Living in Luxembourg guide for expats

When moving to a foreign country, it is best to be aware of its economic, social, climatic conditions beforehand. So if Luxembourg is the land of your dreams, take the time to inquire on all these aspects well before planning your move. For many years, Luxembourg is considered not only as an important economic destination but also as a promising country for multilingual professionals, especially those who are specialized in finance, trade, marketing, the banking and legal sectors.

Geography and demography

Also known as the Grand Duchy, Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy divided into 12 cantons and 102 municipalities. Among them, 12 have official city status, with Luxembourg, also called Luxembourg City, being the largest. As the capital of the country, it hosts several institutions of the European Union. The country is also organized into two judicial districts: Luxembourg and Diekirch.

The country's population amounted to nearly  668,606 inhabitants in 2023. In fact, it is one of the European Union's least densely populated countries.

In 2024, the Luxembourgish population consisted of more than 47% foreigners, with a majority of French and Portuguese nationals. Additionally, more than 200,000 cross-border workers, residing in France, Belgium, or Germany, commute daily to Luxembourg for work.

Languages

Luxembourg is a trilingual country due to its proximity with France and Germany. Hence, French, German and Luxembourgish are spoken by its population. In fact, Luxembourgish has been proclaimed at the national language since 1984. Moreover, all three languages are used at the administrative level. Given the large number of nationalities present in the country, English is also widely used.

Economy

As a member state of the European Union, Luxembourg uses the euro as its currency. Its dynamic economy relies on several key sectors, including banking, which makes it one of Europe's leading financial centers, investment funds, new technologies, aerospace, and research. Its attractive tax system and multilingual environment make it a key player in these fields. 

Luxembourg is a major economic destination. With one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, the Grand Duchy offers great financial stability and attracts many international companies. The country is also experiencing growth thanks to the establishment of European headquarters for companies like Amazon and the historic presence of Skype.

Climate

The climate of Luxembourg is temperate oceanic, with continental influences. The average annual temperature is around 10°C, with minimums that can drop as low as -15°C in winter, although this has become rare. In summer, temperatures typically range between 20 and 25°C, but they often exceed 30°C. With the increasing number of heatwaves, it is becoming more common for temperatures to approach 40°C, although these episodes usually last only a few days.

Given the altitude difference between the North and South of Luxembourg, slight climatic variations occur. Indeed, in the Osling, in the North of the country, temperatures can be quite aggressive in winter and cool in summer compared to Guttland which is in the South.

Useful links:

Expat.com ' Luxembourg
Luxembourg.lu ' Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Portal www.luxembourg.public.lu