Luxembourg : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
• Population: Luxembourg is one of the smallest of the European Union (EU) member states, with a population of around 500,000. About a quarter of the population live in the capital.
• Border countries: located in Western Europe, Luxembourg is a land-locked country that shares its borders with Belgium (148km), France (73km) and Germany (138km). Totalling only about 2,500 sq km.
• Climate: temperate, with mild winters and 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.

Living in Luxembourg

• Cost of living: broadly similar to the UK if a little less expensive overall. Some items such as cars, petrol, public transport, cigarettes and alcohol being cheaper, and others such as clothes and shoes being more expensive - though of a high quality.
• Utilities: provision is similar to the UK.
• Internet domain: .lu - the internet is accessible almost everywhere throughout the country.
• Health: health standards and services are similar to those in the UK.
• Laws and customs: standards and rules of law enforcement are broadly comparable to the UK, as are general social customs and patterns of daily behaviour.

Economy and finance

• Currency: Euro (€)
• Type of economy: free market. A high proportion of its income is derived from its large service industry.
• Health of economy: stable with high income.
• Unemployment rate: approximately 5.7% - amongst the lowest in the European Union (EU).

Culture

• People: most of the population are Luxembourgers. However, a substantial number of non-Luxembourg nationals, including Portuguese, French, Italians and Germans, either live in the country, mostly working for EU institutions, or commute from neighbouring countries.
• Major religion: the majority of Luxembourgers are Roman Catholics, but there are also Protestant, Jewish and Muslim minorities.
• History: for an outline of Luxembourg’s history, see BBC Timeline: Luxembourg .
• Local etiquette: Luxembourgers value privacy, politeness and tact. Social relations are rather formal and people tend to keep their business and personal lives separate, but family ties are very strong.

Politics

• Type of government: constitutional monarchy.
• Major political parties: Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR), Christian Social People's Party (CSV), dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left), Democratic Party (DP), Green Party, Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP).

Travel advice

Find the latest travel advice and a checklist for travellers on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) .

Ensure you have appropriate travel and medical insurance in place before travelling.