1.964 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Transportation ::Lithuania
Airports:
81 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 69
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 55
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 51 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,695 km; refined products 114 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,768 km
country comparison to the world: 78
broad gauge: 1,746 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
Roadways:
total: 81,030 km
country comparison to the world: 58
paved: 71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,467 km (2008)
Waterways:
441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 88
Merchant marine:
total: 42
country comparison to the world: 75
by type: cargo 22, container 1, passenger/cargo 6, refrigerated
cargo 11, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 8)
registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Belize 2,
Comoros 3, Cook Islands 2, Norway 1, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 10, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Butinge, Klaipeda
Military ::Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP),
National Defense Volunteer Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age
for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; male
registration required at age 16 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 900,746
females age 16-49: 887,843 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 674,265
females age 16-49: 734,806 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 21,606
female: 20,536 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transnational Issues ::Lithuania
Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006
in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia
in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a
simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the
Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as
a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to
strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007,
ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and
mapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Illicit drugs:
transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy,
and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and
neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality
amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Luxembourg (Europe)
Introduction ::Luxembourg
Background:
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.
Geography ::Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 178
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
1.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People ::Luxembourg
Population:
497,538 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 46,918/female 44,052)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 165,342/female 162,681)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 29,839/female 42,943) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 40.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.158% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Birth rate:
11.7 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Death rate:
8.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Net migration rate:
8.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 194
male: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.48 years
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 76.22 years
female: 82.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Luxembourger 63.1%, Portuguese 13.3%, French 4.5%, Italian 4.3%,
German 2.3%, other EU 7.3%, other 5.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim)
13% (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language),
French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 125
Government ::Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
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
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
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
Constitution:
17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 20
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following popular elections
to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the monarch; the deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch;
they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held by June 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 38%, LSAP 21.6%, DP
15%, Green Party 11.7%, ADR 8.1%, The Left 3.3%, other 2.3%; seats
by party - CSV 26, LSAP 13, DP 9, Green Party 7, ADR 4, The Left 1
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
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (three Justices of the Peace, two
district courts, and one 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
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Michel WOLTER]; dei Lenk/la
Gauche (the Left); Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green
Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP
[Alex BODRY]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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)
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Paul SENNINGER
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 through 72
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia STROUM
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
Flag description:
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; the coloring is derived from the Grand Duke's coat of
arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field)
National anthem:
name: "Ons Heemecht" (Our Motherland); "De Wilhelmus" (The William)
lyrics/music: Michel LENTZ/Jean-Antoine ZINNEN; Nikolaus
WELTER/unknown
note: "Ons Heemecht," adopted 1864, is the national anthem, while
"De Wilhelmus," adopted 1919, serves as a royal anthem for use when
members of the grand ducal family enter or exit a ceremony in
Luxembourg
Economy ::Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This small, stable, high-income economy - benefiting from its
proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - has historically
featured 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, but Luxembourg has lost some of its advantages as a tax
haven because of OECD and EU pressure. The economy depends on
foreign and cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force.
Luxembourg, like all EU members, suffered from the global economic
crisis that began in late 2008, but unemployment has trended below
the EU average. Following strong expansion from 2004 to 2007,
Luxembourg's economy contracted and 3.4% in 2009, but rebounded 2.6%
in 2010. The country continues to enjoy an extraordinarily high
standard of living - GDP per capita ranks third in the world, after
Liechtenstein and Qatar, and is the highest in the EU. Turmoil in
the world financial markets and lower global demand during 2008-09
prompted the government to inject capital into the banking sector
and implement stimulus measures to boost the economy. Government
stimulus measures and support for the banking sector, however, led
to a 5% government budget deficit in 2009, however, the deficit was
cut below 3% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$39.55 billion (2009 est.)
$41.07 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$52.43 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
-3.7% (2009 est.)
1.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$81,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$80,700 (2009 est.)
$84,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 86% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
206,000 of whom 125,400 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 80.6% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
5.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 23.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 132
Investment (gross fixed):
16.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Public debt:
16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
14.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
0.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Stock of narrow money:
$120.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 28
$121 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$255.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$231.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$395.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$369.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$105.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
$66.46 billion (31 December 2008)
$166.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy and livestock
products
Industries:
banking and financial services, iron and steel, information
technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food
processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,
aluminum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - production:
2.696 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - consumption:
6.525 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - exports:
2.483 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
6.83 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - consumption:
50,720 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - exports:
63 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - imports:
59,210 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - consumption:
1.268 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - imports:
1.263 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Current account balance:
$3.396 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$2.985 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$17.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$15.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products,
glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.78%, France 15.87%, Belgium 11.07%, UK 7.96%, Italy
7.49%, Netherlands 4.31% (2009)
Imports:
$23.67 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$19.76 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 27.22%, Germany 23.14%, China 18.62%, France 8.85%,
Netherlands 5.06% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$810 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.892 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 11
$2.02 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
$11.21 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
273,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Telephones - mobile cellular:
719,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwide
mobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular
phones virtually saturated
international: country code - 352 (2008)
Broadcast media:
Luxembourg has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services
to pan-European audiences and is home to Europe's largest
privately-owned broadcast media group, the RTL group, which operates
45 television stations and 31 radio stations in Europe; also home to
Europe's largest satellite operator, Societe Europeenne des
Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL group operates TV and radio
networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French
and German stations are available; satellite and cable TV services
are accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet hosts:
244,225 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
Internet users:
424,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
Transportation ::Luxembourg
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 197
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 275 km
country comparison to the world: 124
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 5,227 km
country comparison to the world: 152
paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 106
Merchant marine:
total: 47
country comparison to the world: 72
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 16, container 10,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 10
foreign-owned: 45 (Belgium 9, France 16, Germany 9, Netherlands 2,
Switzerland 1, UK 5, US 3)
registered in other countries: 16 (Italy 12, Malta 3, Panama 1)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mertert
Military ::Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping
missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with
3-year residence in Luxembourg (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 117,892
females age 16-49: 116,517 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 96,585
females age 16-49: 95,519 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,211
female: 3,057 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transnational Issues ::Luxembourg
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Macau (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Macau
Background: