Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

*Area: 2,586 sq. km. (999 sq. mi.; about the size of Rhode Island).  

*Area: 2,586 sq. km. (999 sq. mi.; about the size of Rhode Island).  

*Cities: Capital--Luxembourg City (pop. 83,800). Other cities--Esch-sur-Alzette (pop. 29,100), Differdange (pop. 20,100), Dudelange (pop. 18,000). (2007 figures from STATEC.)  

*Cities: Capital—Luxembourg City (pop. 83,800). Other cities—Esch-sur-Alzette (pop. 29,100), Differdange (pop. 20,100), Dudelange (pop. 18,000). (2007 figures from STATEC.)  

*Terrain: Continuation of Belgian Ardennes in the north, heavily forested and slightly mountainous; extension of French Lorraine plateau in the south, with open, rolling countryside.  

*Terrain: Continuation of Belgian Ardennes in the north, heavily forested and slightly mountainous; extension of French Lorraine plateau in the south, with open, rolling countryside.  

*Climate: Modified continental, rainy, with mild summers and moderate snowfall in winter.

*Climate: Modified continental, rainy, with mild summers and moderate snowfall in winter.

==People==

==People==

The people are a mixture from France, the Netherlands, Germany, and other areas of west-central Europe.  The national language of Luxembourg is Luxembourgish, a blend of Dutch, old German, and Frankish elements. The official language of the civil service, law, and parliament is French, although criminal and legal debates are conducted partly in Luxembourgish and police case files are recorded in German. German is the primary language of the press. French and German are taught in the schools, with German spoken mainly at the primary level and French at the secondary level. In addition, English is taught in the local high schools. Most Luxembourgers, as a result, speak English with some level of fluency.

The people are a mixture from France, the Netherlands, Germany, and other areas of west-central Europe.  The national language of Luxembourg is Luxembourgish, a blend of Dutch, old German, and Frankish elements. The official language of the civil service, law, and parliament is French, although criminal and legal debates are conducted partly in Luxembourgish and police case files are recorded in German. German is the primary language of the press. French and German are taught in the schools, with German spoken mainly at the primary level and French at the secondary level. In addition, English is taught in the local high schools. Most Luxembourgers, as a result, speak English with some level of fluency.

*Nationality: Noun--Luxembourger(s). Adjective--Luxembourgian, Luxembourgish.

*Nationality: Noun—Luxembourger(s). Adjective—Luxembourgian, Luxembourgish.

*Population (2007): 480,222.

*Population (2007): 480,222.

*Annual growth rate (2007): 1.2%.

*Annual growth rate (2007): 1.2%.

*Religion: Historically and predominantly Roman Catholic. However, Luxembourgian law forbids the collection of data on religious practices.  

*Religion: Historically and predominantly Roman Catholic. However, Luxembourgian law forbids the collection of data on religious practices.  

*Official languages: Luxembourgish, French, and German; English is widely spoken.

*Official languages: Luxembourgish, French, and German; English is widely spoken.

*Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--100%. Literacy--99%.  

*Education: Years compulsory—9. Attendance—100%. Literacy—99%.  

*Health: Life expectancy (2007)--Avg. 79.03 years; males 75.76 years; females 82.52 years. Infant mortality rate (2007)--4.68/1,000.

*Health: Life expectancy (2007)--Avg. 79.03 years; males 75.76 years; females 82.52 years. Infant mortality rate (2007)--4.68/1,000.

*Labor force (2006): 318,600, of which 126,800 commuted from neighboring countries. European Union institutions employ 8,300. Services (non-financial)--53%, (financial)--11%; commerce--14%; industrial and manufacturing--11%; construction--10%; agriculture--1%.

*Labor force (2006): 318,600, of which 126,800 commuted from neighboring countries. European Union institutions employ 8,300. Services (non-financial)--53%, (financial)--11%; commerce—14%; industrial and manufacturing—11%; construction—10%; agriculture—1%.

*Unemployment rate (2006): 4.5%, up from 3.9% in 2004 and 4.3% in 2005.

*Unemployment rate (2006): 4.5%, up from 3.9% in 2004 and 4.3% in 2005.

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===

*Head of State--Grand Duke Henri

*Head of State—Grand Duke Henri

*Prime Minister--Xavier Bettel

*Prime Minister—Xavier Bettel

*Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs--Jean Asselborn (LSAP)

*Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs—Jean Asselborn (LSAP)

*Minister of Justice, Minister of Treasury and Budget--Luc Frieden (CSV)

*Minister of Justice, Minister of Treasury and Budget—Luc Frieden (CSV)

*Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade--Jeannot Krecké (LSAP)

*Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade—Jeannot Krecké (LSAP)

*Minister of Defense--Jean-Louis Schiltz (CSV)

*Minister of Defense—Jean-Louis Schiltz (CSV)

*Minister of Interior--Jean-Marie Halsdorf (CSV)

*Minister of Interior—Jean-Marie Halsdorf (CSV)

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Sylvie Lucas

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Sylvie Lucas

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

*Inflation rate (2006): 2.7%.

*Inflation rate (2006): 2.7%.

*Natural resources: Iron ore, timber.

*Natural resources: Iron ore, timber.

*Agriculture (2005: 0.4% of GDP): Dairy, wine, forestry, animal feed crops. Arable land--24%; forested land--21%.

*Agriculture (2005: 0.4% of GDP): Dairy, wine, forestry, animal feed crops. Arable land—24%; forested land—21%.

*Services (2005: 83.3% of GDP): Banking and financial services predominate.

*Services (2005: 83.3% of GDP): Banking and financial services predominate.

*Industry (2005: 16.3% of GDP): Steel, chemicals.

*Industry (2005: 16.3% of GDP): Steel, chemicals.

*Trade (2006): Exports--$24.22 billion: steel and other metallic products, chemicals, processed wood products, machinery and other manufactured equipment. Major markets--other European Union countries (esp. Germany, France, and Belgium). Imports--$24.22 billion: Machinery and other manufactured equipment, raw materials, chemicals, food products. Major suppliers--other European Union countries (esp. Belgium, Germany, and France).

*Trade (2006): Exports--$24.22 billion: steel and other metallic products, chemicals, processed wood products, machinery and other manufactured equipment. Major markets—other European Union countries (esp. Germany, France, and Belgium). Imports--$24.22 billion: Machinery and other manufactured equipment, raw materials, chemicals, food products. Major suppliers—other European Union countries (esp. Belgium, Germany, and France).

Government policies promote the development of Luxembourg as an audiovisual and communications center. Radio-Television-Luxembourg is Europe's premier private radio and television broadcaster. The government-backed Luxembourg satellite company Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) was created in 1986 to install and operate a satellite telecommunications system for transmission of television programs throughout Europe. The first SES "ASTRA" satellite, a 16-channel RCA 4000, was launched by Ariane rocket in December 1988. SES presently operates 12 satellites. ASTRA 1H is an advanced satellite with a return channel capacity in the Ka band frequency range enabling two-way satellite communications directly to users' terminals.

Government policies promote the development of Luxembourg as an audiovisual and communications center. Radio-Television-Luxembourg is Europe's premier private radio and television broadcaster. The government-backed Luxembourg satellite company Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) was created in 1986 to install and operate a satellite telecommunications system for transmission of television programs throughout Europe. The first SES "ASTRA" satellite, a 16-channel RCA 4000, was launched by Ariane rocket in December 1988. SES presently operates 12 satellites. ASTRA 1H is an advanced satellite with a return channel capacity in the Ka band frequency range enabling two-way satellite communications directly to users' terminals.