History

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna. When Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands in 1839, Luxembourg lost more than half of its territory to Belgium but gained a larger measure of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  Luxembourg gained full independence in 1867 by promising to remain permanently neutral. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, its neutrality ended in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the EEC (later the EU), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency zone.

Environment

Area: 2,586 km2

Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Luxembourger 52.9%, Portuguese 14.5%, French 7.6%, Italian 3.7%, Belgian 3%, German 2%, Spanish 1.3%, Romania 1%, other 14% (2022 est.)note: data represent population by nationality

Languages: Luxembourgish (official administrative, judicial, and national language) 48.9%, Portuguese 15.4%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 14.9%, Italian 3.6%, English 3.6%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 2.9%, other 10.8% (2021 est.)

Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6%, Muslim 2.3%, other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4%, unaffiliated 26.7% (2020 est.)

Government

Capital: Luxembourg

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Executive branch

Chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000)

Head of government: Prime Minister Luc FRIEDEN (since 17 November 2023)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarchelections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des députés)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 60 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 10/8/2023parties elected and seats per party: Christian Social People's Party (CSV) (21); Democratic Party (PD/DP) (14); Socialist Workers' Party (POSL/LSAP) (11); Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) (5); Greens (DEI GRÉNG) (4); Pirate Party (PIRATEN) (3); Other (2)percentage of women in chamber: 35%expected date of next election: October 2028note: a 21-member Council of State is appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister and serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies