Luxembourg

National name: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

Government Constitutional monarchy

Geography
The Ardennes Mountains extend from Belgium into the northern section of Luxembourg. The rolling plateau of the fertile Bon Pays is in the south.

Historical 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 Union in 1999.

Facts & Figures

Name

LUXEMBOURG

Capital

Luxembourg

Government

Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Language

French, German

Area

2,586.4 km2 (175th)
998.6sq m

Population

2010 estimate 502,202[1] (170th) 2001 census 439,539  Density194.1/km2(59th) 501.3/sq mi

Currency

Euro (€)2 (EUR)