Willikommen auf Luxembourg
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Introduction of Luxembourg
Population, Health and Environment Data
Statistics
Luxembourgs births per death per 1000 is 11 to 7, while their rate of natural increase is 0.4. Over the next 15 years, Luxembourg is expected to increase its population to 600,000 people and 700,000 by 2050. this is not a big increase, so its growth is increasing slowly but surely in this small place. A 40% projected population change between now and 2050. While the infant mortality rate (1.8) and TFR (1.6) are very close. Most countries have nearly doubled some tripled there mortality rates compared to the TFR. The population's age for <15>
Luxembourg has a life expectancy of 80 years on average of both sexes. Men 78 and women 83, this already being pretty high can and will only increase due to the global aging phenomenon currently, and with luxembourgs TFR being so low, we can only expect it to continue the lates trend to decrease, whill will yield a much older older population within the next few decades. While 83% of the country is urban, you can expect the older people to reside in these areas.
HIV/AIDS does not affect the population greatly at all. There is only 0.2% as of 2001 and 2007-2008 that has HIV/AIDS ages 15-49. It being considered safe when dealing with data electronics for other businesses and markets, it is also safe sexually not possessing many diseases at all. With so many nationalities and immigration from so many different countries, its ironic to see that the diseases associated with the 100+ nationallities that now live in Luxembourg are not associated with Luxembourg .
Economy
Currency
Euro
Main industries
banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism
GDP
$38.37 billion (2009 est.)
$39.93 billion (2008 est.)
$40.31 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP growth rate
-3.9% (2009 est.)
-0.9% (2008 est.)
5.2% (2007 est.)
$78,000 (2009 est.)3rd in the world
$82,200 (2008 est.)
$83,900 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP by sector
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 86% (2007 est.)
Labor Force
208,000 of whom 125,400 are foreign cross-border workers commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2009 est.)
Labor Force by sector
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 80.6% (2007 est.)
Unemployment Rate
6.8% (2009 est.)
4.4% (2008 est.)
Culture
ETIQUETTE AND CUSTOMS
Meetings and Greetings
- Greetings are reserved and formal until a relationship has been established.
- The most common greeting is a brief handshake.
- Very close friends greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks three times, starting with the left cheek and alternating. This can be between women or a man and a woman. Men never kiss other men; they always shake hands
- Surnames with the honorific titles Monsieur or Madame are used in most social situations.
- Wait to be invited before using someone's first name and always use the formal pronoun for you, "vous" rather than the informal
Gift Giving Etiquette
- If you are invited to someone's home, bring a box of good chocolates or flowers to the hostess. . Invitations to tea are formal and require the same gift as would a dinner party
- Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is considered an unlucky number.
- Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.
- A small gift for the children is always appreciated.
- Gifts are not usually opened when received if there are other guests present.
Traditions and Holidays
The annual high points of Luxembourg culture are the Oktav, the Revue and the Fouer, says a local comic. And in a way, he’s right. Three times a year, custom compels Luxembourgers from the country to go on a pilgrimage to their capital: to the Octave, for eight days of prayer dedicated to Our Lady, Consolatrix Afflictorum; to the Revue, a satirical revue of the political year; and to the Schueberfouer, or Fouer, a funfair during several weeks.
Take a closer look, and it’s clear that most holidays have developed out of the country’s religious tradition.
Luxembourg Also celebrates christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.
National Holiday
History tells us that Luxembourg has been independent, with a dynasty of its own, for a relatively short period of time. In the XIXth century, Luxembourgers celebrated their national holiday on KinnĂ©ksdag (King’s Day: the birthday of the Dutch king). The new country’s first real patriotic holiday was Groussherzoginsgebuertsdag (the Grand Duchess’s Birthday). Grand Duchess Charlotte who reigned from 1919 to 1964 was born on 23 January, but to take advantage of the better summer weather, her birthday celebrations were postponed by six months, to 23 June. After Grand Duke Jean ascended the throne, 23 June became the official national holiday.
Burning the Buerg
Buergsonndeg is a tradition with a long, venerable past. The blaze symbolises the driving-out of winter, the beginning of spring and the triumph of warm over cold, of light over darkness. Some claim it is one of the last vestiges of the Inquisition, when witches were burned.
Geography
Here are some stats about Luxembourgs land geography.
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)
Total renewable water resources
1.6 cu km (2005)
Current Environmental Issues.
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland.
Airports
2
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
over 3,047 m
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1
under 914 m
Pipelines
gas 155 km
Railways
total: 275 km country standard gauge:
275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified)
Roadways
total: 5,227 km country
paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways)
Government
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
How does it work?
Luxembourg is part of the Europian Union, the United Nations, and NATO.
Constitutional roles
The Luxembourgian constitution defines the Grand Duke's position as the head of state, symbol of its unity, and guarantor of national independence.The Prime Minister is Head of the Government and used to be called the President of the Government. The Deputy Prime Minister takes over in the absence of the prime minister, much like our vice president.
Divisions
Luxembourg is divided into 3 districts: Diekirch (in peach), Grevenmacher (in green), and Luxembourg (in purple)
Each of these districts are called Administrative Divisions, that is they each manage themselves through their own local government. This is similar to states like the U.S. has.
Did You Know?
- Luxembourg is ranked as as the worlds safest city by the Renowned Mercer Survey "Quality of living Global city rankings"
- Luxembourg is the worlds 8th largest banking centre
- When talking about how private one personally may be, did you know Many Government Ministers list their direct lines in the local telephone directory?
- The 1997 movie "American Werewolf in Paris" was actually filmed in Luxembourg
- There are over 10 Major media and ICT companies established in Luxembourg that "YOU" are affiliated with in some degree. When you listen to music, buy your college books maybe, even shooping online, and most of all what is believed to be the new way to take over communication, Skype!
Skype, Ebay, Amazon, Pay Pal and itunes music are some of the ones you may be familiar with and probably use on a consitent basis like I do. Although some originiated in America and has been founded and headcourtered, they all have established their headcouters in Luxembourg in order to reach out and expand business throughout the world.
Skype! a new way of revolutionizing how people communicate around the world. Founded in 2003, and originally headcourted in Luxembourg with offices in Europe, United States, and Asia, Skype has globally 370 milion registered users. Communicating through video calls and IM's. Skype is used in almost every country on Earth. When asked why Luxembourg? The answer lies withing personal interest and the Government.- E-commerce is widely used in Luxembourg. Amongst the top European countries where online purchasing takes place most developed. In the EU, just over 50% of population with Internet access used it to make online purchases. In luxembourg 66% of its population used the internet to make online purchases. Majority buyers placed 1-5 orders making Luxembourg 6th of the EU in regards to E-commerce.
"Coorporate headcourters always had an early
interest to invest in an EU- based company. in addition, the tax and legal
environment is clear and consistent and the governement has a pragmatic approach
to business. The other important factor is the location enables excellent access
to Europe."