Official Name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Capital: Luxembourg
Total area: 2 586 km2
GDP per capita: $107,206
Native Language: French, German, Luxembourgish
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Population: 537,853
Major Religion: Roman Catholicism
Monetary Unit: Euro (EUR)

A small country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has a history that is inseparable from that of its larger neighbours. It mainly consists of hills and forests.

Luxembourg has been under the control of many states and dynasties throughout its long history, but since the 10th century it has been a separate, if not always autonomous, political entity. Today, Luxembourg is a hereditary grand duchy with a unicameral parliamentary system.

Luxembourgish, the national language, is related to German. German is the first foreign language for most Luxembourgers and is used in the media. French is the administrative language.

The economic structure of Luxembourg is mainly based on banks, insurance companies and the steel industry. Agriculture and viticulture are also important.

Many Luxembourgish specialties are of the kind you would expect to find in a woodland. These include roasted rabbit and Ardennes ham. Trout and pike, freshly caught from the country's rivers, are also regularly on the menu here.

Luxembourg shares the Moselle valley with Germany and local white wines are well known and popular. Like other Nordic countries, Luxembourg also produces popular beer brands.

Health and well-being
A comprehensive program of benefits for all citizens, including free medicines, free prescriptions, provider choice, and other benefits.

Economy and work
banks, industry and tourism.

Main attraction
Luxembourg, Ardennes, Moselle Valley.

Business
Luxembourg's stable and profitable market economy is characterized by moderate growth, low inflation and a high degree of innovation. The unemployment rate is traditionally low, although it had risen to 6.1% by May 2012, mainly due to the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis. Consequently, the Luxembourg economy is expected to grow slightly in 2012. According to the IMF, Luxembourg was the second richest country in the world in 2011 with a per capita GDP in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of USD 80,119. Luxembourg ranks 13th in the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, 24th in the United Nations Human Development Index and 4th in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Quality of Life Index.