Key figures

Total population:                1451.600   (2004)

Luxembourgish residents:    277.400 (61, 42%)

Foreign residents:               174.200 (38,6%)

Portuguese residents:         63.760 (14,1% of the whole population )

French residents:               21.880 (4,8% of the whole population )

Italian residents:               18.890 (4,1% of the whole population )

Belgian residents:              16.040 (3,5% of the whole population)

Density:                            173 habitants / km2 (2004)

Active age:                        67,1 % (2004)

Life expectancy:                 74 years for men, 81 years for women (2000/02)

Average number of children/woman:         1,63 (2003)

Nativity :(number of births/1000 inhabitants)            1,8  (2003)

(Source: The National Statistics Office for Luxembourg: Statec)                                            

The most recent general census (March 1991) put the population of Luxembourg at 385,317, an increase of 20,715 (5.7%) on the 1981 census figure. The growth can be attributed essentially to net immigration (+16,627), as live births exceeded deaths by only 4,088. A new general census made at the beginning of the year 2004 indicates a new increase of the population. This is indicative of Luxembourg's long-standing demographic problems. The gross birth rate (i.e. the annual number of live births per thousand inhabitants) diminished over a long time period. The fragile demographic balance was maintained only by the influx of foreign residents (the immigrant population, having a younger age structure, has a lower mortality rate and a higher birth rate), although the fertility gap between local and immigrant women is now narrowing.

(Sources: EURYDICE, http://www.eurydice.org, as at 12/07/2007The National statistics Office:STATEC, http://www.statec.public.lu/fr/index.html, as at 13/07/2007Picture:http://www.gouvernement.lu/tout_savoir/tourisme/image27.html, as at 12/07/2007)