap|Großherzogtum&nbsp;Luxemburg{{wbr}}}}}}}}
| image_flag             = Flag of Luxembourg.svg
| image_coat             = Greater coat of arms of the grand-duchy of Luxembourg.svg
| national_motto         = "[[Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn]]"<br /> "We want to stay what we are"
| national_anthem        = "[[Ons Heemecht]]"<br />("Our Homeland")<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:Ons Heemecht.ogg]]</div>
| royal_anthem           = "{{lang|lb|[[De Wilhelmus]]|italic=no}}"<sup>a</sup><br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;"></div>
| image_map              = EU-Luxembourg.svg
| map_caption            = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the European Union |subregion_color=green}}
| capital                = [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]]<ref name="The World Factbook">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg/|title=The World Factbook|language=en|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|date=24 November 2020|access-date=11 December 2020 |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075735/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref>
| largest_city           = capital
| coordinates            = {{Coord|qid=Q1842|format=dms|type:city(124,500)_region:LU|display=inline}}
| official_languages     = '''National language:'''<br />[[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]]<br />
'''Administrative languages:'''{{hlist|[[Luxembourgish]]|[[German language|German]]|[[French language|French]]}}{{Infobox
| child = yes
| label1 = Nationality {{nobold|(2025)}}
| data1 = {{Unbulleted list |53% [[Luxembourgers]] |13.2% [[Portuguese Luxembourger|Portuguese]] |7.2% French |3.7% Italians |23% other
|item3_style=padding-top:0.2em;line-height:1.2em}}
}}
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Luxembourgers|Luxembourger]]| [[Luxembourgers|Luxembourgish]]}}
| religion_year          = 2018<ref name=EB2018>{{cite book |title=Eurobarometer 90.4: Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity, Awareness and Perceptions of EU customs, and Perceptions of Antisemitism |publisher=European Commission |url=http://zacat.gesis.org/webview/index.jsp?headers=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V204&v=2&stubs=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V11&weights=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V440&V204slice=1&study=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2FZA7556&charttype=null&tabcontenttype=row&V11slice=1&V204subset=1+-+10%2C11%2C12+-+13%2C14&mode=table&top=yes|access-date=15 July 2019|via=[[GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences|GESIS]]|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313212123/https://zacat.gesis.org/webview/index.jsp?headers=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V204&v=2&stubs=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V11&weights=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA7556_V440&V204slice=1&study=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2FZA7556&charttype=null&tabcontenttype=row&V11slice=1&V204subset=1+-+10%2C11%2C12+-+13%2C14&mode=table&top=yes}}</ref>
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap; |{{Tree list}}
*73.2% [[Religion in Luxembourg|Christianity]]
** 63.8% [[Catholic Church in Luxembourg|Catholicism]]
** 9.4% other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
{{Tree list/end}}
|23.4% [[Irreligion|no religion]] |3.2% other}}
| government_type        = Unitary [[parliamentary constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1          = [[Monarchy of Luxembourg|Grand Duke]]
| leader_name1           = [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Henri]]
| leader_title2          = [[Regent]]
| leader_name2           = [[Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Guillaume]]
| leader_title3          = [[Prime Minister of Luxembourg|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3           = [[Luc Frieden]]
| legislature            = [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| sovereignty_type       = Independence
| established_event1     = From the [[Forêts|French Empire]] and elevation to [[History of Luxembourg#Developing independence (1815–1890)|Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]]
| established_date1      = 9 June 1815
| established_event2     = Independence in personal Union with the Netherlands ([[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]])
| established_date2      = 19 April 1839
| established_event3     = End of [[personal union]] with the Kingdom of the Netherlands
| established_date3      = 23 November 1890
| established_event4     = Occupation during [[World War I]] by the [[German Empire]]
| established_date4      = 1 August 1914
| established_event5     = Liberation from the [[Nazi Germany|Greater German Reich]]
| established_date5      = 1944/1945
| area_km2               = 2,586.4
| area_rank              = 168th
| area_sq_mi             = 998
| percent_water          = 0.23 (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=Surface water and surface water change |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|archive-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_estimate    = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 681,973<ref name="Statec">{{Cite web |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/dam-assets/actualite/2025/stn16-pop-25/stn16-2025-population-2025.pdf |title=En 2024, une croissance démographique ralentie par une faible fécondité et un recul de l’immigration |date=13 May 2025 |website=statistiques.public.lu |language=fr |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref>
| population_census      = 643,941<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/recensement/evolution-de-la-population.html |title=Évolution de la population |date=10 February 2023 |website=Statistiques – Luxembourg |language=fr |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416142608/https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/recensement/evolution-de-la-population.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = January 2025
| population_estimate_rank = 163rd
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 255
| population_density_sq_mi = 602.8 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank = 58th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $106.505 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.LU">{{Cite web|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2024|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=137,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|access-date=17 February 2025|website=imf.org|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|language=en}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2025
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 100th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $154,914<ref name="IMFWEO.LU" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 1st
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $96.993&nbsp;billion<ref name="IMFWEO.LU" />
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2025
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 73rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $141,079<ref name="IMFWEO.LU" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 1st
| Gini                   = 30.6 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2023
| Gini_change            = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               =<ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=14 September 2024 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
| HDI                    = 0.922 <!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2023<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = decrease<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                =<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |language=en}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 25th
| currency               = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code          = EUR
| time_zone              = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset             = +1
| utc_offset_DST         = +2
| time_zone_DST          = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| DST_note               = Note: Although Luxembourg is located in [[Western European Time]]/[[UTC]] (Z) zone, since 1 June 1904, [[Local Mean Time|LMT]] (UTC+0:24:36) was abandoned and [[Central European Time]]/[[UTC+1]] was adopted as standard time,[https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/luxembourg/luxembourg] with a +0:35:24 offset (+1:35:24 during [[daylight saving time|DST]]) from Luxembourg City's LMT.
| calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in Luxembourg|+352]]
| cctld                  = [[.lu]]<sup>b</sup>
| footnote_a             = Not the same as ''[[Het Wilhelmus]]'' of the Netherlands
| footnote_b             = The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states.
| footnote_d             = {{note|ddd}} {{cite web |work=[[The World Factbook]] |title=Field Listing&nbsp;– Distribution of family income&nbsp;– Gini index |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html#Govt |access-date=3 May 2013 |archive-date=13 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613005439/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html#Govt }}
| today                  = 
}}
{{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=265|type=line|stroke-width=3|text=Interactive map showing the border of Luxembourg}}

'''Luxembourg''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Luxembourg.ogg|ˈ|l|ʌ|k|s|əm|b|ɜːr|ɡ}} {{respell|LUK|səm|burg}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Luxembourg|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> {{langx|lb|Lëtzebuerg}} {{IPA|lb|ˈlətsəbuəɕ||lb-Lëtzebuerg.ogg}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Luxemburg}} {{IPA|de|ˈlʊksm̩bʊʁk||De-Luxemburg.ogg}}; {{langx|fr|link=no|Luxembourg}} {{IPA|fr|lyksɑ̃buʁ||Fr-Luxembourg.wav}}}}  officially the '''Grand Duchy of Luxembourg''',{{efn|1={{langx|lb|link=no|Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg}} {{IPA|lb|ˈɡʀəʊ̯sˌhɛχtsoːχtum ˈlətsəbuəɕ|}}; {{langx|fr|link=no|Grand-Duché de Luxembourg}} {{IPA|fr|ɡʁɑ̃ dyʃe də lyksɑ̃buʁ||LL-Q150 (fra)-GrandCelinien-grand-duché de Luxembourg.wav|}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Großherzogtum Luxemburg}} {{IPA|de|ˈɡʁoːsˌhɛʁtsoːktuːm ˈlʊksm̩bʊʁk||De-Großherzogtum Luxemburg.ogg|}}.}} is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Western Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Belgium]] to the west and north, [[Germany]] to the east, and [[France]] on the south. Its capital and most populous city, [[Luxembourg City]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe :: Luxembourg — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg/|access-date=12 December 2020|website=www.cia.gov|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075735/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref> is one of [[Institutional seats of the European Union|the four institutional seats of the European Union]]{{efn|Together with [[City of Brussels|Brussels]], [[Frankfurt]], and [[Strasbourg]].}} and hosts several [[European Union|EU]] institutions, notably the [[Court of Justice of the European Union]], the highest judicial authority in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|year=2014|title=Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on the location of the seats of the institutions (12 December 1992)|url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/decision_of_the_representatives_of_the_governments_of_the_member_states_on_the_location_of_the_seats_of_the_institutions_12_december_1992-en-c57a4cd5-71e9-4447-b126-912081822a50.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013095409/https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/decision_of_the_representatives_of_the_governments_of_the_member_states_on_the_location_of_the_seats_of_the_institutions_12_december_1992-en-c57a4cd5-71e9-4447-b126-912081822a50.html|archive-date=13 October 2019|access-date=24 October 2017|website=[[Centre virtuel de la connaissance sur l'Europe]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Luxembourg {{!}} national capital, Luxembourg |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg-capital |access-date=12 December 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117123239/https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg-capital |url-status=live }}</ref> 

As part of the [[Low Countries]], Luxembourg has [[Benelux|close historic, political, and cultural ties]] to Belgium and the Netherlands. [[Culture of Luxembourg|Luxembourg's culture]], people, and [[Languages of Luxembourg|languages]] are greatly influenced by France and Germany: [[Luxembourgish]], a Germanic language, is the only recognized [[national language]] of the [[Luxembourgers|Luxembourgish people]] and of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Loi du 24 février 1984 sur le régime des langues|url=https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/1984/02/24/n1/jo|website=legilux.public.lu|archive-date=18 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918210227/https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/1984/02/24/n1/jo|url-status=live|access-date=18 January 2025|lang=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |title=Constitution du Grand Duché de Luxembourg |publisher=Brochure distribuée par la chambre des députés (48 pages) |year=2023 |at=p. 4 : Chapter I, Section 1, article 4. "La langue du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg est le luxembourgeois. La loi règle l'emploi des langues luxembourgeoise, francaise et allemande." |language=fr, lb, de}}</ref> French is the sole language for legislation; and both languages along with German are used for administrative matters.<ref name="auto" />

With an area of {{convert|2586|km2|sqmi|sp=}}, Luxembourg is [[List of European countries by area|Europe's seventh-smallest country]].<ref name="europa1">{{cite web |title=Eurostat&nbsp;– Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=tps00001&tableSelection=1&footnotes=yes&labeling=labels&plugin=1 |access-date=21 February 2010 |publisher=Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu |archive-date=18 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418123945/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, it had a population of 681,973, which makes it one of the [[List of European countries by population|least-populated countries in Europe]],<ref name="Statec"/> albeit with the [[List of European countries by population growth rate|highest population growth rate]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Country comparison :: POPULATION growth rate |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2002rank.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527070418/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//rankorder/2002rank.html |archive-date=27 May 2016 |access-date=16 April 2017 |work=The World Factbook}}</ref> foreigners account for almost half the population.<ref>{{cite news |last=Krouse |first=Sarah |date=1 January 2018 |title=Piping Hot Gromperekichelcher, Only if You Pass the Sproochentest |page=1 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> Luxembourg is a [[representative democracy]] headed by a [[constitutional monarch]], [[Grand Duke Henri]], making it the world's only remaining sovereign [[grand duchy]].

The [[County of Luxembourg]] was established in the 11th century as a state within the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Its ascension culminated in its monarch, [[Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VII]], becoming the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] in the 14th century. Luxembourg came under [[Habsburg Netherlands|Habsburg rule]] in the 15th century, and was annexed by France in the 18th century. Luxembourg was partitioned three times, reducing its size. Having been restored in 1815 after the defeat of [[Napoleon]], it regained independence in 1867 after the [[Luxembourg Crisis]].

Luxembourg is a [[developed country]] with [[Economy of Luxembourg|an advanced economy]] and one of the world's highest [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|PPP-adjusted GDPs per capita]], per the [[IMF]] and [[World Bank]]. It also ranks highly in terms of life expectancy, human development, and human rights.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Ranking – Rainbow Europe|url=https://rainbow-europe.org/country-ranking|website=rainbow-europe.org|access-date=28 October 2021|archive-date=21 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521004552/https://rainbow-europe.org/country-ranking|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2021-22pdf_1.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2021/2022|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=8 September 2022|access-date=8 September 2022|archive-date=8 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908052326/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2021-22pdf_1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Old City of Luxembourg|historic city of Luxembourg]] was declared a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 1994 due to the exceptional preservation of its vast fortifications and historic quarters.<ref name="UNESCO, World Heritage Convention">{{cite web |title=City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/699 |access-date=16 April 2017 |work=World Heritage List |publisher=UNESCO, World Heritage Convention |archive-date=26 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126083959/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/699/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web|title=European Union {{!}} Definition, Purpose, History, & Members|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union|access-date=12 December 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|archive-date=9 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009135339/https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], the United Nations, [[NATO]], and the [[Benelux]].<ref name=":2">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1061873.stm Timeline: Luxembourg – A chronology of key events] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513100536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1061873.stm |date=13 May 2007 }} BBC News Online, 9 September 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2006.</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Independent Luxembourg|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg|access-date=12 December 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305112826/https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref> It served on the [[United Nations Security Council]] for the first time in 2013 and 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wort.lu/en/politics/un-asselborn-s-final-security-council-meeting-54943bcb0c88b46a8ce49a8d |work=Luxemburger Wort |title= Asselborn's final Security Council meeting |date=19 December 2014 |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date= 10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010154549/https://www.wort.lu/en/politics/un-asselborn-s-final-security-council-meeting-54943bcb0c88b46a8ce49a8d }}<!-- Now hosted by Luxembourg Times website, but originally Luxemburger Wort --></ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Luxembourg}}

=== Before AD 963 ===
{{Main|Celtic Luxembourg}}

[[File:Codex aureus Epternacensis folio 24 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Text page from the [[Codex Aureus of Echternach]], an important surviving codex, was produced in the [[Abbey of Echternach]] in the 11th century.<ref name="Beckwith, John 1979 pp. 122">{{cite book | last=Beckwith | first=John | title=Early Christian and Byzantine art | date=1979 | isbn=0-14-056133-1 | oclc=4774770 | page = 122| publisher=Penguin Books }}</ref>]]

The first traces of settlement in what is now Luxembourg are dated back to the [[Paleolithic Age]], about 35,000 years ago. From the 6th century BC, [[Celtic tribes]] settled in the region between the rivers [[Rhine]] and [[Meuse]].<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 9</ref>

Six centuries later the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] named the Celtic tribes inhabiting these exact regions collectively as the ''[[Treveri]]''. Many examples of archaeological evidence proving their existence in Luxembourg have been discovered, the most famous being the Oppidum of [[Titelberg]].

In around 58 to 51 BC, the Romans invaded the country when [[Julius Caesar]] [[Gallic Wars|conquered Gaul]] and part of [[Germania]] up to the Rhine border, thus the area of what is now Luxembourg became part of the [[Roman Empire]] for the next 450 years, living in relative peace under the [[Pax Romana]].

Similar to those in Gaul, the Celts of Luxembourg adopted Roman culture, language, morals and a way of life, effectively becoming what historians later described as [[Gallo-Roman culture|Gallo-Roman civilization]].<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 1988 (2013)p. 16</ref> Evidence from that period includes the [[Dalheim Ricciacum]] and the [[Vichten|Vichten mosaic]], on display at the [[National Museum of History and Art]] in Luxembourg City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collections.mnha.lu/object/mnha00110/1/LOG_0000/|title=Mosaïque de Vichten|website=-: Mosaïque de Vichten, -: – -.|access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421144306/https://collections.mnha.lu/object/mnha00110/1/LOG_0000/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The territory was infiltrated by the [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[Franks]] from the 4th century, and was abandoned by Rome in AD 406,<ref name=Trausch2003>{{cite book | last=Trausch | first=Gilbert | title=Histoire du Luxembourg: le destin européen d'un petit pays | publisher=Privat |location=Toulouse | date=2003 | isbn=2-7089-4773-7 | oclc=52386195 | language=fr}}</ref>{{rp|page = 65}} after which it became part of the [[Kingdom of the Franks]]. The Salian Franks who settled in the area are often described as the ones having brought the Germanic language to present-day Luxembourg, since the [[Frankish language|old Frankish]] language spoken by them is considered by linguists to be a direct forerunner of the [[Moselle Franconian language|Moselle Franconian dialect]], which later evolved into, among others, the modern-day [[Luxembourgish|Luxembourgish language]].<ref name=Trausch2003 />{{rp|page=70}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/europe/francique-map.htm|title=Francique|website=www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca|access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126024438/http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/europe/francique-map.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Christianization]] of Luxembourg is usually dated back to the end of the 7th century. The most famous figure in this context is [[Willibrord]], a [[Northumbria]]n missionary saint, who together with other monks established the [[Abbey of Echternach]] in AD 698,<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 23</ref> and is celebrated annually in the [[dancing procession of Echternach]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Echternach |first=Willibrordus Basilika |title=Basilica & Willibrord |url=https://basilika.lu/en/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Willibrordus Basilika Echternach |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abbey of Echternach |url=https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/abbey-of-echternach |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> For a few centuries the abbey would become one of northern Europe's most influential abbeys.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-01 |title=The Echternach scriptorium |url=https://bnl.public.lu/en/a-la-une/a-la-loupe/2024/scriptorium-echternach.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=bnl.public.lu |language=en}}</ref> The [[Codex Aureus of Echternach]], an important surviving codex written entirely in gold ink, was produced here in the 11th century.<ref name="Beckwith, John 1979 pp. 122"/> The so-called [[Emperor's Bible]] and the [[Golden Gospels of Henry III]] were also produced in Echternach at this time.<ref>The Emperor's Bible". Uppsala University Library. Retrieved 17 October 2020</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Pauly | first=Michel | title=Geschichte Luxemburgs |location=München |publisher=Verlag C.H. Beck | date=2011 | isbn=978-3-406-62225-0 | oclc=724990605 | language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Emperor's Bible |url=https://www.alvin-portal.org/alvin/attachment/document/alvin-record%3A56059/ATTACHMENT-0328.pdf}}</ref>

=== Emergence and expansion (963–1312) ===
{{Main|County of Luxembourg}}

[[File:Charles IV-John Ocko votive picture-fragment.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]], the 14th-century Holy Roman Emperor and King of [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] from the [[House of Luxembourg]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/fondation-du-luxembourg.html |title=Luxembourg's Origins |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124090014/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/fondation-du-luxembourg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

When the [[Carolingian Empire]] was divided many times starting with the [[Treaty of Verdun]] in 843, today's Luxembourgish territory became successively part of the [[Kingdom of Middle Francia]] (843–855), the [[Kingdom of Lotharingia]] (855–959) and finally of the [[Duchy of Lorraine]] (959–1059), which itself had become a state of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 26</ref>

The recorded history of Luxembourg begins with the acquisition of ''Lucilinburhuc''<ref>Kreins (2003), p. 20</ref> (today [[Luxembourg Castle]]) situated on the [[Bock (Luxembourg)|Bock]] rock by [[Siegfried of Luxembourg|Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes]], in 963 through an exchange act with [[St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier]].<ref>{{cite book |title=About... The History of Luxembourg |publisher=Information and Press Service of the Government |date=2022 |isbn=978-2-87999-298-3 |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/publications/ap-histoire.html |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124084539/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/publications/ap-histoire.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Around this [[Fortifications|fort]], a town gradually developed, which became the center of a state of great strategic value within the Duchy of Lorraine.<ref name="UNESCO, World Heritage Convention"/> Over the years, the fortress was extended by Siegfried's descendants and by 1083, one of them, [[Conrad I, Count of Luxembourg|Conrad I]], was the first to call himself a "[[Count of Luxembourg]]", and with it effectively creating the independent [[County of Luxembourg]] (which was still a state within the Holy Roman Empire).<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 28</ref>

By the middle of the 13th century, the counts of Luxembourg had managed to gain considerable wealth and power and had expanded their territory from the river [[Meuse]] to the [[Moselle]]. By the time of the reign of [[Henry V, Count of Luxembourg|Henry V the Blonde]], [[Bitburg]], [[La Roche-en-Ardenne]], [[Durbuy]], [[Arlon]], [[Thionville]], [[Marville, Meuse|Marville]], [[Longwy]], and in 1264 the competing [[County of Vianden]] (and with it [[St Vith]] and [[Schleiden]]) had either been incorporated directly or become [[vassal states]] to the County of Luxembourg.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.33-34</ref> The only major setback during their rise in power came in 1288, when [[Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg|Henry VI]] and his three brothers died at the [[Battle of Worringen]] while trying unsuccessfully to add the [[Duchy of Limburg]] to their realm. But despite the defeat, the Battle of Worringen helped the Counts of Luxembourg to achieve military glory, which they had previously lacked, as they had mostly enlarged their territory by means of inheritances, marriages and fiefdoms.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.35</ref>

The ascension of the Counts of Luxembourg culminated when [[Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VII]] became [[King of the Romans]], [[King of Italy]] and finally, in 1312, [[Holy Roman Emperor]].<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.37</ref>

=== Golden Age (1312–1443) ===
{{Main|Duchy of Luxembourg}}
[[File:Festungsplan.von.Luxemburg.jpg|thumb|left|Historic map (undated) of Luxembourg City's fortifications]]

With the ascension of Henry VII as Emperor, the dynasty of the [[House of Luxembourg]] not only began to rule the [[Holy Roman Empire]], but rapidly began to exercise growing influence over other parts of Central Europe as well.

Henry's son, [[John the Blind]], in addition to being Count of Luxembourg, also became [[King of Bohemia]]. He remains a major figure in Luxembourgish history and [[folklore]] and is considered by many historians the epitome of [[chivalry]] in medieval times. He is also known for having founded the [[Schueberfouer]] in 1340 and for his heroic death at the [[Battle of Crécy]] in 1346.<ref>Margue, Paul (1974). ''Luxemburg in Mittelalter und Neuzeit''. Editions Bourg-Bourger.</ref><ref>Gilbert Trausch, Le Luxembourg, émergence d'un état et d'une nation 2007 p. 93 Edition Schortgen</ref> John the Blind is considered a [[Folk hero|national hero]] in Luxembourg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/helm-holy-roman-empire.html |title=At the Helm of the Holy Roman Empire |website=Luxembourg.lu |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124090017/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/helm-holy-roman-empire.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 14th and early 15th centuries, three more members of the House of Luxembourg reigned as Holy Roman Emperors and Bohemian Kings: John's descendants [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]], [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]] (who also was [[King of Hungary|King of Hungary and Croatia]]), and [[Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia|Wenceslaus IV]]. Charles IV created the long-lasting [[Golden Bull of 1356]], a decree which fixed important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Empire. Luxembourg remained an independent fief (county) of the Holy Roman Empire, and in 1354, Charles IV elevated it to the status of a [[duchy]] with his half-brother [[Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg|Wenceslaus I]] becoming the first [[Duke of Luxembourg]]. While his kin were occupied ruling and expanding their power within the Holy Roman Empire and elsewhere, Wenceslaus, annexed the [[County of Chiny]] in 1364, and with it, the territories of the new [[Duchy of Luxembourg]] reached its greatest extent.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 41</ref>

During these 130 years, the House of Luxembourg was contending with the [[House of Habsburg]] for supremacy within the Holy Roman Empire and Central Europe. It all came to end in 1443, when the House of Luxembourg suffered a succession crisis, precipitated by the lack of a male heir to assume the throne. Since Sigismund and [[Elizabeth of Görlitz]] were both heirless, all possessions of the Luxembourg Dynasty were redistributed among the European aristocracy.<ref>Kreins (2003), p. 39</ref> The Duchy of Luxembourg become a possession of [[Philip the Good]], [[Duke of Burgundy]].<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 44</ref>

As the House of Luxembourg had become extinct and Luxembourg now became part of the [[Burgundian Netherlands]], this would mark the start of nearly 400 years of foreign rule over Luxembourg.

=== Habsburg rule and French invasions (1444–1794) ===
{{See also|Fortress of Luxembourg}}

In 1482, [[Philip the Handsome]] inherited all of what became then known as the [[Habsburg Netherlands]], and with it the Duchy of Luxembourg. For nearly 320 years Luxembourg would remain a possession of the mighty House of Habsburg, at first under Austrian rule (1506–1556), then under [[Spanish Netherlands|Spanish rule (1556–1714)]], before going back again to [[Austrian Netherlands|Austrian rule (1714–1794)]].<br />
With having become a Habsburg possession, the Duchy of Luxembourg became, like many countries in Europe at the time, heavily involved in the many conflicts for dominance of Europe between the Habsburg-held countries and the [[Kingdom of France]].

In 1542, the [[King of France]], [[Francis I of France|François I]], invaded Luxembourg twice, but the Habsburgs under [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] managed to reconquer the Duchy each time.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.53</ref>

Luxembourg became part of the [[Spanish Netherlands]] in 1556, and when France and Spain [[Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)|went to war in 1635]] it resulted in the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]], in which [[Partitions of Luxembourg|the first partition of Luxembourg]] was decided. Under the Treaty, Spain ceded the Luxembourgish fortresses of [[Stenay]], Thionville, and [[Montmédy]], and the surrounding territory to France, effectively reducing the size of Luxembourg for the first time in centuries.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.57">Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.57</ref>

In context of the [[Nine Years' War]] in 1684, [[Siege of Luxembourg (1684)|France invaded Luxembourg again]], conquering and occupying the Duchy until 1697 when it was returned to the Spanish to garner support for the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] cause during the prelude to the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. When the war broke out in 1701 Luxembourg and the Spanish Netherlands were administered by the pro-French faction under the governor [[Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria]] and sided with the Bourbons. The duchy was subsequently occupied by the pro-Austrian allied forces during the conflict and was awarded to Austria at its conclusion in 1714.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.58</ref>

As the Duchy of Luxembourg repeatedly passed back and forth from Spanish and Austrian to French rule, each of the conquering nations contributed to strengthening and expanding the [[Fortress of Luxembourg|Fortress]] that the Castle of Luxembourg had become over the years. One example of this includes French military engineer [[Marquis de Vauban]] who advanced the fortifications around and on the heights of the city, fortification walls that are still visible today.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.57"/>

=== French rule (1794–1815) ===
{{See also|Forêts|Secularism in France}}

During the [[War of the First Coalition]], [[First French Republic|Revolutionary France]] invaded the Austrian Netherlands, and with it, Luxembourg. In the years 1793 and 1794 most of the Duchy was conquered relatively quickly and the [[French Revolutionary Army]] committed many atrocities and pillages against the Luxembourgish civilian population and abbeys, the most infamous being the massacres of [[Differdange]] and [[Dudelange]], as well as the destruction of the abbeys of [[Clairefontaine Abbey|Clairefontaine]], [[Abbey of Echternach|Echternach]] and [[Orval Abbey|Orval]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/history/a/1715144.html|title=Dark Luxembourg: The French massacre of Differdange|access-date=6 October 2021|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006182254/https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/history/a/1715144.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://shenandoahdavis.canalblog.com/archives/2016/03/24/33560312.html|title = LUXEMBOURG – 17 mai 1794 – MASSACRE DE DUDELANGE – l'HORRIBLE FIN DE PIERRE GAASCH, GARDE-FORESTIER ... – la Maraîchine Normande|date = 24 March 2016|access-date = 6 October 2021|archive-date = 6 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006182254/http://shenandoahdavis.canalblog.com/archives/2016/03/24/33560312.html|url-status = live}}</ref> However the Fortress of Luxembourg [[Siege of Luxembourg (1794–95)|resisted for nearly 7 months]] before the Austrian forces holding it surrendered. Luxembourg's long defence led [[Lazare Carnot]] to call Luxembourg "the best fortress in the world, except Gibraltar", giving rise to the city's nickname ''the Gibraltar of the North''.<ref name="Kreins 2003, p.64">Kreins (2003), p.64</ref>

Luxembourg was annexed by France, becoming the [[Forêts|''département des forêts'']] (department of forests), and the incorporation of the former Duchy as a ''département'' into France was formalized at the [[Treaty of Campo Formio]] in 1797.<ref name="Kreins 2003, p.64"/>
From the start of the occupation the new French officials in Luxembourg, who spoke only French, implemented many republican reforms, among them the principle of [[laicism]], which led to an outcry in strongly Catholic Luxembourg. Additionally French was implemented as the only official language and Luxembourgish people were barred access to all civil services.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.65">Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.65</ref> When the French Army introduced military duty for the local population, riots broke out which culminated in 1798 when Luxembourgish peasants started a rebellion.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.65"/> Even though the French managed to rapidly suppress this revolt called ''[[Peasants' War (1798)|Klëppelkrich]]'', it had a profound effect on the historical memory of the country and its citizens.<ref>Kreins (2003), p. 66</ref>

However, many republican ideas of this era continue to have a lasting effect on Luxembourg; one of the many examples features the implementation of the Napoleonic [[Napoleonic Code|Code Civil]] which was introduced in 1804 and is still valid today.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.67</ref>

=== National awakening (1815–1890) ===
{{See also|Luxembourg question}}
After the [[Treaty of Paris (1815)|defeat]] of [[Napoleon]] in 1815, the Duchy of Luxembourg was restored. However, as the territory had been part of the Holy Roman Empire as well as the Habsburgian Netherlands in the past, both the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] and the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] now claimed possession of the territory. At the [[Congress of Vienna]] the great powers decided that Luxembourg would become a member state of the newly formed [[German Confederation]], but at the same time [[William I of the Netherlands]], the [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]], would become, in [[personal union]], the head of state. To satisfy Prussia, it was decided that not only the [[Fortress of Luxembourg]] be manned by [[Prussian Army|Prussian troops]], but also that large parts of Luxembourgish territory (mainly the areas around Bitburg and St. Vith) become Prussian possessions.<ref>Johan Christiaan Boogman: Nederland en de Duitse Bond 1815–1851. Diss. Utrecht, J. B. Wolters, Groningen / Djakarta 1955, pp. 5–8.</ref> This marked the second time that the Duchy of Luxembourg was reduced in size, and is generally known as the [[Partitions of Luxembourg|Second Partition of Luxembourg]]. To compensate the Duchy for this loss, it was decided to elevate the Duchy to a [[Grand duchy|Grand-Duchy]], thus giving the Dutch monarchs the additional title of [[Grand-Duke of Luxembourg]]. However, from 1816 to 1830, [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]] ignored the Duchy's sovereignty, treating Luxembourg as a conquered nation while subjecting Luxembourg to high taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-15 |title=Luxembourg - Grand Duchy, Europe, Charlemagne {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg/History |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

After Belgium became an independent country following the victorious [[Belgian Revolution|Belgian Revolution of 1830–1831]], it claimed the entire Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg as being part of Belgium, however, the Dutch King who was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg, as well as Prussia, did not want to lose their grip on the mighty fortress of Luxembourg and did not agree with the Belgian claims.<ref>Michel Pauly Die Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p. 68</ref> The dispute would be solved at the [[Treaty of London (1839)|1839 Treaty of London]] where the decision of the [[Partitions of Luxembourg|Third Partition of Luxembourg]] was taken. This time the territory was reduced by more than half, as the predominantly [[francophone]] [[Luxembourg (Belgium)|western part of the country]] (but also the then Luxembourgish-speaking part of [[Arelerland]]) was transferred to the new state of Belgium, thereby giving Luxembourg its modern-day borders. The treaty of 1839 also established full independence of the remaining Germanic-speaking Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.<ref>Thewes, Guy (2006) (PDF). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (2006), p. 208</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.landenweb.net/luxemburg/geschiedenis/ |title=LUXEMBURG Geschiedenis |publisher=Landenweb.net |access-date=1 February 2013 |archive-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510190747/http://www.landenweb.net/luxemburg/geschiedenis/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The World Factbook|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2088.html|access-date=1 February 2013|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|archive-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227190053/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2088.html}}</ref><ref>Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 1997</ref>

In 1842, Luxembourg joined the German Customs Union (''[[Zollverein]]'').<ref>Kreins (2003), p. 76</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last1=Harmsen|first1=Robert|title=Luxembourg and the European Union|date=28 February 2020|encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1041|isbn=978-0-19-022863-7|last2=Högenauer|first2=Anna-Lena}}</ref> This resulted in the opening of the German market, the development of [[Steel industry in Luxembourg|Luxembourg's steel industry]], and expansion of [[Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois|Luxembourg's railway network]] from 1855 to 1875.

After the [[Luxembourg Crisis]] of 1866 nearly led to war between Prussia and France, as both were unwilling to see the other taking influence over Luxembourg and its mighty fortress, the Grand Duchy's independence and neutrality were reaffirmed by the [[Treaty of London, 1867|Second Treaty of London]] and Prussia was finally willing to withdraw its troops from the Fortress of Luxembourg under the condition that the fortifications would be dismantled. That happened the same year.<ref>Kreins (2003), pp. 80–81</ref> At the time of the [[Franco-Prussian war]] in 1870, Luxembourg's neutrality was respected, and neither France nor Germany invaded the country.<ref>Maartje Abbenhuis, ''An Age of Neutrals: Great Power Politics, 1815–1914''. Cambridge University Press (2014) {{ISBN|978-1-107-03760-1}}</ref>

As a result of the recurring disputes between the major European powers, the people of Luxembourg gradually developed a consciousness of independence and a national awakening took place in the 19th century.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.75</ref> The people of Luxembourg began referring to themselves as ''[[Luxembourgers]]'', rather than being part of one of the larger surrounding nations. This consciousness of ''[[Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn]]'' ("''We want to remain what we are ")'' culminated in 1890, when the last step towards full independence was finally taken: due to a succession crisis the [[Dutch monarchy]] ceased to hold the title Grand-Duke of Luxembourg. Beginning with [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolph of Nassau-Weilburg]], the Grand-Duchy would have [[Nassau-Weilburg|its own monarchy]], thus reaffirming its full independence.<ref>Kreins (2003), p. 84</ref>

=== German occupations and interwar political crisis (1890–1945) ===
{{See also|German occupation of Luxembourg during World War I|German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II}}
[[File:Alsace-lorraine.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Frontier with Alsace-Lorraine from 1871 to 1918]]

In August 1914, during [[World War I]], [[Imperial Germany]] violated Luxembourg's [[Neutral country|neutrality]] by invading it to defeat France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/premire-guerre-mondiale.html |title=The First World War: German Occupation and State Crisis |website=Luxembourg.lu |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124093753/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/premire-guerre-mondiale.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, despite the [[German occupation of Luxembourg during World War I|German occupation]], Luxembourg was allowed to maintain much of its independence and political mechanisms.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.83</ref> Unaware of the fact that Germany secretly planned to annex the Grand-Duchy in case of a German victory (the [[Septemberprogramm]]), the Luxembourgish government continued to pursue a policy of strict neutrality. However, the Luxembourgish population did not believe Germany had good intentions, fearing that it would annex Luxembourg. Around 1,000 Luxembourgers served in the French army;<ref>{{cite book |title=About... The History of Luxembourg |publisher=Information and Press Service of the Government |date=2022 |isbn=978-2-87999-298-3 |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/publications/ap-histoire.html |page=22 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124084539/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/publications/ap-histoire.html |url-status=live }}</ref> their sacrifices have been commemorated at the [[Gëlle Fra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/gelle-fra.html|title=Gëlle Fra – a Hallmark of Society and Luxembourgish History|website=Luxembourg.lu|date=26 June 2023|access-date=24 January 2024|archive-date=24 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124093754/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/gelle-fra.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the war, Grand-Duchess [[Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Marie-Adélaïde]] was seen by many people (including the French and Belgian governments) as having collaborated with the Germans and calls for her abdication and the establishment of a Republic became louder.<ref name="Thewes 2003, p. 81">Thewes (2003), p. 81</ref><ref name="Kreins 2003, p. 89">Kreins (2003), p. 89.</ref> After the retreat of the [[German Imperial Army|German army]], communists in Luxembourg City and [[Esch-sur-Alzette]] tried to establish a [[Soviet republic (system of government)|soviet worker's republic]] similar to the [[German Revolution of 1918–1919|ones emerging in Germany]], but these attempts lasted only 2 days.<ref name="Kreins 2003, p. 89"/><ref name="Thewes 2003, p. 81"/>
In November 1918, a motion in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|Chamber of Deputies]] demanding the [[Abolition of monarchy|abolition of the monarchy]] was defeated narrowly by 21 votes to 19 (with three abstentions).<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.84</ref>

France questioned the Luxembourgish government's, and especially Marie-Adélaïde's, neutrality during the war, and calls for an annexation of Luxembourg to either France or Belgium grew louder in both countries.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.85">Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.85</ref> In January 1919, a company of the [[Luxembourgish Army]] rebelled, declaring itself to be the army of the new republic, but French troops intervened and put an end to the rebellion.<ref name="Michel Pauly p.85"/> Nonetheless, the disloyalty shown by her own armed forces was too much for Marie-Adélaïde, who abdicated in favour of her sister [[Grand Duchess Charlotte|Charlotte]] 5 days later.<ref>Dostert et al. (2002), p. 21</ref> The same year, in a [[1919 Luxembourg referendum|popular referendum]], 77.8% of the Luxembourgish population declared in favour of maintaining monarchy and rejected the establishment of a republic. During this time, Belgium pushed for an annexation of Luxembourg. However, all such claims were ultimately dismissed at the [[Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)|Paris Peace Conference]], thus securing Luxembourg's independence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brousse |first1=Hendry |title=Le Luxembourg de la guerre à la paix (1918–1923): la France, actrice majeure de cette transition |url=https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/tel-02887753/document |website=hal.univ-lorraine.fr |access-date=18 April 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303094710/https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/tel-02887753/document |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1939, the Luxembourg army increased to 425 due to Nazi Germany presence. On May 9, 1940 Luxembourg closed the defensive [[Schuster Line|Schuster line]] with Germany; one day later, Luxembourg's neutrality was violated again when [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' [[Invasion of Luxembourg|entered the country]] "entirely without justification".<ref>{{cite book |section=The invasion of Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg |title=Judgment of the International Military Tribunal For The Trial of German Major War Criminals |location=London |publisher=HM Stationery Office |via=The Nizkor Project |date=1951 |url=http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi?imt/tgmwc/judgment/j-invasion-belgium |access-date=22 December 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020203/http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi?imt%2Ftgmwc%2Fjudgment%2Fj-invasion-belgium }}</ref> In contrast to the First World War, under the [[German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II]], the country was treated as German territory and informally annexed to the adjacent province of [[Nazi Germany]], [[Gau Moselland]]. This time, Luxembourg did not remain neutral as Luxembourg's [[Luxembourg government-in-exile|government in exile]] based in London supported the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], sending a small group of volunteers who participated in the [[Invasion of Normandy|Normandy invasion]], and multiple [[Luxembourgish Resistance|resistance groups]] formed inside the occupied country.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.zug-der-erinnerung.eu/dostert.html|title = Luxemburg unter deutscher Besatzung 1940–45: Die Bevölkerung eines kleinen Landes zwischen Kollaboration und Widerstand|last = Dostert|first = Paul|website = Zug der Erinnerung|language = de|access-date = 23 April 2021|archive-date = 2 June 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190602113318/http://www.zug-der-erinnerung.eu/dostert.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/second-world-war.html |title=The Second World War: the Toughest Ordeal |website=Luxembourg.lu |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124090016/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/second-world-war.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

With 2.45% of its prewar population killed, and a third of all buildings in Luxembourg being destroyed or heavily damaged (mainly due to the [[Battle of the Bulge]]), Luxembourg suffered the highest such loss in Western Europe, but its commitment to the Allied war effort was never questioned.<ref>Michel Pauly, Geschichte Luxemburgs 2013 p.102</ref> Around 1,000–2,500 of Luxembourg's Jews were murdered in [[the Holocaust in Luxembourg|the Holocaust]].

=== Integration into NATO and European Union (1945–) ===

The Grand Duchy became a founding member of the United Nations in 1945. Luxembourg's neutral status under the [[Constitution of Luxembourg|constitution]] formally ended in 1948, and in April 1949 it also became a founding member of [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Luxembourg and NATO |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_162355.htm |website=NATO |access-date=18 April 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414144211/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_162355.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Cold War]], Luxembourg continued its involvements on the side of the [[Western Bloc]]. In the early fifties a small contingent of troops fought in the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://korea.mnhm.net/index.php/en/|title=D'Koreaner aus dem Lëtzebuerger Land (Koreans from Luxembourg)|access-date=24 January 2024|archive-date=24 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124093752/https://korea.mnhm.net/index.php/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Luxembourg troops have also deployed to Afghanistan, to support [[ISAF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armee.lu/historique/l-armee-de-nos-jours/la-contribution-otan/isaf-international-security-and-assistance-force|title=ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force)|date=24 April 2023|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427023157/https://www.armee.lu/historique/l-armee-de-nos-jours/la-contribution-otan/isaf-international-security-and-assistance-force}}</ref> Luxembourg won its first gold medal at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in Helsinki when [[Josy Barthel]] won the 1500 metres.

In the 1950s, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the [[European Communities]], following the 1952 establishment of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]], and subsequent 1958 creations of the [[European Economic Community]] and [[European Atomic Energy Community]]. In 1993, the former two of these were incorporated into the European Union. With [[Robert Schuman]] (one of the founding fathers of the EU), [[Pierre Werner]] (considered the father of the [[Euro]]), [[Gaston Thorn]], [[Jacques Santer]] and [[Jean-Claude Juncker]] (all former presidents of the [[European Commission]]), Luxembourgish politicians contributed substantially to the EU's formation and establishment. In 1999, Luxembourg joined the [[eurozone]]. Thereafter, the country was elected non-permanent member of the [[United Nations Security Council]] (2013–14).

The [[steel industry]] exploiting the [[Red Lands]]' rich iron-ore grounds in the beginning of the 20th century drove Luxembourg's industrialization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/steel-industry-luxembourg.html |title=The Steel Industry That Made Luxembourg's Fortune |website=Luxembourg.lu |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124090535/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/history/steel-industry-luxembourg.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the decline of the steel industry in the 1970s, the country focused on establishing itself as [[Economy of Luxembourg|a global financial center]] and developed into the banking hub it is reputed to be. Since the beginning of the 21st century, its governments have focused on developing the country into a [[knowledge economy]], with the founding of the [[University of Luxembourg]] and a [[Luxembourg Space Agency|national space program]]. In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to provide [[free public transport]] at a national scale.

On 19 December 2023, Luxembourg's [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|Chamber of Deputies]] adopted a law to modernize the current investment tax credit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.taxand.com/our-thinking/news/luxembourg-parliament-adopts-law-modernising-investment-tax-credit-regime/ |title=Luxembourg Parliament adopts law modernising investment tax credit regime |author=Hugues Hénaff |website=Atoz.lu |date=20 December 2023 |access-date=4 May 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atoz.lu/media/Luxembourg-Parliament-adopts-law-modernising-investment-tax-credit-regime-2024#:~:text=On%2019%20December%202023%2C%20the,as%20from%20tax%20year%202024. |title=Loi du 22 décembre 2023 portant modification de la loi modifiée du 4 décembre 1967 concernant l’impôt sur le revenu. |website=legilux.public.lu |date=22 December 2025 |language=fr |access-date=4 May 2025 }}</ref> It took effect less than two weeks later on 1 January 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2023/12/22/a836/jo |title=Luxembourg Parliament adopts law modernising investment tax credit regime as from 2024 |website=taxand.com |date=5 January 2024 |access-date=4 May 2025 }}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Luxembourg|Law of Luxembourg}}
[[File:Luxembourg City Chambre des députés Nov 2009.jpg|thumb|left|The Hall of the Chamber of Deputies, the meeting place of the Luxembourgish national legislature, the [[Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg|Chamber of Deputies]], in [[Luxembourg City]]]]
Luxembourg is described as a "[[Democracy Index#Definitions|full democracy]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=DemocracyIndex2016|title=Democracy Index 2016 – The Economist Intelligence Unit|last=solutions|first=EIU digital|website=www.eiu.com|access-date=29 November 2017|archive-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111195322/https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=DemocracyIndex2016|url-status=live}}</ref> with a [[parliamentary democracy]] headed by a [[constitutional monarch]]. Executive power is exercised by the [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg|grand duke]] and the cabinet, which consists of several members with the titles of minister, minister delegate or secretary of state, who are headed by a Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gouvernement.lu/en/systeme-politique/gouvernement.html |title=Government Composition |website=Gouvernement.lu |date=28 May 2013 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=19 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219131243/https://gouvernement.lu/en/systeme-politique/gouvernement.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The current [[Constitution of Luxembourg]], the supreme law of Luxembourg, was originally adopted on 17 October 1868.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/constitution/1868/10/17/n1/jo |title=Mémorial A, 1868, No.25, Constitution du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg |website=Legilux.lu |language=fr |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127145014/https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/constitution/1868/10/17/n1/jo |url-status=live }}</ref> The Constitution was last updated on 1 July 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/constitution/1868/10/17/n1 |title=Constitution du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg |website=Legilux |language=fr |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

The grand duke has the power to dissolve the [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|legislature]], in which case new elections must be held within three months. But since 1919, sovereignty has resided with the nation, exercised by the grand duke in accordance with the Constitution and the law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/textescoordonnes/recueils/constitution_droits_de_lhomme/CONST1.pdf |title=Constitution of Luxembourg |access-date=23 July 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=Service central de législation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021501/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/textescoordonnes/recueils/constitution_droits_de_lhomme/CONST1.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Palacio Gran Ducal de Luxemburgo.jpg|thumb|The [[Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg|Grand Ducal Palace]] in [[Luxembourg City]], the official residence of the [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]]]
Legislative power is vested in the [[Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg|Chamber of Deputies]], a [[unicameral]] legislature of sixty members, who are directly elected to five-year terms from four [[Legislative circonscriptions (Luxembourg)|constituencies]]. A second body, the [[Council of State of Luxembourg|Council of State]] (''Conseil d'État''), composed of 21 ordinary citizens appointed by the grand duke, advises the Chamber of Deputies in the drafting of legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ce.etat.lu/structure.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619171336/http://www.ce.etat.lu/structure.htm |archive-date=19 June 2006 |title=Structure of the Conseil d'Etat |access-date=23 July 2006 |publisher=Conseil d'Etat }}</ref>

Luxembourg has three lower tribunals (''justices de paix''; in [[Esch-sur-Alzette]], the city of [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]], and [[Diekirch]]), two district tribunals (Luxembourg and Diekirch), and a [[Superior court of justice (Luxembourg)|Superior Court of Justice]] (Luxembourg), which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. There is also an Administrative Tribunal and an Administrative Court, as well as a Constitutional Court, all of which are located in the capital.

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Cantons of Luxembourg|Communes of Luxembourg}}
{{Further|Administrative divisions of Luxembourg}}
Luxembourg is divided into 12 [[Cantons of Luxembourg|cantons]], which are further divided into 100 [[Communes of Luxembourg|communes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/territoire-et-climat/territoire.html |title=Luxembourg's territory |publisher=Luxembourg.public.lu |date=20 September 2020 |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925081914/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/territoire-et-climat/territoire.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Twelve of the communes have [[List of cities in Luxembourg|city status]]; the city of [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]] is the largest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Luxembourg – Communications|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg|access-date=12 December 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305112826/https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{multiple image
| align             = center
| total_width       = 600
| image_gap         = 20
| header            = Partitions and Cantons of Luxembourg
| image1            = LuxembourgPartitionsMap english.png
| caption1          = There have been three [[partitions of Luxembourg]] between 1659 and 1839. Together, they reduced the territory of Luxembourg from {{convert|10700|km2|abbr=on}} to the present-day area of {{convert|2586|km2|abbr=on}}. The remainder forms parts of modern-day Belgium, France, and Germany.
| image2            = Cantons of Luxembourg numbered.png
| caption2          = [[Cantons of Luxembourg]]:<br />[[Capellen (canton)|Capellen]] (1) – [[Clervaux (canton)|Clervaux]] (2) – [[Diekirch (canton)|Diekirch]] (3) – [[Echternach (canton)|Echternach]] (4) – [[Esch-sur-Alzette (canton)|Esch-sur-Alzette]] (5) – [[Grevenmacher (canton)|Grevenmacher]] (6) – [[Luxembourg (canton)|Luxembourg]] (7) – [[Mersch (canton)|Mersch]] (8) – [[Redange (canton)|Redange]] (9) – [[Remich (canton)|Remich]] (10) – [[Vianden (canton)|Vianden]] (11) – [[Wiltz (canton)|Wiltz]] (12)
}}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Luxembourg}}
[[File:EU Court of Justice overview.jpg|thumb|The [[Court of Justice of the European Union]], seated in [[Luxembourg City]]]]
Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and [[economic integration]]. In 1921, Luxembourg and Belgium formed the [[Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union]] (BLEU) to create a regime of inter-exchangeable currency and a common [[Customs (tax)|customs]].<ref name=":0" /> Luxembourg is a member of the [[Benelux Economic Union]] and was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). It also participates in the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen Group]] (named after [[Schengen, Luxembourg|the Luxembourg village of Schengen]] where the agreements were signed).<ref name=":1" /> At the same time, the majority of Luxembourgers have consistently believed that European unity makes sense only in the context of a dynamic transatlantic relationship, and thus have traditionally pursued a pro-[[NATO]], pro-US foreign policy.<ref>{{Citation |chapter=Interdependence, States and Community: Ethical Concerns and Foreign Policy in ASEAN |date=23 March 2016 |title=The Ethics of Foreign Policy |pages=151–164 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781315616179-19 |isbn=978-1-315-61617-9}}{{clarify|reason="doi= value" does not match "chapter= title"; which is the 'one' source that is actually being cited?|date=January 2024}}</ref>

Luxembourg is considered a European capital, and is the site of the [[Court of Justice of the European Union]], the [[European Court of Auditors]], the [[European Investment Bank]], the Statistical Office of the European Union ([[Eurostat]]) and other vital EU organs. The [[Secretariat of the European Parliament]] is located in Luxembourg, but the Parliament usually meets in [[Brussels]] and sometimes in [[Strasbourg]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The European institutions in Luxembourg|url=http://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/international-openness/eu-institutions.html|access-date=12 December 2020|website=luxembourg.public.lu|language=en|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119173856/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/international-openness/eu-institutions.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Luxembourg is also site of the [[EFTA Court]], which is responsible for the three [[EFTA]] members who are part of the European Single Market through the [[EEA Agreement]].<ref>[https://eftacourt.int/the-court EFTA Court homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203145232/https://eftacourt.int/the-court |date=3 February 2023 }}, Retrieved 3 February 2023.</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Luxembourg Armed Forces}}
[[File:Soldats luxembourgeois.jpg|thumb|Luxembourgish soldiers on parade during National Day, ''Grand Duke Day'', 23 June]]
The Luxembourgish army is mostly based in its casern, the ''Centre militaire Caserne Grand-Duc Jean'' on the ''Härebierg'' in Diekirch. The general staff is based in the capital, the ''État-Major''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SA|first=Interact|title=Accueil|url=http://www.armee.lu/|access-date=13 September 2017|website=www.armee.lu|language=fr-FR|archive-date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310120638/http://www.armee.lu/|url-status=live}}</ref> The army is under [[civilian control of the military|civilian control]], with the grand duke as [[Commander-in-Chief]]. The [[Minister for Defence of Luxembourg|Minister for Defense]], [[Yuriko Backes]], oversees army operations. The professional head of the army is the [[Chief of Defence (Luxembourg)|Chief of Defense]], who answers to the minister and holds the rank of general.

Being landlocked, Luxembourg has no navy. Seventeen NATO [[Airborne Warning And Control System|AWACS]] aeroplanes are registered as aircraft of Luxembourg.<ref name="Aeroflight">{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/lux/luxaf1.htm |title=Luxembourg |access-date=23 July 2006 |date=8 September 2005 |publisher=Aeroflight.co.uk |archive-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529201100/http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/lux/luxaf1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In accordance with a joint agreement with Belgium, both countries have put forth funding for one [[Airbus A400M|A400M]] military cargo plane.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/No%20Volume/58216/Part/I-58216-0800000280648423.pdf |title=No. 58216 Luxembourg and Belgium |publisher=United Nations |access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref>

Luxembourg has participated in the [[Eurocorps]], has contributed troops to the [[United Nations Protection Force|UNPROFOR]] and [[IFOR]] missions in former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], and has participated with a small contingent in the [[NATO]] [[SFOR]] mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Luxembourg troops have also deployed to Afghanistan, to support [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]]. The army has also participated in humanitarian relief missions such as setting up refugee camps for [[Kurdish people|Kurds]] and providing emergency supplies to Albania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mnhm.lu/pageshtml/luxembourgarmy.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702110138/http://www.mnhm.lu/pageshtml/luxembourgarmy.php|archive-date=2 July 2010|title=Luxembourg Army History|date=2 July 2010|access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Luxembourg}}

Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries, ranking [[List of countries by area|168th]] in size of the [[List of sovereign states|194 independent countries of the world]]; it is about {{convert|2586|km2|sqmi}} in size, measuring {{convert|82|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|57|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide. It lies between latitudes [[49th parallel north|49°]] and [[51st parallel north|51° N]], and longitudes [[5th meridian east|5°]] and [[7th meridian east|7° E]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/lu/where-is-luxembourg.html|title=Where is Luxembourg?|website=WorldAtlas|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903082153/https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/lu/where-is-luxembourg.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Luxembourg2022OSM.png|thumb|left|The largest towns are [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]], [[Esch-sur-Alzette]], [[Dudelange]], and [[Differdange]].]]

To the east, Luxembourg borders the German ''[[States of Germany|Bundesländer]]'' of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] and [[Saarland]], and to the south, it borders the French ''[[Regions of France|région]]'' of [[Grand Est]] ([[Lorraine]]). The Grand Duchy borders Belgium's [[Wallonia]], in particular the Belgian [[Provinces of Belgium|provinces]] of [[Luxembourg (Belgium)|Luxembourg]] and [[Liège Province|Liège]], part of which comprises the [[German-speaking Community of Belgium]], to the west and to the north, respectively.

The northern third of the country is known as the [[Éislek]] or ''Oesling'', and forms part of the [[Ardennes]]. It is dominated by hills and low mountains, including the [[Kneiff]] near [[Wilwerdange]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistiques.public.lu/fr/publications/horizontales/recueil_communes/recueil_pdf.pdf |title=Mountains in Luxembourg |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610225858/http://www.statistiques.public.lu/fr/publications/horizontales/recueil_communes/recueil_pdf.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2007 }}, recueil de statistiques par commune. statistiques.public.lu (2003) p. 20</ref> which is the highest point, at {{convert|560|m}}. Other mountains are the [[Buurgplaatz]] at {{convert|559|m}} near [[Huldange]] and the [[Napoléonsgaard]] at {{convert|554|m}} near [[Rambrouch]]. The region is sparsely populated, with only one town ([[Wiltz]]) with a population of more than five thousand people.

The southern two-thirds of the country is called the [[Guttland]], and is more densely populated than the Éislek. 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. [[Little Switzerland (Luxembourg)|Little Switzerland]], in the east of Luxembourg, has craggy terrain and thick forests. The [[Moselle (river)|Moselle]] valley is the lowest-lying region, running along the southeastern border. The [[Red Lands]], in the far south and southwest, are Luxembourg's industrial heartland and home to many of Luxembourg's largest towns.

The border between Luxembourg and Germany is formed by three rivers: the [[Moselle]], the [[Sauer]], and the [[Our River|Our]]. Other major rivers are the [[Alzette]], the [[Attert River|Attert]], the [[Clerve]], and the [[Wiltz River|Wiltz]]. The [[valley]]s of the mid-Sauer and Attert form the border between the Gutland and the Éislek.

=== Environment ===
According to the 2012 [[Environmental Performance Index]], Luxembourg is one of the world's best performers in environmental protection, ranking fourth out of 132 assessed countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epi.yale.edu/epi2012/rankings |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120505092852/http://epi.yale.edu/epi2012/rankings |title=2012 EPI :: Rankings – Environmental Performance Index |date=5 May 2012 |archive-date=5 May 2012 |website=yale.edu}}</ref> In 2020, it ranked second out of 180 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the greenest country in the world? |url=https://www.atlasandboots.com/greenest-country-in-the-world/ |website=ATLAS & BOOTS |date=6 June 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127213254/https://www.atlasandboots.com/greenest-country-in-the-world/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Luxembourg also ranks sixth among the top ten most liveable cities in the world by Mercer's.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newyork-cg.mae.lu/en/News/Luxembourg-City-in-the-top-10-of-the-most-livable-cities |title=MAE – Luxembourg City in the top 10 of the most "livable" cities / News / New York CG / Mini-Sites |website=Newyork-cg.mae.lu |access-date=23 July 2017 |archive-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629114053/http://newyork-cg.mae.lu/en/News/Luxembourg-City-in-the-top-10-of-the-most-livable-cities }}</ref> The country wants to cut [[GHG emissions]] by 55% in 10 years and reach zero emissions by 2050. Luxembourg wants to increase its organic farming fivefold.<ref>{{cite web |last1=SCHNUER |first1=CORDULA |title=LUX MUST "REDOUBLE ITS EFFORTS" TO MEET CLIMATE TARGETS: OECD |url=https://delano.lu/d/detail/news/lux-must-redouble-its-efforts-meet-climate-targets-oecd/212398#:~:text=Luxembourg%20plans%20to%20cut%20carbon,fold%20increase%20of%20organic%20farming. |website=Delano |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119073514/https://delano.lu/d/detail/news/lux-must-redouble-its-efforts-meet-climate-targets-oecd/212398#:~:text=Luxembourg%20plans%20to%20cut%20carbon,fold%20increase%20of%20organic%20farming. |url-status=live }}</ref> It had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 1.12/10, ranking it 164th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |s2cid=228082162|doi-access=free}}</ref> 

In 2024, Luxembourg is ranked 2nd in [[Environmental Performance Index]] globally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index |url=https://epi.yale.edu/measure/2024/EPI |access-date=8 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Luxembourg has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''), marked by high levels of precipitation, particularly in late summer. The summers are warm and winters cool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stadtklima.de/webklima/CITIES/Europe/Lx/luxembourg/luxembourg.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000326/http://www.stadtklima.de/webklima/CITIES/Europe/Lx/luxembourg/luxembourg.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |title=Luxembourg |access-date=19 April 2007 |publisher=Stadtklima (Urban Climate) }}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Luxembourg}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|upright|Luxembourg is part of the [[Schengen Area]], the EU single market, and the [[eurozone]] (dark blue).]]

Luxembourg's stable and high-income [[market economy]] features moderate growth, low inflation, and a high level of innovation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalinnovationindex.org/gii/main/fullreport/files/Global%20Innovation%20Index%202012.pdf |title=The Global Innovation Index 2012 |access-date=22 July 2012 |publisher=[[INSEAD]] |archive-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830114613/http://www.globalinnovationindex.org/gii/main/fullreport/files/Global%20Innovation%20Index%202012.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Unemployment is traditionally low, though it reached 6.1% by May 2012 after the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistiques.public.lu/en/index.html |title=Statistics Portal // Luxembourg – Home |publisher=Statistiques.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=23 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323060606/http://www.statistiques.public.lu/en/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, according to the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|IMF]], Luxembourg was the world's second-richest country, with a per capita GDP on a purchasing-power parity (PPP) basis of $80,119.<ref>Data refer mostly to the year 2011. [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=40&pr.y=9&sy=2011&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C869%2C436%2C746%2C136%2C926%2C343%2C466%2C158%2C112%2C439%2C111%2C916%2C298%2C664%2C927%2C826%2C846%2C542%2C299%2C967%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= World Economic Outlook Database-April 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026121520/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=40&pr.y=9&sy=2011&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C869%2C436%2C746%2C136%2C926%2C343%2C466%2C158%2C112%2C439%2C111%2C916%2C298%2C664%2C927%2C826%2C846%2C542%2C299%2C967%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= |date=26 October 2012 }}, [[International Monetary Fund]]. Accessed on 18 April 2012.</ref> Its GDP per capita in purchasing power standards was 261% of the EU average (100%) in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114&plugin=1 |title=GDP per capita in PPS |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120063953/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114&plugin=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Luxembourg ranks 13th in [[The Heritage Foundation]]'s [[Index of Economic Freedom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.org/index/ |title=2011 Index of Economic Freedom |access-date=15 January 2011 |publisher=[[The Heritage Foundation]] and [[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629215405/http://www.heritage.org/index/ }}</ref> 26th in the United Nations' [[Human Development Index]], and fourth in the Economist Intelligence Unit's [[Quality-of-life index|quality of life index]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf |title=World Life Quality Index 2005 |access-date=23 July 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=Economist Intelligence Unit |archive-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802135752/http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It ranked 20th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=6 October 2024|page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref>

The industrial sector, dominated by steel until the 1960s, has since diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. During recent decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in [[Steel industry in Luxembourg|steel production]]. Services, especially banking and [[financial export|finance]], account for the majority of the economic output. Luxembourg is the world's second-largest investment fund center (after the United States), the most important private banking center in the [[eurozone]] and Europe's leading center for reinsurance companies. Moreover, Luxembourg's government has aimed to attract Internet startups, with [[Skype]] and [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] being two of the many Internet companies that have shifted their regional headquarters to Luxembourg. Other high-tech companies have established themselves in Luxembourg, including [[3d scanner]] developer/manufacturer [[Artec 3D]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In April 2009, concern about Luxembourg's banking secrecy laws, as well as its reputation as a [[tax haven]], led to its being added to a "gray list" of nations with questionable banking arrangements by the [[G20]]. In response, the country soon adopted OECD standards on exchange of information and was subsequently added into the category of "jurisdictions that have substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/document/51/0,3746,en_2649_33767_43281075_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=Luxembourg makes progress in OECD standards on tax information exchange |publisher=OECD |date=8 July 2009 |access-date=24 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315010302/http://www.oecd.org/ctp/exchange-of-tax-information/luxembourgmakesprogressinoecdstandardsontaxinformationexchange.htm |archive-date= 15 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fidomes.com/newsletter/Report-OECD.pdf |title=A progress report on the jurisdictions surveyed by the OECD Global Forum |date=July 2009 |publisher=OECD |access-date=3 February 2011 |archive-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195439/http://www.fidomes.com/newsletter/Report-OECD.pdf }}</ref> In March 2010, the ''Sunday Telegraph'' reported that most of [[Kim Jong Il]]'s $4&nbsp;billion in secret accounts was in Luxembourg banks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/7442188/Kim-Jong-il-keeps-4bn-emergency-fund-in-European-banks.html |title=Kim Jong-il $4bn emergency fund in European banks |date=14 March 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph |last=Arlow |first=Oliver |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-date=22 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522045226/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/7442188/Kim-Jong-il-keeps-4bn-emergency-fund-in-European-banks.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Amazon.co.uk also benefits from Luxembourg tax loopholes by channelling substantial UK revenues, as reported by ''The Guardian'' in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/04/amazon-fulfilment-less-tax-uk-activities |title=How one word change lets Amazon pays less tax on its UK activities |work=The Guardian |date=4 April 2012 |location=London |first=Ian |last=Griffiths |access-date=17 December 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812023557/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/04/amazon-fulfilment-less-tax-uk-activities |url-status=live }}</ref> Luxembourg ranked third on the [[Tax Justice Network]]'s 2011 [[Financial Secrecy Index]] of the world's major tax havens, scoring only slightly behind the [[Cayman Islands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/Archive2011/FSI-2011/FSI-Rankings.pdf |title=Embargo 4 October 0.01 AM Central European Times |publisher=Financial Secrecy Index |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404031914/http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/Archive2011/FSI-2011/FSI-Rankings.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2015 }}</ref> In 2013, Luxembourg was ranked the second safest tax haven in the world, behind Switzerland.

In early November 2014, just days after becoming head of the [[European Commission]], Luxembourg's former Prime Minister [[Jean-Claude Juncker]] was hit by media disclosures—derived from a document leak known as [[Luxembourg Leaks]]—that Luxembourg had turned into a major European center of corporate [[tax avoidance]] under his premiership.<ref>{{cite news|title=Luxembourg tax files: how tiny state rubber-stamped tax avoidance on an industrial scale|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/05/-sp-luxembourg-tax-files-tax-avoidance-industrial-scale|website=The Guardian|date=5 November 2014|access-date=12 November 2014|last1=Bowers|first1=Simon|archive-date=26 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026015809/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/05/-sp-luxembourg-tax-files-tax-avoidance-industrial-scale|url-status=live}}</ref>

Agriculture employed about 2.1% of Luxembourg's active population in 2010, when there were 2,200 agricultural holdings with an average area per holding of 60 hectares.<ref name="agcensus">{{cite web |title=Agricultural census in Luxembourg |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Archive:Agricultural_census_in_Luxembourg&oldid=379557 |website=Eurostat |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=25 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625094631/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Archive:Agricultural_census_in_Luxembourg&oldid=379557 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 (economics)|market]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gateway to the European market|url=https://www.tradeandinvest.lu/discover-why-luxembourg/invest-luxembourg/gateway-to-the-european-market|access-date=4 June 2021|website=Trade and Invest|language=en-US|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510041647/https://www.tradeandinvest.lu/discover-why-luxembourg/invest-luxembourg/gateway-to-the-european-market/|url-status=live}}</ref>

With $171&nbsp;billion in May 2015, the country ranked 11th in the world in holdings of [[U.S. Treasury security|U.S. Treasury securities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt |title=Major foreign holders of treasury securities |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |access-date=3 February 2011 |archive-date=3 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203093252/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> However, securities owned by non-Luxembourg residents, but held in custodial accounts in Luxembourg, are included in this figure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Treasury-International-Capital/Pages/tic-faqs.aspx |title=What are the problems of geographic attribution for securities holdings and transactions in the TIC system? |publisher=U.S. Treasury International Capital (TIC) reporting system |access-date=3 February 2011 |archive-date=11 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111130725/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Treasury-International-Capital/Pages/tic-faqs.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{As of|2019}}, Luxembourg's public debt totalled $15,687,000,000, or $25,554 per capita. The debt to GDP was 22.10%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/luxembourg|title=Luxembourg National Debt 2019|website=countryeconomy.com|access-date=27 June 2019|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130124210/https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Luxembourg labour market represents 445,000 jobs occupied by 120,000 Luxembourgers, 120,000 foreign residents and 205,000 cross-border commuters. The latter pay their taxes in Luxembourg, but their education is partially financed by their country of residence. Luxembourg's government has never shared its tax revenues with the local authorities on the [[France–Luxembourg border|French border]]. This system is seen by some as one of the keys to Luxembourg's economic growth, but at the expense of the border countries.<ref>{{cite news |title="The miracle of Luxembourg growth has a name, that of frontier" |date=17 February 2021 |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2021/02/17/le-miracle-de-la-croissance-luxembourgeoise-a-un-nom-celui-de-frontalier_6070223_3232.html |access-date=13 November 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114035902/https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2021/02/17/le-miracle-de-la-croissance-luxembourgeoise-a-un-nom-celui-de-frontalier_6070223_3232.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Luxembourg}}
{{See also|History of rail transport in Luxembourg}}
[[File:LUX Check-In Schalter.jpg|thumb|Luxembourg's international airline [[Luxair]] is based at [[Luxembourg Airport]], the country's only international airport.]]

Luxembourg has road, rail and air transport facilities and services. The road network has been significantly modernized in recent years with {{convert|165|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Longueur du réseau routier|url=http://travaux.public.lu/fr/statistiques/longueur-reseau-routier.html|access-date=27 April 2021|website=travaux.public.lu|language=fr|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429143849/https://travaux.public.lu/fr/statistiques/longueur-reseau-routier.html|url-status=live}}</ref> of motorways connecting the capital to adjacent countries. The advent of the high-speed [[TGV]] link to Paris has led to renovation of the city's [[Luxembourg railway station|railway station]] and a new passenger terminal at [[Luxembourg Airport]] was opened in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Luxembourg Airport|url=https://www.lux-airport.lu/corporate/the-company/our-story/|access-date=27 April 2021|website=Luxembourg Airport|language=en-US|archive-date=20 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220061041/https://www.lux-airport.lu/corporate/the-company/our-story/|url-status=live}}</ref> Luxembourg City reintroduced [[Trams in Luxembourg|trams]] in December 2017 and there are plans to open [[light-rail]] lines to connect Luxembourg City with [[Esch-sur-Alzette]] by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 August 2018|title=Trams return to Luxembourg city centre|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/trams-return-to-luxembourg-city-centre/|access-date=27 April 2021|website=International Railway Journal|language=en|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427194624/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/trams-return-to-luxembourg-city-centre/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=Brochure : PNM 2035 - National mobility plan |url=https://transports.public.lu/fr/publications/strategie/pnm-2035-brochure/pnm-2035-brochure-en.html |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=transports.public.lu |language=fr}}</ref>

There are 681 cars per 1000 persons in Luxembourg—higher than most of other [[State (polity)|states]], and surpassed by the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and other small states like Principality of Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, the [[Gibraltar|British overseas territory of Gibraltar]], and Brunei.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=road_eqs_carhab&lang=en |title=List of countries by vehicles per capita |publisher=appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu |access-date=5 November 2021 |archive-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204224325/https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=road_eqs_carhab&lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 February 2020, Luxembourg became the first country to introduce [[Free public transport|no-charge public transportation]], which is almost completely funded by public taxation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Calder |first1=Simon |title=Luxembourg makes history as first country with free public transport |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/luxembourg-free-travel-train-bus-tram-public-transport-rail-fares-ticket-a9366226.html |website=The Independent  |date=29 February 2020 |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=31 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231122507/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/luxembourg-free-travel-train-bus-tram-public-transport-rail-fares-ticket-a9366226.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ridership of buses, trains and trams has grown consistently since, though operating costs had nearly doubled by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2301309.html |title=Luxembourg's free transport costs have nearly doubled since 2020 |last=Genunchi |first=Maria |date=2025-05-09 |website=RTL Today}}</ref>

=== Communications ===
{{Main|Telecommunications in Luxembourg}}
The [[telecommunications industry]] in Luxembourg is liberalized and the electronic communications networks are significantly developed. Competition between the different operators is guaranteed by the legislative framework Paquet Telecom<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/2011/0043/2011A0610A.html |title=Legilux – Réseaux et services de communications électroniques |publisher=Legilux.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913181241/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/2011/0043/2011A0610A.html }}</ref> of the Government of 2011 which transposes the European Telecom Directives into Luxembourgish law. This encourages the investment in networks and services. The regulator ILR – Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilr.public.lu/communications_electroniques/index.html |title=Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation – Communications électroniques |publisher=Ilr.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=21 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321091649/http://www.ilr.public.lu/communications_electroniques/index.html }}</ref> ensures the compliance to these legal rules.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Luxembourg has modern and widely deployed optical fibre and cable networks throughout the country. In 2010, the Luxembourg Government launched its National strategy for very high-speed networks with the aim to become a global leader in terms of very high-speed broadband by achieving full 1&nbsp;Gbit/s coverage of the country by 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediacom.public.lu/institutions/Institutions_nationales/smc/20100309_ngn/index.html |title=Service des médias et des communications (SMC) – gouvernement.lu // L'actualité du gouvernement du Luxembourg |publisher=Mediacom.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820165423/http://www.mediacom.public.lu/institutions/Institutions_nationales/smc/20100309_ngn/index.html |archive-date=20 August 2014 }}</ref> In 2011, Luxembourg had an [[Next-generation access|NGA]] coverage of 75%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/dae/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=1102 |title=Study on broadband coverage 2011. Retrieved on 25 January 2013. |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510004346/http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/dae/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=1102 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2013, Luxembourg featured the sixth highest download speed worldwide and the second highest in Europe: 32,46&nbsp;Mbit/s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netindex.com |title=Household Download Index. Retrieved on 9 April 2013 |publisher=Netindex.com |date=6 April 2011 |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529015231/http://www.netindex.com/ |archive-date=29 May 2015 }}</ref> The country's location in Central Europe, stable economy and low taxes favour the telecommunication industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bed.public.lu/publications/eurohub.pdf |title=Eurohub Luxembourg – putting Europe at your fingertips |access-date=19 February 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119195535/http://www.bed.public.lu/publications/eurohub.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2008 }}. Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg. August 2008</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amcham.lu/publications/why-luxembourg/|title=Why Luxembourg? – AMCHAM|access-date=19 December 2019|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219105240/https://www.amcham.lu/publications/why-luxembourg/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://newdelhi.mae.lu/en/content/download/23985/164837/file/Financial%20Express%20special%20issue%20on%20Luxembourg.pdf |date=23 June 2009 |title=Financial express special issue on Luxembourg |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=30 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330145935/http://newdelhi.mae.lu/en/content/download/23985/164837/file/Financial%20Express%20special%20issue%20on%20Luxembourg.pdf }}</ref>

It ranks second in the world in the development of the Information and Communication Technologies in the ITU ICT Development Index and 8th in the Global Broadband Quality Study 2009 by the [[University of Oxford]] and the [[University of Oviedo]].<ref>{{cite web |author=pressinfo |url=http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2010/08.html |title=Press Release: New ITU report shows global uptake of ICTs increasing, prices falling |publisher=Itu.int |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502113025/http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2010/08.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bed.public.lu/key_sectors/ecommerce_and_media/itu_ict_survey/index.html |title=Luxembourg ranks on the top in the ITU ICT survey}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/news_archive/archived/global_broadband_quality_improves_but_uk_is_lagging |title=Global Broadband Quality Study |publisher=Socsci.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2 April 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/newsandevents/Documents/BQS%202009%20final.pdf |title=Global Broadband Quality Study Shows Progress, Highlights Broadband Quality Gap |access-date=13 August 2010 |work=Said Business School, University of Oxford |archive-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112151228/http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/newsandevents/Documents/BQS%202009%20final.pdf }}</ref>

[[File:Centre Drosbach Luxembourg Signs - June 2012.jpg|thumb|Signs in front of the [[Centre Drosbach]] near the Cloche d'Or, in the city of [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]]]]
Luxembourg is connected to all major European Internet Exchanges (AMS-IX Amsterdam,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ams-ix.net/ |title=ams-ix.net |publisher=ams-ix.net |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-date=7 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207033041/http://www.ams-ix.net/about/photo-gallery/ |url-status=live }}</ref> DE-CIX Frankfurt,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.de-cix.net/ |title=de-cix.net |publisher=de-cix.net |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930201218/http://www.de-cix.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> LINX London),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linx.net/ |title=linx.net |publisher=linx.net |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005122606/https://www.linx.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> datacenters and POPs through redundant optical networks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luxembourgforict.lu/en/it-business-environment/infrastructure/index.html |title=ICT Business Environment in Luxembourg |publisher=Luxembourgforict.lu |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=25 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625071530/http://www.luxembourgforict.lu/en/it-business-environment/infrastructure/index.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasscom.in/upload/GTD/Luxembourg_for_ICT.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163039/http://www.nasscom.in/upload/GTD/Luxembourg_for_ICT.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |author=Tom Kettels |date=15 May 2009 |title=ICT And E-Business – Be Global from Luxembourg |access-date=13 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwc.com/lu/en/invest-in-luxembourg/publications.jhtml |title=PricewaterhouseCoopers Invest in Luxembourg |publisher=Pwc.com |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=12 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512013304/http://www.pwc.com/lu/en/invest-in-luxembourg/publications.jhtml }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teralink.lu/Why-Luxembourg |title=Why Luxembourg? A highly strategic position in the heart of Europe |publisher=teralink.lu |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511150549/http://www.teralink.lu/Why-Luxembourg }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/icteye/DisplayCountry.aspx?code=LUX |title=ITU-T ICT Statistics: Luxembourg |publisher=Itu.int |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=5 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705061802/http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/icteye/DisplayCountry.aspx?code=LUX }}</ref> In addition, the country is connected to the virtual meetme room services (vmmr)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telx.com/enewsletter/content1/telx_ancotel.pdf |title=Telx Partners with German Hub Provider ancotel to Provide Virtual Connections between U.S. and Europe |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195440/http://www.telx.com/enewsletter/content1/telx_ancotel.pdf }}</ref> of the international data hub operator Ancotel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ancotel.de/cms/front_content.php |title=Globale Rechenzentren &#124; Colocation mit niedrigen Latenzen für Finanzunternehmen, CDNs, Enterprises & Cloud-Netzwerke bei Equinix |publisher=Ancotel.de |access-date=2 April 2015 |language=de |archive-date=15 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315073747/http://www.ancotel.de/cms/front_content.php }}</ref> This enables Luxembourg to interconnect with all major telecommunication operators<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ancotel.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=16 |title=Ancotel – Telecommunication Operator References |publisher=Ancotel.de |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=7 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207102029/http://www.ancotel.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=16 }}</ref> and data carriers worldwide. The interconnection points are in Frankfurt, London, New York and Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telx.com/enewsletter/content6/ancote_carriers_609.pdf |title=Networks Accessible in Frankfurt via the VMMR Solution offered by Telx/ancotel |access-date=13 August 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195444/http://www.telx.com/enewsletter/content6/ancote_carriers_609.pdf }}</ref> Luxembourg has established itself as one of the leading [[financial technology]] (FinTech) hubs in Europe, with the Luxembourg government supporting initiatives like the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0e42aaaa-3587-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/0e42aaaa-3587-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Luxembourg's politicians pin economic hopes on fintech drive|date=23 June 2017|website=Financial Times|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>

Some 20 data centers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ict.investinluxembourg.lu/ict/cb-richard-ellis-luxembourg-data-centres |title=European Datacentres: Luxembourg |publisher=Ict.luxembourg.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=8 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708194621/http://ict.investinluxembourg.lu/ict/cb-richard-ellis-luxembourg-data-centres }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediacom.public.lu/institutions/Institutions_nationales/smc/20100309_ngn/IDC_20White_20Paper_20-_20Luxembourg_20as_20a_20center_20for_20online_20and_20ICT_20business.pdf |title=Luxembourg as a Centre for Online and ICT Business (pdf). |publisher=SMediacom.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925104703/http://www.mediacom.public.lu/institutions/Institutions_nationales/smc/20100309_ngn/IDC_20White_20Paper_20-_20Luxembourg_20as_20a_20center_20for_20online_20and_20ICT_20business.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tradeandinvest.lu/|title=Invest, Innovate, Export &#124; Luxembourg as a smart location for business|website=Trade and Invest|access-date=19 December 2019|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223211920/https://www.tradeandinvest.lu/|url-status=live}}</ref> are operating in Luxembourg. Six data centers are Tier IV Design certified: three of ebrc,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebrc.lu/about-ebrc/datacenter-luxembourg-facilities.html |title=ebrc Datacenter Facilities |publisher=Ebrc.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021071852/http://www.ebrc.lu/about-ebrc/datacenter-luxembourg-facilities.html |archive-date=21 October 2013 }}</ref> two of LuxConnect<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luxconnect.lu/data-center-co-location-services/ict-campus-bettembourg-dc-11 |title=LuxConnect ICT campus Bettembourg DC 1.1 |publisher=Luxconnect.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=1 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501002548/http://www.luxconnect.lu/data-center-co-location-services/ict-campus-bettembourg-dc-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luxconnect.lu/data-center-co-location-services/ict-campus-bissenroost-dc-2 |title=LuxConnect ICT campus Bissen/Roost DC 2 |publisher=Luxconnect.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=7 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307215731/http://www.luxconnect.lu/data-center-co-location-services/ict-campus-bissenroost-dc-2 }}</ref> and one of European Data Hub.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uptimeinstitute.com/TierCertification/allCertifications.php?page=1&ipp=All&clientId=85&countryName=&tierLevel= |title=Uptime Tier Certification |publisher=Uptimeinstitute.com |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=6 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506081911/http://uptimeinstitute.com/TierCertification/allCertifications.php?page=1&ipp=All&clientId=85&countryName=&tierLevel= }}</ref> In a survey on nine international data centers carried out in December 2012 and January 2013 and measuring availability (up-time) and performance (delay by which the data from the requested website was received), the top three positions were held by Luxembourg data centers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ict.investinluxembourg.lu/ict/new-data-center-study-luxembourg-pole-position |title=New data center study: Luxembourg in pole position |publisher=Ict.luxembourg.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=4 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504125848/http://ict.investinluxembourg.lu/ict/new-data-center-study-luxembourg-pole-position }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soluxions-magazine.com/Luxembourg-en-pole-position_a2384.html |title=Soluxions magazine: Luxembourg en pole position |work=Soluxions magazine |publisher=Soluxions-magazine.com |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=15 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915050127/http://www.soluxions-magazine.com/Luxembourg-en-pole-position_a2384.html |last1=Rédaction |first1=La }}</ref>

=== Energy ===
Main articles: [[Energy in Luxembourg]]

Luxembourg has a high demand for transportation fuels and [[Fossil fuel|fossil fuels]]. But despite that, Luxembourg's climate law sets a goal that by 2030 it would have reduced emission down to 55%. As well as getting 49% of all cars to be [[Electricity|electric]] by 2030. Luxembourg has adopted some measures to reach that goal. Including a [[carbon tax]] that encourage renewable generations. Several groups also support energy efficiency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luxembourg - Countries & Regions |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/luxembourg |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Healthcare ===
{{Main|Health in Luxembourg|Healthcare in Luxembourg}}

According to data from the [[World Health Organization]], healthcare spending on behalf of the government of Luxembourg topped $4.1 Billion, amounting to about $8,182 for each citizen in the nation.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Luxembourg allows residents to choose their own doctor. While also having public healthcare cover 80% to 90% of all healthcare costs. The nation of Luxembourg collectively spent nearly 7% of its [[Gross domestic product]] on health, placing it among the highest spending countries on [[Health care|health services]] and related programs in 2010,<ref name=":5" /> and 6th place in highest health index of countries in Europe in 2023.<ref name=":6" />

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Luxembourg}}

=== Largest towns ===
{{Largest cities
| country      = Luxembourg
| stat_ref     = 2025<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population par commune au 1er janvier 2025 |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/dam-assets/fr/donnees-autres-formats/population-et-emploi/etat-de-la-population/FR-population-commune.pdf |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=statistiques.public.lu}}</ref>
| list_by_pop  =
| div_name     = Canton
| div_link     =

|city_1 = Luxembourg City{{!}}Luxembourg
|div_1 = Luxembourg Canton
|pop_1 = 136,161
|img_1 = Ville-Haute vue du Fort Verlorenkost.jpg

|city_2 = Esch-sur-Alzette
|div_2 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_2 = 37,922
|img_2 = Esch-sur-Alzette Place de l'Hôtel de Ville 2022-05 ---3.jpg

|city_3 = Differdange
|div_3 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_3 = 30,789
|img_3 = Differdange Centre.jpg

|city_4 = Dudelange
|div_4 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_4 = 22,203
|img_4 = Vue op Diddeleng.jpg

|city_5 = Pétange
|div_5 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_5 = 21,086

|city_6 = Sanem
|div_6 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_6 = 19,085

|city_7 = Hesperange
|div_7 = Luxembourg Canton
|pop_7 = 17,146

|city_8 = Bettembourg
|div_8 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_8 = 11,628

|city_9 = Schifflange
|div_9 = Esch-sur-Alzette Canton
|pop_9 = 11,589

|city_10 = Käerjeng
|div_10 = Capellen (canton){{!}}Capellen Canton
|pop_10 = 11,269

}}
[[File:Population density in Luxembourg.png|upright|thumb|Population density in Luxembourg by [[Communes of Luxembourg|communes]]. The main urban area, [[Luxembourg City]], is located in the south-center of the country.]]

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: center;margin:0 2em 0 0;"
|+Largest groups of immigrants (2025):<ref name="StatNat">{{cite web |title=Population par nationalités détaillées au 1er janvier |url=https://lustat.statec.lu/vis?fs[0]=Th%C3%A8mes%2C1%7CPopulation%20et%20emploi%23B%23%7CEtat%20de%20la%20population%23B1%23&pg=0&fc=Th%C3%A8mes&df[ds]=ds-release&df[id]=DF_B1113&df[ag]=LU1&df[vs]=1.2&pd=2015%2C2025&dq=.A |website=LUSTAT Data Explorer |access-date=13 May 2025 |language=French}}</ref>
|
# {{Flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese in Luxembourg|Portugal]] (89,671)
# {{Flagicon|France}} France (49,185)
# {{Flagicon|Italy}} Italy (25,374)
# {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Belgium (18,582)
# {{Flagicon|Germany}} Germany (12,288)
# {{Flagicon|Spain}} Spain (9,917)
# {{Flagicon|Romania}} Romania (6,898)
# {{Flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine (5,597)
# {{Flagicon|India}} India (5,474)
# {{Flagicon|Poland}} Poland (5,150)

|}
The people of Luxembourg are called [[Luxembourgers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/societe_tradition/lux_type/index.php |title=Luxembourg Presidency – Being a Luxembourger |publisher=Eu2005.lu |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=30 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230111243/http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/societe_tradition/lux_type/index.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The immigrant population increased in the 20th century due to the arrival of immigrants from Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and Portugal; the last comprised the largest group. In 2013 about 88,000 Luxembourg inhabitants possessed [[Portuguese Luxembourger|Portuguese]] nationality.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population par sexe et par nationalité (x 1 000) 1981, 1991, 2001–2013 |url=http://www.statistiques.public.lu/stat/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=384&IF_Language=fra&MainTheme=2&FldrName=1 |publisher=Le portail des Statistiques |access-date=9 April 2014 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329200943/https://statistiques.public.lu/stat/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=384&IF_Language=fra&MainTheme=2&FldrName=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, there were 681,973 permanent residents, 47% of which were of foreign nationals; the largest foreign national groups were the Portuguese, comprising 13.2% of the total population, followed by the French (7.2%), Italians (3.7%), Belgians (2.7%) and Germans (1.8%). Another 7.2% were of another EU nationality, 3.5% were non-EU European, and 7.2% were from outside Europe.<ref name="StatNat"/>

Since the beginning of the [[Yugoslav wars]], Luxembourg has seen many immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. Annually, over 10,000 new immigrants arrive in Luxembourg, mostly from the EU states, as well as Eastern Europe. In 2000 there were 162,000 immigrants in Luxembourg, accounting for 37% of the total population. There were an estimated 5,000 illegal immigrants in Luxembourg in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/publications/papers/Country%20Case%20Luxembourg.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050430134727/http://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/publications/papers/Country%20Case%20Luxembourg.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2005 |title=The Regularisation of Unauthorised Migrants: Literature Survey and Country Case Studies – Regularisation programmes in Luxembourg |access-date=2 September 2006 |author=Amanda Levinson |publisher=Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, University of Oxford }}</ref>

=== Language ===
{{Main|Languages of Luxembourg|Multilingualism in Luxembourg|Luxembourg literature}}
Luxembourg does not have any "official" languages per se. As determined by the 1984 Language Regimen Act (French: ''Loi sur le régime des langues''), [[Luxembourgish]] is the sole [[national language]] of the Luxembourgish people.<ref name="auto"/> It is considered the mother tongue or "language of the heart" for Luxembourgers and the language they generally use to speak or write to each other. Luxembourgish as well as the dialects in adjacent Germany belong to the [[Moselle Franconian]] subgroup of the main [[West Central German]] dialect group, which are largely mutually intelligible across the border, but Luxembourgish also has more than 5,000 words of French origin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Origins of Luxembourgish (in French)|url=http://www.sprooch.com/sproochbe/conferences/conference1/Les%20origines%20et%20l%27histoire%20de%20la%20langue%20luxembourgeoise.doc|publisher=Migration Information Source|access-date=8 February 2010|archive-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195439/http://www.sprooch.com/sproochbe/conferences/conference1/Les%20origines%20et%20l%27histoire%20de%20la%20langue%20luxembourgeoise.doc|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=14 December 2000|title=Parlement européen – Lëtzebuergesch léieren (FR)|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/language/apprendrelu_fr.htm|access-date=2 April 2015|publisher=Europarl.europa.eu|archive-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225170654/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/language/apprendrelu_fr.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Knowledge of Luxembourgish is a criterion for [[naturalization]].<ref>{{cite book | editor-last=Bauböck | editor-first=Rainer | editor-last2=Ersbøll | editor-first2=Eva | editor-last3=Groenendijk | editor-first3=C. A. | editor-last4=Waldrauch | editor-first4=Harald | title=Acquisition and loss of nationality: policies and trends in 15 European states. Volume 2, Country analyses | publisher=Amsterdam University Press | location=Amsterdam | date=2006 | isbn=978-90-485-0446-6 | oclc=122909816 | chapter=Luxembourg | first1=Francois | last1=Moyse | first2=Pierre | last2=Brasseur | first3=Denis | last3=Scuto | pages=367–390 | url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/83814b06-2b96-4c32-b8d5-670a28f6bc60/340146.pdf | access-date=24 February 2023 | archive-date=24 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224235445/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/83814b06-2b96-4c32-b8d5-670a28f6bc60/340146.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to Luxembourgish, French and German are used in administrative and judicial matters, making all three [[administrative language]]s of Luxembourg.<ref name="auto"/> Per article 4 of the law promulgated in 1984, if a citizen asks a question in Luxembourgish, German or French, the administration must reply, as far as possible, in the language in which the question was asked.<ref name="auto"/>

[[File:Bank multilingual luxembourg.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Advertisement from a bank in Luxembourg with translations in (clockwise from top left) Luxembourgish, German, English, French, and Portuguese]]
Luxembourg is largely multilingual. According to 2021 census data, 48.9% of citizens claimed Luxembourgish as their main language, 15.4% Portuguese, 14.9% French, 3.6% English, 3.6% Italian, 2.9% German and 10.8% different languages (the most spoken ones being Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, Russian, Polish and Romanian).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=La diversité linguistique |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/recensement/diversite-linguistique.html#video |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=statistiques.public.lu |language=fr}}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Main language
! colspan="2" |2021 census<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=La diversité linguistique |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/recensement/diversite-linguistique.html#video |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=statistiques.public.lu |language=fr}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011 census<ref name=":7" />
|-
!Absolute
!%
!Absolute
!%
|-
|[[Luxembourgish]] 
|275,361
|48.9%
|265,731
|55.8%
|-
|[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|86,598
|15.4%
|74,636
|15.7%
|-
|[[French language|French]]
|83,802
|14.9%
|57,633
|12.1%
|-
|[[English language|English]]
|20,316
|3.6%
|10,018
|2.1%
|-
|[[Italian language|Italian]]
|20,021
|3.6%
|13,896
|2.9%
|-
|[[German language|German]]
|16,412
|2.9%
|14,658
|3.1%
|-
|Other languages
|60,582
|10.8%
|40,042
|8.4%
|-
|Total
|563.092
|100%
|476,614
|100%
|}
Though not the most common mother tongue in Luxembourg, French is the most widely-known language in the country: in 2021, 98% of citizens were able to speak it to a high level.<ref name="luxembourg.public.lu">{{Cite web|title=What languages do people speak in Luxembourg?|url=http://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/languages/languages-spoken-luxembourg.html|access-date=13 September 2021|website=luxembourg.public.lu|language=en|archive-date=21 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621143934/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/languages/languages-spoken-luxembourg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The vast majority of Luxembourg residents are able to speak it as a second or third language.<ref name="admin">{{Cite web|date=12 August 2020|title=D'Lëtzebuergescht, bald eng langue morte?!|url=https://guykaiser.lu/dletzebuergescht-bald-eng-langue-morte/|access-date=16 October 2021|website=Guy Kaiser Online|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016163621/https://guykaiser.lu/dletzebuergescht-bald-eng-langue-morte/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2018}}, much of the population was able to speak multiple other languages: 80% of citizens reported being able to hold a conversation in English, 78% in German and 77% in Luxembourgish, claiming these languages as their respective second, third or fourth language.<ref name="luxembourg.public.lu" />

Each of the three official languages is used as a primary language in certain spheres of everyday life, without being exclusive. Luxembourgish is the language that Luxembourgers generally use to speak and write to each other, and there has been a recent{{When|date=December 2023}} increase in the production of novels and movies in the language.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} At the same time, the numerous expatriate workers (approximately 44% of the population) generally do not use it to speak to each other.<ref>{{Cite web|last=STATEC|date=2013|title=Informations statistiques récentes STATEC|url=https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/actualites/population/population/2013/04/20130418/20130418.pdf|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920133822/https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/actualites/population/population/2013/04/20130418/20130418.pdf}}</ref>

Most official business and written communication is carried out in French, which is also the language mostly used for public communication, with written official statements, advertising displays and road signs generally in French. Due to the historical influence of the Napoleonic Code on the legal system of the Grand Duchy, French is also the sole language of the legislation and generally the preferred language of the government, administration and justice. Parliamentary debates are mostly conducted in Luxembourgish, whereas written government communications and official documents (e.g. administrative or judicial decisions, passports, etc.) are drafted mostly in French and sometimes additionally in German.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Although professional life is largely multilingual, French is described by private sector business leaders as the main working language of their companies (56%), followed by Luxembourgish (20%), English (18%), and German (6%).<ref>Les langues dans les offres d'emploi au Luxembourg (1984–2014), Université du Luxembourg, IPSE Identités, Politiques, Sociétés, Espaces, Working Paper, Juin 2015</ref>

German is very often used in much of the media along with French and is considered by most Luxembourgers their second language. This is mostly due to the high similarity of German to Luxembourgish but also because it is the first language taught to children in primary school (language of literacy acquisition).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu2005.lu/fr/savoir_lux/lux_publications/a_propos_langues/a_propos_langues.pdf |title=À propos des langues |access-date=1 August 2006 |pages=3–4 |publisher=Service Information et Presse |language=fr |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927052425/http://www.eu2005.lu/fr/savoir_lux/lux_publications/a_propos_langues/a_propos_langues.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Due to the large [[Portuguese in Luxembourg|community of Portuguese origin]], the Portuguese language is fairly prevalent in Luxembourg, though it remains limited to the relationships inside this community. Portuguese has no official status, but the administration sometimes makes certain informative documents available in Portuguese.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alphatrad.com/news/portuguese-in-luxembourg |title=The Portuguese in Luxembourg: key statistics, history and origins |website=Optilingua Europe |first=Frédéric |last=Ibanez |date=18 July 2023 |access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/zfs-2012-0004/html |title=Code-switching practices in Luxembourg's Portuguese-speaking minority: A pilot study on the distinctive characteristics of an immigrant community’s code-switching practices within a trilingual majority |journal=Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft |volume=31 |issue=1 |first1=Gerald |last1=Stell |first2=Carmen |last2=Parafita Couto |date=2012 |pp=153–185 |doi=10.1515/zfs-2012-0004|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Even though Luxembourg is largely multilingual today, some people claim that Luxembourg is subject of intense [[francization]] and that Luxembourgish and German are in danger of disappearing in the country. This would make Luxembourg either a unilingual Francophone country, or at best a bilingual French- and English-speaking country sometime in the far future.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 February 2021|title=Lëtzebuergesch gëtt ëmmer méi aus dem Alldag verdrängt|url=https://www.moien.lu/letzebuergesch-gett-verdrangt/|access-date=16 October 2021|website=MOIEN.LU|language=lb|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016173831/https://www.moien.lu/letzebuergesch-gett-verdrangt/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Katar auf Europäisch|language=de|work=Tages-Anzeiger|url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/europa/katar-auf-europaeisch/story/12415559|access-date=16 October 2021|issn=1422-9994|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016173829/https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/europa/katar-auf-europaeisch/story/12415559|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="admin"/>

{{See also|Luxembourgish#Endangered status claims}}

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Luxembourg}}
[[File:Notre Dame Cathedral Luxembourg.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg|Notre-Dame Cathedral]], Luxembourg City]]

Luxembourg is a [[secular state]], but the state recognizes certain religions as officially mandated religions. 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. Religions covered by such arrangements are [[Catholicism]], [[Judaism]], [[Greek Orthodoxy]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]], [[Lutheranism]], [[Calvinism]], [[Mennonitism]], and [[Islam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wort.lu/articles/5957651.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522103349/http://www.wort.lu/articles/5957651.html |archive-date=22 May 2008 |title=D'Wort article (German) |access-date=24 July 2007 |publisher=wort.lu |language=fr }}</ref>

Since 1980, it has been illegal for the government to collect statistics on religious beliefs or practices.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1979/0291104/0291104.pdf#page=2 |title=Mémorial A, 1979, No. 29 |access-date=1 August 2006 |format=PDF |publisher=Service central de législation |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822072540/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1979/0291104/0291104.pdf#page=2 |archive-date=22 August 2006 }}</ref> A 2000 estimate by the [[The World Factbook|CIA Factbook]] is that 87% of Luxembourgers are Catholic, including the grand ducal family, with the remaining 13% being Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims, and those of other or no religion.<ref name="CIA World Factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg/ |title=World Factbook – Luxembourg |access-date=13 January 2007 |date=19 December 2006 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075735/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2010 [[Pew Research Center]] study, 70.4% are Christian, 2.3% Muslim, 26.8% unaffiliated, and 0.5% other religions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php |title=Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Percentages &#124; Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |publisher=Features.pewforum.org |date=18 December 2012 |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101080244/http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php |archive-date=1 January 2013 }}</ref>

According to a 2005 [[Eurobarometer]] poll,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524004644/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |date=24 May 2006 }} – page 11</ref> 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".

=== Education ===
{{See also|List of secondary schools in Luxembourg}}
[[File:Université du Luxembourg Campus Limp Bâtiment central 2008.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Luxembourg]] is the only university based in the country.]]
[[Education in Luxembourg|Luxembourg's education system]] is trilingual: the first years of primary school are in Luxembourgish, before changing to German; while in secondary school, the language of instruction changes to French.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unavarra.es/tel2l/eng/luxembourg.htm |title=The Trilingual Education system in Luxembourg |access-date=9 June 2007 |publisher=Tel2l – Teacher Education by Learning through two languages, University of Navarra |archive-date=26 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626050947/http://www.unavarra.es/tel2l/eng/luxembourg.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Proficiency in all three languages is required for graduation from secondary school. In addition to the three national languages, English is taught in compulsory schooling and much of the population of Luxembourg can speak English. The past two decades have highlighted the growing importance of English in several sectors, in particular the financial sector. Portuguese, the language of the largest immigrant community, is also spoken by large segments of the population, but by relatively few from outside the Portuguese-speaking community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/language/apprendrelu_fr.htm |title=Parlement européen – Lëtzebuergesch léieren (FR) |publisher=Europarl.europa.eu |date=14 December 2000 |access-date=9 May 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511073133/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/language/apprendrelu_fr.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[University of Luxembourg]] is the only university based in Luxembourg. In 2014, [[Luxembourg School of Business]], a graduate business school, was created through private initiative and received the accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of Luxembourg in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/adm/amin/2017/08/29/b2648/jo|title=Arrêté ministériel du 29 août 2017 portant accréditation de " Luxembourg School of Business " (LSB) en tant qu'établissement d'enseignement supérieur spécialisé et du programme d'études à temps partiel " Master of Business Administration " (MBA) offert par l'établissement précité. – Legilux|website=legilux.public.lu|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123142908/http://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/adm/amin/2017/08/29/b2648/jo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/work-and-study/studying-in-luxembourg/universities.html|title=Higher Education Institutions|website=www.luxembourg.public.lu|language=en|access-date=25 April 2023|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425170447/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/work-and-study/studying-in-luxembourg/universities.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Miami University]], an American university, maintains the [[Miami University Dolibois European Center|Dolibois European Center]] satellite campus in [[Differdange]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.units.miamioh.edu/luxembourg/|title=Home {{!}} John E. Dolibois European Center {{!}} Miami University|website=www.units.miamioh.edu|access-date=28 December 2016|archive-date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112220721/http://www.units.miamioh.edu/luxembourg/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Healthcare ===
{{Main|Health in Luxembourg|Healthcare in Luxembourg}}
According to data from the [[World Health Organization]], healthcare spending on behalf of the government of Luxembourg topped $4.1 Billion, amounting to about $8,182 for each citizen in the nation.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/luxembourg/data-and-statistics|title=World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe|website=www.euro.who.int|access-date=3 December 2017|archive-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106153330/http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/luxembourg/data-and-statistics|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SHA|title=Health Expenditure and Financing|website=stats.oecd.org|access-date=29 November 2017|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210153513/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SHA|url-status=live}}</ref>.Luxembourg allows residents to choose their own doctor. While also having public healthcare cover 80% to 90% of all healthcare costs. The nation of Luxembourg collectively spent nearly 7% of its [[Gross domestic product]] on health, placing it among the highest spending countries on [[Health care|health services]] and related programs in 2010,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://healthmanagement.org/c/hospital/issuearticle/overview-of-the-healthcare-system-in-luxembourg|title=Overview of the Healthcare System in Luxembourg|website=Health Management EuroStat|access-date=1 December 2017|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208174807/https://healthmanagement.org/c/hospital/issuearticle/overview-of-the-healthcare-system-in-luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref> and 6th place in highest health index of countries in Europe in 2023.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Health index of countries in Europe in 2023 {{!}} Statista |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1376355/health-index-of-countries-in-europe/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230041407/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1376355/health-index-of-countries-in-europe/ |archive-date=30 December 2024 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Statista |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Luxembourg|National symbols of Luxembourg}}
[[File:Edward Steichen.jpg|thumb|upright=.65|left|[[Edward Steichen]], photographer and painter]]

Luxembourg has been heavily influenced by the culture of its neighbours. It retains a number of folk traditions, having been for much of its history a profoundly rural country. There are several notable museums, located mostly in the capital. These include the [[National Museum of History and Art]] (NMHA), the [[Luxembourg City History Museum]], and the new [[Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art]] (Mudam). The [[National Museum of Military History (Luxembourg)|National Museum of Military History (MNHM)]] in Diekirch is especially known for its representations of the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. The [[Historic city of Luxembourg city including its fortification]] is part of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]], on account of the historical importance of its fortifications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shanghai.mae.lu/en/The-Grandy-Duchy-of-Luxembourg/Culture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722155017/http://shanghai.mae.lu/en/The-Grandy-Duchy-of-Luxembourg/Culture |archive-date=22 July 2011 |title=Culture |work=Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Luxembourg |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2020}}

The country has produced some internationally known artists, including the painters [[Théo Kerg]], [[Joseph Kutter]] and [[Michel Majerus]], and photographer [[Edward Steichen]], whose ''[[The Family of Man]]'' exhibition has been placed on UNESCO's [[Memory of the World Programme|Memory of the World]] register, and is now permanently housed in [[Clervaux]]. Editor and author [[Hugo Gernsback]], whose publications crystallized the concept of science fiction, was born in Luxembourg City. Movie star [[Loretta Young]] was of Luxembourgish descent.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 December 2021|title=Vol. 5 Luxembourgers in the United States: Loretta Young|url=http://washington.mae.lu/en/actualites/2021/LorettaYoung.html|access-date=15 April 2021|website=washington.mae.lu|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415211851/https://washington.mae.lu/en/actualites/2021/LorettaYoung.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Luxembourg was a founding participant of the [[Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision Song Contest]], and participated every year between [[Eurovision Song Contest 1956|1956]] and before it was relegated after the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1993|1993]] competition, with the exception of 1959. Although Luxembourg was free to participate again in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1995|1995]], it chose not to return to the competition before [[Eurovision Song Contest 2024|2024]]. It has won the competition a total of five times, [[Eurovision Song Contest 1961|1961]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 1965|1965]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 1972|1972]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 1973|1973]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest 1983|1983]] and hosted the contest in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1962|1962]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 1966|1966]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 1973|1973]], and [[Eurovision Song Contest 1984|1984]]. Only nine of its 38 entries before 2024, and none of its five winning entries, were performed by [[Luxembourgers|Luxembourgish]] artists.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 July 2020|title=🇱🇺 No Eurovision return for Luxembourg in 2021|url=https://escxtra.com/2020/07/30/luxembourg-eurovision-2021/|access-date=6 June 2021|website=ESCXTRA.com|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823075240/https://escxtra.com/2020/07/30/luxembourg-eurovision-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref> On its [[Eurovision Song Contest 2024|2024]] return, this was, however, with a particular emphasis on promoting music and artists from Luxembourg.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2023 |title=Luxembourg to return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/luxembourg-return-eurovision-2024 |access-date=25 May 2023 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en |archive-date=14 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514012411/https://eurovision.tv/story/luxembourg-return-eurovision-2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Luxembourg was the first city to be named [[European Capital of Culture]] twice. The first time was in 1995. In 2007, the European Capital of Culture was to 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.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2008 |title=Luxembourg and Greater Region, European Capital of Culture 2007 |url=http://www.mcesr.public.lu/presse/annee_culturelle_2007/portail_luxembourg_2007/Rapport_final_anglais.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503184358/http://www.mcesr.public.lu/presse/annee_culturelle_2007/portail_luxembourg_2007/Rapport_final_anglais.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2011}}</ref> The event was an attempt to promote mobility and the exchange of ideas, crossing borders physically, psychologically, artistically and emotionally.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Luxembourg was represented at the World [[Expo 2010]] in Shanghai, China, from 1 May to 31 October 2010 with its own pavilion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sepb.gov.cn/english/downloads/Expo2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721012004/http://www.sepb.gov.cn/english/downloads/Expo2010.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |title=Environmental Report for Expo 2010 Shanghai China |date=June 2009 |page=85 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luxembourgforbusiness.lu/sites/default/files/file/Programme%20Luxembourg%20Commercial%20Week%20at%20Expo%202010.pdf |title=Luxembourg pavilion at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai |access-date=4 March 2010 |archive-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925205712/http://www.luxembourgforbusiness.lu/sites/default/files/file/Programme%20Luxembourg%20Commercial%20Week%20at%20Expo%202010.pdf }}</ref> The pavilion, designed as a forest and fortress, was based on the transliteration of the word Luxembourg into Chinese, "Lúsēnbǎo", which when directly translated, means "forest and fortress". It represented Luxembourg as the "Green Heart in Europe".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.2010shanghai.eu/images/stories/eu-pavilions/luxembourg-pavilion/luxembourg.pdf |title=Luxembourg pavilion displays green heart of Europe |newspaper=Shanghai Daily |date=12 November 2007 |access-date=24 December 2011 |archive-date=16 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016173632/http://www.2010shanghai.eu/images/stories/eu-pavilions/luxembourg-pavilion/luxembourg.pdf }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Luxembourg}}
{{further|Luxembourgish Sportspeople of the Year}}
[[File:Charly Gaul 1959 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Charly Gaul won three [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]] in his cycling career.]]

Unlike most countries in Europe, sports in Luxembourg are not concentrated upon a particular [[national sport]], but instead encompass a number of sports, both team and individual. Despite the lack of a central sporting focus, over 100,000 people in Luxembourg, out of a total population of 660,000, are licensed members of one sports federation or another.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coe.int/T/E/cultural_co-operation/Sport/Monitoring_fulfillment/Anti-Doping_Convention/4.Luxembourg.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623101906/http://www.coe.int/T/E/cultural_co-operation/Sport/Monitoring_fulfillment/Anti-Doping_Convention/4.Luxembourg.asp |archive-date=23 June 2004 |title=Luxembourg |access-date=25 November 2006 |year=2003 |publisher=Council of Europe }}</ref> The [[Stade de Luxembourg]], situated in [[Gasperich]], southern [[Luxembourg City]], is the country's [[national stadium]] and largest sports venue in the country with a capacity of 9,386 for sporting events, including football and rugby union, and 15,000 for concerts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stade de Luxembourg (Stade National) – StadiumDB.com |url=http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/lux/stade_de_luxembourg |website=stadiumdb.com |access-date=29 August 2021 |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010153128/http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/lux/stade_de_luxembourg |url-status=live }}</ref> The largest [[Indoor arena|indoor venue]] in the country is [[d'Coque]], [[Kirchberg, Luxembourg|Kirchberg]], north-eastern [[Luxembourg City]], which has a capacity of 8,300. The arena is used for basketball, [[team handball|handball]], gymnastics, and volleyball, including the final of the [[2007 Women's European Volleyball Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Infrastructure |url=https://www.coque.lu/en/qui-sommes-nous/infrastructure |website=www.coque.lu |access-date=29 August 2021 |language=en |date=22 February 2019 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001185332/https://www.coque.lu/en/qui-sommes-nous/infrastructure |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Hess Cycling Team]] is a Luxembourgish women's road cycling team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://firstcycling.com/team.php?l=37441|title=2023 Hess Cycling Team|website=FirstCycling.com|access-date=6 June 2024|archive-date=11 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211043449/https://firstcycling.com/team.php?l=37441|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Cuisine of Luxembourg}}
[[File:JuddMatGaardebounen Beer.JPG|thumb|upright|''[[Judd mat Gaardebounen]]'', served with boiled potatoes and [[Diekirch]] beer]]
Luxembourg cuisine reflects its position on the border between the Latin and Germanic worlds, being heavily influenced by the cuisines of neighbouring France and Germany. More recently,{{when|date=April 2022}} it has been enriched by its many Italian and Portuguese immigrants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 October 2023 |title=A history of migration |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/population/emigration-immigration.html |access-date=22 June 2024 |website=luxembourg.public.lu |language=en}}</ref>

Most native Luxembourg dishes, consumed as the traditional daily fare, share roots in the country's folk dishes, the same as in neighbouring [[German cuisine|Germany]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pokrud |first=Kathleen |date=2 February 2022 |title=The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: A Culinary Story |url=https://expatlifeinthailand.com/the-grand-duchy-of-luxembourg-a-culinary-story%EF%BF%BC/ |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=Expat Life in Thailand |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128180157/https://expatlifeinthailand.com/the-grand-duchy-of-luxembourg-a-culinary-story%EF%BF%BC/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Luxembourg sells the most alcohol in Europe per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finfacts.ie/Private/bestprice/alcoholdrinkconsumptionpriceseurope.htm |title=World/Global Alcohol/Drink Consumption 2009 |publisher=Finfacts.ie |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512161159/http://www.finfacts.ie/Private/bestprice/alcoholdrinkconsumptionpriceseurope.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the large proportion of alcohol purchased by customers from neighbouring countries contributes to the statistically high level of alcohol sales per capita; this level of alcohol sales is thus not representative of the actual alcohol consumption of the Luxembourg population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/esp2007-obj-01.pdf |title=Consommation annuelle moyenne d'alcool par habitant, Catholic Ministry of Health |work=sante.gouv.fr |year=2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112184246/https://www.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/esp2007-obj-01.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2012 }}</ref>

Luxembourg has the second highest number of [[Michelin Guide|Michelin-starred]] restaurants per capita with Japan ranked at number one and Switzerland following Luxembourg at number three.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chefspencil.com/density-of-michelin-starred-restaurants/ | title=Countries with the Highest Density of Michelin-starred Restaurants | date=21 September 2021 | access-date=30 July 2022 | archive-date=10 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201105/https://www.chefspencil.com/density-of-michelin-starred-restaurants/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Media ===
The main languages of media in Luxembourg are French and German. The newspaper with the largest circulation is the German-language daily ''[[Luxemburger Wort]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wort.lu/ |title=Luxemburger Wort |work=Wort.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=29 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929024331/http://www.wort.lu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of the strong multilingualism in Luxembourg, newspapers often alternate articles in French and articles in German, without translation. In addition, there are both English and Portuguese radio and national print publications, but accurate audience figures are difficult to gauge since the national media survey by ILRES is conducted in French.<ref>{{cite web|title=TNS ILRES – Home|url=https://www.tns-ilres.com/cms/Home|access-date=2 April 2015|publisher=Tns-ilres.com|archive-date=20 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320053118/https://www.tns-ilres.com/cms/Home}}</ref>

Luxembourg is known in Europe for its radio and television stations ([[Radio Luxembourg (French)|Radio Luxembourg]] and [[RTL Group]]). It is also the uplink home of [[SES (company)|SES]], carrier of major European satellite services for Germany and Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SES SA – Company Profile and News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/SESG:FP|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Bloomberg Markets|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610075729/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/SESG:FP|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to a 1988 law that established a special tax scheme for audiovisual investment, the film and co-production in Luxembourg has grown steadily.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/culture/pays_cine/index.php |title=Luxembourg, a film country |publisher=Eu2005.lu |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421235925/http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/culture/pays_cine/index.php |archive-date=21 April 2010 }}</ref> There are some 30 registered production companies in Luxembourg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.filmfund.lu/the-film-fund/mission/index.php |title=Film Fund Luxembourg |publisher=En.filmfund.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119225619/http://en.filmfund.lu/the-film-fund/mission/index.php }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cna.public.lu/film/infos-pratiques/index-professionnels/societes-production-studios/index.html |title=Luxembourgish Film Production Companies |publisher=Cna.public.lu |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=30 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330145936/http://www.cna.public.lu/film/infos-pratiques/index-professionnels/societes-production-studios/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Luxembourg won an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] in 2014 in the [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film|Animated Short Films]] category with ''[[Mr Hublot]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 March 2014|title=Oscars 2014 Winners: The Complete List|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-winners-2014-full-list-results-86th-academy-awards-kodak-theater-684748/|access-date=10 June 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=[[MRC (company)|MRC]]|language=en-US|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724122811/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-winners-2014-full-list-results-86th-academy-awards-kodak-theater-684748/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Luxembourgers ===
{{Main|List of Luxembourgers}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Luxembourg}}
* [[Outline of Luxembourg]]
* [[Disability in Luxembourg]]

==References==
=== Informational notes ===
{{notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |language=fr |first=Jean-Marie |last=Kreins |year=2003 |title=Histoire du Luxembourg |edition=3rd |publisher=[[Presses Universitaires de France]] |location=Paris |isbn=978-2-13-053852-3}}
* {{Cite book |first=Ruth |last=Putnam |author-link=Ruth Putnam (author) |year=1918 |title=Luxemburg and Her Neighbours |publisher=G. P. Putnam's |location=New York }}
* {{Cite book |last=Thewes |first=Guy |title=Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/download/gouvernements_1848_2.pdf |access-date=10 July 2007 |edition=Édition limitée |date=July 2003 |publisher=Service Information et Presse |location=Luxembourg City |language=fr |isbn=2-87999-118-8 |archive-date=9 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709064705/http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/download/gouvernements_1848_2.pdf |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195440/http://www.mediacom.public.lu/comm_elec/plan_action_TIC-mars2009/Plan_d_action_TIC_-_LU2009.pdf Plan d'action national luxembourgeois en matière de TIC et de haut-débit]* 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195439/http://www.luxembourgforict.lu/en/news/2009/10/Lu-Cix/Lucix_EN.pdf Inauguration of LU-CIX]
* [https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/artistic-creation.html Art and Culture in Luxembourg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418132501/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/artistic-creation.html |date=18 April 2023 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Luxembourg}}
* [https://luxembourg.public.lu/en.html The Official Portal of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418132354/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en.html |date=18 April 2023 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829212536/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/luxembourg.htm Luxembourg] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg/ Luxembourg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075735/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/luxembourg |date=9 January 2021 }}. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17548470 Luxembourg profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721064544/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17548470 |date=21 July 2018 }} from the [[BBC News]]
* [https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Luxembourg_2009.pdf ''Luxembourg's Constitution of 1868 with Amendments through 2009'', English Translation 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016014646/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Luxembourg_2009.pdf |date=16 October 2014 }}
* {{wikiatlas|Luxembourg}}

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