Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg)

Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	14th best
Capital	Luxembourg
Land Area	2 590km21
Location	Europe
Population	0.6m2
Life Expectancy	82.63yrs (2017)3
GNI	$84 649 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	LU, LUX, 4425
Internet Domain	.lu6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+3528

1. Overview
2. Luxembourg National and Social Development
3. Luxembourg's Demographics and Migration
4. Luxembourg's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Luxembourg's Health
6. Luxembourg's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Luxembourg's Modernity and Learning
8. Religion and Beliefs
9. Links

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1. Overview

#belgium #eu #germany #human_rights #luxembourg #netherlands

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg share a long cultural history, so much so, that they are identified collectively by the well-known contraction, 'Benelux'₉.

“Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839 but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area. In January 2013, Luxembourg assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₁₀

“The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is famed for its banks but visually is mostly an undulating series of pretty wooded hills dotted with castle villages. Which European nation, just 84km long, rates among the world´s three richest countries? Remarkably the answer is Luxembourg. That´s some achievement given its wholesale destruction during WWII, a sad history remembered in war museums across the country. The country´s economic miracle started with steel but is now based particularly on banking - Belgians joke that visitors only go there to get their money out.But don´t leave Luxembourg to the bankers and Eurocrats. The capital has a fairy-tale quality to its Unesco-listed historic core, dramatically perched on a once-impregnable cliff top. Beyond, you´ll rapidly find yourself in rolling part-forested hills where a string of beguiling villages each form attractive huddles beneath medieval castles. Then there´s all the fun of the fizz in Moselle wine country and some loveable walks to take in the pretty micro-gorges of Müllerthal. All in all, this little country has plenty of surprises.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₁

The EU has acted on behalf of its member states on many occasions to support, foster, fund and encourage human rights protections in every region of the world, with agreement of its member states through the European Parliament. The protections of workers' rights and their harmonisations (which stops companies moving staff to countries with the weakest laws) has had great effect in stopping workforce abuse₁₂. According to Human Rights Watch's comprehensive review for the year 2017, in addition to vocal and public pronouncements on poor human rights records of many countries, the EU has also acted through economic sanctions, political pressure and used other means to incentivize the adoption of human rights protections, even if these measures harm EU trading₁₃. It is to Luxembourg's credit that it supports the EU in these actions.

2. Luxembourg National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)14
Pos.		Higher is better Value14
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
14=	New Zealand	0.937
15	Canada	0.936
16	Liechtenstein	0.935
17	Luxembourg	0.930
18	UK	0.929
19=	S. Korea	0.925
19=	Japan	0.925
21	USA	0.921
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)14
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $14
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
4	Luxembourg	$84 649
5	Ireland	$76 169
6	Switzerland	$66 933
7	USA	$64 765
8	Norway	$64 660
9	Brunei	$64 490
10	Hong Kong	$62 607
11	UAE	$62 574
12	Denmark	$60 365
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
11	Australia	38.5
12	Belgium	39.4
13	UK	41.4
14	Luxembourg	41.4
15	Iceland	41.4
16	Canada	41.8
17	Japan	42.5
18	France	42.9
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Luxembourg's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Luxembourg's population is predicted to rise to 637 689 by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.31. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₆

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
162	Bhutan	0.8m
163	Solomon Islands	0.7m
164	Montenegro	0.6m
165	Luxembourg	0.6m
166	Suriname	0.6m
167	Cape Verde	0.5m
168	Maldives	0.5m
169	Malta	0.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better14
Pos.		2021 Years14
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
13	Singapore	82.8
14	Iceland	82.7
15	Canada	82.7
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best17
Pos.		202217
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
119=	Finland	1.32
120	Thailand	1.32
121	Cyprus	1.31
122	Luxembourg	1.31
123=	Curaço	1.30
123=	Bermuda	1.30
125	Syria	2.70
126	Philippines	2.73
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better18
Pos.		2016 Per 10018
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
133	Cyprus	26.9
134	Chile	27.0
135	Macedonia	27.7
136	Luxembourg	28.3
137	Armenia	28.7
138=	Thailand	29.2
138=	Ireland	29.2
140	Russia	29.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants19
Pos.		2017 %19
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
4	Liechtenstein	65.1%
5	Monaco	54.9%
6	Andorra	53.3%
7	Bahrain	48.4%
8	Singapore	46.0%
9	Luxembourg	45.3%
10	Oman	44.7%
11	Hong Kong	39.1%
12	Saudi Arabia	37.0%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants20
Pos.		2010 %20
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
53	Estonia	12.6%
54	Nicaragua	12.5%
55	Latvia	12.3%
56	Luxembourg	11.8%
57	Jordan	11.3%
58	Kyrgyzstan	11.2%
59	Tajikistan	11.2%
60	Cuba	10.9%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Luxembourg's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Europe (2025)21
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank21
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
4	Netherlands	9.8
5	Iceland	12.9
6	Austria	14.9
7	Luxembourg	16.2
8	Finland	17.4
9	Belgium	18.4
10	Germany	21.0
11	UK	22.2
12	Spain	24.5
13	France	25.8
	Europe Avg	47.37
q=48.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)21
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank21
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
7	Canada	14.7
8	Austria	14.9
9	Australia	16.0
10	Luxembourg	16.2
11	Finland	17.4
12	Belgium	18.4
13	Germany	21.0
14	UK	22.2
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway₂₂. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan₂₂.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₂, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia₂₂.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Press Freedom Higher is better23
Pos.		202523
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
10	Czechia	83.96
11	Germany	83.85
12	Liechtenstein	83.42
13	Luxembourg	83.04
14	Lithuania	82.27
15	Latvia	81.82
16	New Zealand	81.37
17	Iceland	81.36
	Europe Avg	70.63
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Luxembourg only had Press Freedom data from 2008 onwards, however, its ranking is consistent with subsequent years so the 2000s average seems accurate, despite the low number of data points in that decad.

Slavery Lower is better24
Pos.		2018 % Victims24
1	Japan	0.03
2=	Canada	0.05
2=	Taiwan	0.05
	...
11	Argentina	0.13
12	Hong Kong	0.14
13=	Kuwait	0.15
13=	Luxembourg	0.15
13=	Qatar	0.15
16	Denmark	0.16
17=	Paraguay	0.16
17=	Sweden	0.16
	Europe Avg	0.38
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better25
Pos.		2014 Rank25
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
8=	Australia	6
9	Finland	9
10	Netherlands	10
11=	Luxembourg	11
11=	Austria	11
13	Norway	13
14=	Germany	13
15	Sweden	15
	Europe Avg	33.9
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
21=	Ireland	1.0
21=	Italy	1.0
21=	Japan	1.0
21=	Luxembourg	1.0
21=	Kiribati	1.0
21=	Estonia	1.0
21=	Austria	1.0
21=	Taiwan	1.0
	Europe Avg	2.2
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better26
Pos.		2017 Score26
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
4	Canada	8
5=	Netherlands	8
6	Sweden	7
7=	Ireland	7
8	Finland	6
9=	Luxembourg	6
9=	Belgium	6
11	Greece	5
12=	Cyprus	5
	Europe Avg	3.5
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better27
Pos.		2009 Treaties27
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
60	Nicaragua	19
61=	Canada	19
61=	Kazakhstan	19
61=	Luxembourg	19
61=	Greece	19
61=	Ireland	19
66	Lithuania	18
67=	Moldova	18
	Europe Avg	19.5
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better28
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty28
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
83	Gabon	9.47
84	Turkey	9.48
85	Malta	9.60
86	Luxembourg	9.67
87	Nigeria	9.71
88	Vietnam	9.72
89	Nepal	9.76
90	S. Korea	9.89
	Europe Avg	9.09
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

Luxembourg is notable for its equality between the sexes and this has been a feature of the country's culture for quite some time.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Inequality Lower is better29
Pos.		202229
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
7	UAE	0.04
8	Singapore	0.04
9	Iceland	0.04
10	Luxembourg	0.04
11	Belgium	0.05
12	Austria	0.05
13	Italy	0.06
14	Spain	0.06
	Europe Avg	0.12
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
14=	Germany	1919
14=	Netherlands	1919
14=	Ukraine	1919
14=	Luxembourg	1919
14=	Czechia	1919
14=	Poland	1919
20	Canada	1920
21=	USA	1920
	Europe Avg	1895
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality Higher is better30
Pos.		2017 Score30
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
11=	Iceland	72
12	UK	72
13=	Mexico	70
13=	Luxembourg	70
15	Argentina	69
16=	Malta	63
16=	Andorra	63
16=	New Zealand	63
	Europe Avg	46.9
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better31
Pos.		202131
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
28	Gabon	2.0
29=	New Zealand	2.0
29=	Sierra Leone	2.0
29=	Luxembourg	2.0
29=	S. Sudan	2.0
33	Greece	2.3
34=	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.3
34=	Marshall Islands	2.3
	Europe Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Luxembourg's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #germany #health #life_expectancy #longevity #luxembourg #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)32
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank32
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
14	Belgium	50.7
15	Ireland	53.2
16	UK	54.0
17	Luxembourg	54.6
18	Andorra	55.9
19	Italy	56.2
20	Faroe Islands	58.3
21	Channel Islands	58.4
22	Slovenia	59.4
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=52.

Health (2025)32
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank32
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
25	Ireland	53.2
26	UK	54.0
27	Sri Lanka	54.3
28	Luxembourg	54.6
29	S. Korea	55.4
30	Bermuda	55.9
31	Andorra	55.9
32	Italy	56.2
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₃. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₃.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₃, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₃.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Luxembourg does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Luxembourg comes in the best 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄, its immunizations take-up₃₅, its adolescent birth rate₃₆ and in its average life expectancy₁₄. Luxembourg still has work to do. Luxembourg does worse than average in its suicide rate₃₇ (still good for Europe) and in its fertility rate₁₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its smoking rate₃₈ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₉. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Luxembourg improved by +6.5yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Luxembourg had the 2nd-lowest average fertility rate in the world throughout the 1970s (1.6, after Germany) and still had the 3rd-lowest average in the 1980s. It has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 for each decade's average since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate in a single year was 2.42 in 1965.

Life Expectancy Higher is better14
Pos.		2021 Years14
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
13	Singapore	82.8
14	Iceland	82.7
15	Canada	82.7
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2016 Per Capita39
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
180=	Romania	12.7
180=	Bulgaria	12.7
182	Latvia	12.9
183=	Luxembourg	13.0
183=	Ireland	13.0
185	Nigeria	13.4
186=	Germany	13.4
187	Czechia	14.4
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best17
Pos.		202217
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
119=	Finland	1.32
120	Thailand	1.32
121	Cyprus	1.31
122	Luxembourg	1.31
123=	Curaço	1.30
123=	Bermuda	1.30
125	Syria	2.70
126	Philippines	2.73
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better38
Pos.		201438
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
172	Czechia	2 194
173	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2 233
174	China	2 250
175	Luxembourg	2 284
176	Belgium	2 353
177	Slovenia	2 637
178	Russia	2 690
179	Macedonia	2 732
	Europe Avg	1 648
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate37
Pos.		2013 Per 100k37
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
45	El Salvador	16.5
46	Kyrgyzstan	17.7
47	Netherlands	18.6
48	Luxembourg	19.3
49	Portugal	19.6
50	Singapore	20.6
51	India	20.8
52	Trinidad & Tobago	21.7
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
8	Canada	8
9	Netherlands	9
10	USA	10
11	Luxembourg	11
12	Finland	12
13	Australia	13
14	UAE	14
15	Saudi Arabia	15
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better40
Pos.		2016 %40
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
125	Ukraine	58.4
126=	Cuba	58.5
126=	Italy	58.5
128	Luxembourg	58.7
129	Panama	58.8
130	Suriname	58.9
131	Colombia	59.0
132=	Cyprus	59.1
	Europe Avg	58.5
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 Per 100036
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
13	San Marino	3.7
14	Italy	3.9
15	Finland	4.1
16	Luxembourg	4.2
17	Slovenia	4.4
18	Iceland	5.1
19	Belgium	5.1
20	Austria	5.2
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
12	Iran	98.1
13	Finland	98.1
14	Saudi Arabia	98.0
15=	Luxembourg	98.0
15=	Oman	98.0
17	Antigua & Barbuda	98.0
18	Cuba	97.9
19	Belgium	97.8
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Luxembourg's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #luxembourg #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Europe (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
12	Hungary	65.8
13	Norway	66.9
14	Netherlands	71.1
15	Luxembourg	71.4
16	Sweden	71.8
17	Finland	71.9
18	France	72.8
19	Romania	73.8
20	UK	74.4
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
58	Colombia	70.9
59	Togo	71.1
60	Netherlands	71.1
61	Luxembourg	71.4
62	Sweden	71.8
63	Finland	71.9
64	Yemen	71.9
65	Pakistan	72.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Luxembourg ranks 61st in the world. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Luxembourg comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₄₂ and in its score on the Green Future Index₄₃. It does better than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄. Luxembourg still has work to do. Luxembourg does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₅, energy to GDP efficiency₄₆ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better44
Pos.		Total44
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
63	Netherlands	2.8%
64	UAE	2.5%
65	Albania	2.5%
66	Luxembourg	2.3%
67	Georgia	2.2%
68	USA	2.1%
69	Ukraine	1.9%
70	Australia	1.7%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better42
Pos.		201842
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
6	UK	79.9
7	Luxembourg	79.1
8	Austria	79.0
9	Ireland	78.8
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better46
Pos.		2022 Avg46
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
93	Honduras	1.15
94	Slovenia	1.15
95	Brazil	1.16
96	Luxembourg	1.16
97	Netherlands	1.17
98	Azerbaijan	1.18
99	Norway	1.19
100	Argentina	1.19
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

In the 1960s, Luxembourg had the 2nd-highest rate of energy consumption per GDP per capita; but into 1970s it was one of only 4 countries to improve its energy-to-GDP efficiency by more than 1.0, beginning to get usage down close to average European rates. And then to the 1980s, it doubled its rate of improvements, achieving more than any other country in the world.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
39	India	69%
40	Paraguay	69%
41	Ghana	68%
42	Luxembourg	68%
43	Netherlands	68%
44	Kenya	68%
45	Senegal	67%
46	France	67%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Luxembourg was amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the Ozone layer in 1988 whilst most others delayed until subsequent years.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better45
Pos.		2011 %45
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
80	Montenegro	35.9%
81	Rwanda	35.8%
82	Romania	33.4%
83	Luxembourg	33.3%
84	Togo	33.3%
85	Benin	32.6%
86	Bulgaria	32.5%
87	Kyrgyzstan	32.0%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better47
Pos.		2021 kg47
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
155=	Lithuania	83.6
156	UAE	84.3
157	Panama	85.0
158	Luxembourg	85.8
159	Antigua & Barbuda	85.8
160	France	86.1
161	Barbados	86.4
162	Canada	86.9
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Luxembourg was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment, although the rate during that decade was reducing.₄₇

Green Future Index Higher is better43
Pos.		2023 Score43
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
13	Italy	5.7
14=	Ireland	5.7
14=	Canada	5.7
16	Luxembourg	5.6
17	Greece	5.6
18	Portugal	5.5
19	USA	5.4
20=	Switzerland	5.4
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Luxembourg's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #corruption #economics #education #english #happiness #health #inequality #it_security #life_expectancy #luxembourg #maths #modernity #politics #research #science #social_development #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
19	Latvia	30.3
20	Lithuania	31.4
21	Poland	33.2
22	Luxembourg	33.9
23	Italy	34.0
24	Portugal	34.4
25	Greece	36.3
26	Slovakia	42.9
27	Malta	45.9
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
27	Hong Kong	31.2
28	Lithuania	31.4
29	Poland	33.2
30	Luxembourg	33.9
31	Italy	34.0
32	Singapore	34.1
33	Portugal	34.4
34	Greece	36.3
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₉. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2952
2	Israel	4.1152
3	Japan	3.5852
	...
25	Hungary	1.3752
26	Italy	1.2952
27	Portugal	1.2852
28	Luxembourg	1.2652
29	Spain	1.2252
30	Russia	1.1952
31	New Zealand	1.1753
32	Brazil	1.1554
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better55
Pos.		201855
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
1=	Canada	100.0%
1=	Finland	100.0%
1=	Iceland	100.0%
7	Uzbekistan	99.9%
8	Czechia	99.8%
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better56
Pos.		2021 Years56
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
77	Colombia	14.4
78	Moldova	14.4
79	Serbia	14.4
80	Luxembourg	14.4
81	China	14.2
82	Romania	14.2
83	Antigua & Barbuda	14.2
84	Morocco	14.2
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
34	Israel	34
35	Barbados	35
36	Estonia	36
37	Luxembourg	37
38	USA	38
39	Portugal	39
40	Spain	40
41	Italy	41
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better57
Pos.		2015 Score57
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
31	USA	1463
32	Latvia	1460
33	Italy	1456
34	Luxembourg	1450
35	Iceland	1443
36	Croatia	1426
37	Lithuania	1425
38	Hungary	1424
	Europe Avg	1417
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better58
Pos.		201658
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
4	Bermuda	97%
5	Andorra	97%
6	Denmark	96%
7	Liechtenstein	96%
8	Luxembourg	95%
9	Netherlands	94%
10	Sweden	93%
11	Monaco	93%
12	UK	93%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better59
Pos.		201359
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
4	Hong Kong	0.12
5	Mexico	0.16
6	Israel	0.20
7	Colombia	0.22
8=	S. Africa	0.22
8=	Japan	0.22
10	Philippines	0.24
11	Czechia	0.24
12	Argentina	0.27
	Europe Avg	0.80
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better60
Pos.		2017 Ratio60
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
4	USA	35.0
5	Greece	33.5
6	Luxembourg	32.4
7	India	26.8
8	Portugal	26.6
9	Ireland	26.1
10	UK	24.7
11	Japan	22.1
12	France	18.8
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better61
Pos.		202461
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
4	Netherlands	72.6%
5	Denmark	72.3%
6	Austria	70.8%
7	Spain	70.5%
8	Luxembourg	70.0%
9	UK	69.3%
10	Estonia	69.3%
11	Switzerland	69.0%
12	Sweden	68.7%
	Europe Avg	61.0%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

National Culture:

Corruption Higher is better62
Pos.		2022 Points62
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
8	Netherlands	80.0
9	Germany	79.0
10=	Ireland	77.0
10=	Luxembourg	77.0
12	Hong Kong	76.0
13	Australia	75.0
14=	Estonia	74.0
14=	Uruguay	74.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

In the 1990s, Luxembourg had the 10th-best average position on the Corruption Perception Index, demonstrating a cultural and political commitment to resist corruption.

Happiness Higher is better63
Pos.		2024 Score63
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
4	Sweden	7.3
5	Netherlands	7.3
6	Costa Rica	7.3
7	Norway	7.3
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Mexico	7.0
11	Australia	7.0
12	New Zealand	7.0
	Europe Avg	6.37
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
7	Austria	7
8	Ireland	8
9	Czechia	9
10	Luxembourg	10
11	UK	11
12	Portugal	12
13	Finland	13
14	France	14
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
53	Haiti	53
54	Rwanda	54
55	Swaziland	55
56	Luxembourg	56
57	Mali	57
58	El Salvador	58
59	Senegal	59
60	Kyrgyzstan	60
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
97	Peru	97
98	Czechia	98
99	Lithuania	99
100	Luxembourg	100
101	Niger	101
102	Lesotho	102
103	Antigua & Barbuda	103
104	Latvia	104
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
17	Cyprus	17
18	Slovenia	18
19	New Zealand	19
20	Luxembourg	20
21	Ireland	21
22	Costa Rica	22
23	Thailand	23
24	Poland	24
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better64
Pos.		201964
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
12	Netherlands	3.10
13=	Italy	3.10
14	Israel	3.30
15=	Luxembourg	3.40
15=	Ireland	3.40
17	Portugal	3.50
18=	Greece	3.50
18=	Switzerland	3.50
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better65
Pos.		2023 %65
1	Slovakia	24.1%66
2	Slovenia	24.3%66
3	Belarus	24.4%67
	...
52=	Germany	32.4%67
52=	UK	32.4%66
52=	Nauru	32.4%68
55	Luxembourg	32.7%66
56	India	32.8%66
57=	Greece	32.9%66
57=	Niger	32.9%66
57=	Japan	32.9%69
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₀:

Christian	70.4%
Muslim	2.3%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	26.8%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)₇₁.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems