Legend:
 Definition
 Field
Listing
 Rank
Order
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Background:
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Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and
an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more
than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a
larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained
in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its
neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs
Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957,
Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the
European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area. |
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Location:
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Western Europe, between France and Germany |
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Geographic coordinates:
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49 45 N, 6 10 E
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km,
Germany 138 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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modified continental with mild winters, cool summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys;
uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 23.94%
permanent crops: 0.39%
other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world |
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Population:
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480,222 (July 2007 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.8% (male 46,478/female 43,656)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 161,466/female 158,261)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 28,530/female 41,831)
(2007 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 38.9 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 39.9 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.207% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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11.84 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.065 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.682 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.03 years
male: 75.76 years
female: 82.52 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 500 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg |
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Ethnic groups:
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Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese,
Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and
European (guest and resident workers) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and
Muslim) 13% (2000) |
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Languages:
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Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October |
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Administrative divisions:
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3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg |
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Independence:
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1839 (from the Netherlands) |
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National holiday:
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National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June;
note - the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the
festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance
during a more favorable time of year |
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Constitution:
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17 October 1868; occasional revisions |
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October
2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude
JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Jean
ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the
prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following
popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of
the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the
deputy prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are
responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by
June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV
36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%,
other 2.8%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green
Party 7, ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as
an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of
State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the
advice of the prime minister |
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Judicial branch:
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judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2
district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals);
administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's
Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the
Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed
for life by the monarch |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast
GIBERYEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Francois
BILTGEN] (also known as Christian Social Party or PCS);
Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party
[Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or
LSAP [Alex BODRY]; dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left); other
minor parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade
union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural
producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade
union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce
(Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of
Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); Greenpeace
(environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union);
Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL
(center-left trade union) |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535
Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit
1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy
Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light
blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a
darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of
France |
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Economy - overview:
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This stable, high-income economy - benefiting from its
proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid
growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial
sector, initially dominated by steel, has become
increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and
other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now
accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more than compensated for
the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have
extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small
family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and
cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force.
Although Luxembourg, like all EU members, has suffered from
the global economic slump, the country enjoys an
extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita
ranks second in the world. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$33.87 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$34.53 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6.2% (2006 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$71,400 (2006 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force:
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203,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers
commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2006
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2004 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.1% (2006 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.7% (2006 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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18.3% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $18.68 billion
expenditures: $18.65 billion; including capital
expenditures of $975.5 million (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy
products, livestock products |
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Industries:
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banking and financial services, iron and steel, information
technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food
processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires,
glass, aluminum, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.3% (2006 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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3.156 billion kWh (2005 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.315 billion kWh (2005 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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3.131 billion kWh (2005 est.) |
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Electricity - imports:
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6.392 billion kWh (2005 est.) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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62,420 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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283 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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61,070 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.356 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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1.356 billion cu m (2005) |
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Current account balance:
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$4.387 billion (2006 est.) |
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Exports:
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$16.57 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 19.3%, France 15.5%, Italy 9.5%, UK 9.5%, Belgium
8.8%, Spain 5.3%, Netherlands 4.5% (2006)
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Imports:
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$20.86 billion c.i.f. (2006 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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Belgium 26.3%, Germany 20.1%, China 16.7%, France 8.5%, UK
5.5%, Netherlands 4.2% (2006)
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $235.6 million (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$265.1 million (2006 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$NA |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$NA |
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$51.25 billion (2005)
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Currency (code):
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by
financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January
2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday
transactions within the member countries |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054
(2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Airports:
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2 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2007) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 155 km (2006)
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Railways:
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total: 275 km
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km
electrified) (2006) |
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Roadways:
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total: 5,227 km
paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways)
(2004) |
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Waterways:
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37 km (on Moselle River) (2007)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 45 ships (1000 GRT or over) 682,955 GRT/858,985
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, chemical tanker 14,
container 7, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 44 (Belgium 9, France 14, Germany 10,
Netherlands 1, UK 7, US 3) (2007) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Mertert
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 15
November, 2007
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