Nationalities
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of residents are Luxembourgers and 47.2% are foreigners. Among the Luxembourgers, 18% have a second nationality.
52.8 %
An increasingly cosmopolitan population
Since the 2011 census, the foreign population has increased by almost 38% to reach, on 8 November 2021, 304,051 people representing 47.2% of the total population. People from EU-27 countries make up 38.2% of the resident population and almost 80.9% of the foreign population living in the Grand Duchy. The Portuguese nationality is the 1st foreign nationality in the country with 93,659 persons (14.5% of the total population).
The increase in the number of Luxembourgers is much less pronounced. On 8 November 2021, there were 339,890 people with Luxembourg nationality, an increase of 16.5% compared with 2011. Luxembourgers by birth represent 50.7% of the population of the Grand Duchy.
Among Luxembourgers, the share of men is lower than that of women at 49.2%. Conversely, for foreigners, the share of men is slightly higher (51.6%) than that of women.
Luxembourg and foreign population on 8 November 2021
| Nationality | Number | Percentage | |||||
| Men | Women | Total | Men | Women | Total | ||
| Luxembourgish | 167 333 | 172 557 | 339 890 | 51.6% | 54.0% | 52.8% | |
| Foreign | 157 022 | 147 029 | 304 051 | 48.4% | 46.0% | 47.2% | |
| Foreign nationality indicated | 156 824 | 146 887 | 303 711 | 48.3% | 46.0% | 47.2% | |
| Foreign nationality not indicated | 90 | 67 | 157 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| Stateless | 108 | 75 | 183 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| Total | 324 355 | 319 586 | 643 941 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
A wide range of nationalities
Around 180 nationalities were present on 8 November 2021. Among the ten most numerous foreign nationalities in the Grand Duchy, eight are EU-27 nationalities: the Portuguese come first (14.5% of the total population), followed by the French (7.6%), the Italians (3.7%), the Belgians (3.1%), the Germans (2.0%), the Spanish (1.3%), the Romanians (1.0%) and finally the Poles (0.8%). The last two nationalities in the top ten are non-European: the British (0.7%) and the Chinese (0.6%).
Population share by continent as of 8 November 2021
| Nationality | Number of people | Share in total population | Share in the foreign population | |
| Total | 643 941 | |||
| Luxembourg | 339 890 | 52.8% | ||
| Other EU-27 Member State | 245 906 | 38.2% | 80.9% | |
| Portugal | 93 659 | 14.5% | 30.8% | |
| France | 49 071 | 7.6% | 16.1% | |
| Italy | 23 881 | 3.7% | 7.9% | |
| Belgium | 19 692 | 3.1% | 6.5% | |
| Germany | 12 906 | 2.0% | 4.2% | |
| Spain | 8 477 | 1.3% | 2.8% | |
| Romania | 6 284 | 1.0% | 2.1% | |
| Poland | 4 977 | 0.8% | 1.6% | |
| Other European country | 18 844 | 2.9% | 6.2% | |
| United Kingdom | 4 289 | 0.7% | 1.4% | |
| Asian countries | 17 420 | 2.7% | 5.7% | |
| China | 4 130 | 0.6% | 1.4% | |
| African countries | 13 554 | 2.1% | 4.5% | |
| Cape Verde | 2 562 | 0.4% | 0.8% | |
| Caribbean, South or Central American countries | 4 962 | 0.8% | 1.6% | |
| Brazil | 2 859 | 0.4% | 0.9% | |
| North American countries | 2 780 | 0.4% | 0.9% | |
| United States of America | 2 196 | 0.3% | 0.7% | |
| Oceania countries | 245 | 0.0% | 0.1% | |
| Stateless | 183 | 0.0% | 0.1% | |
| not indicated | 157 | 0.0% | 0.1% | |
Nationality by age
The average age of the population of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is 39.7 years. However, there are significant differences between Luxembourgers and foreigners, on the one hand, and among foreigners on the other. Indeed, the average age of Luxembourgers is higher than that of foreigners: 41.3 years compared to 37.9 years, i.e., a difference of 3.4 years (6.0 years in 2011).
By superimposing the age pyramid of foreigners and Luxembourgers, we observe first of all that the proportion of foreigners decreases between the ages of 0 and 24 (47.6% of foreigners among 0-4 year olds and 34.8% among 20-24 year olds). Secondly, in the 25-54 age group, the foreign population is over-represented in relation to the Luxembourg population. This clearly shows that immigration to Luxembourg is mainly due to professional reasons.
Older people are not very present in the foreign population, except among a few nationalities: for example, among Germans, Belgians, and Italians, about 17% of whom are aged 65 and over. In contrast, 44.4% of Syrians are under 20 years of age.
- Nationality
- Luxembourgers
- Foreigners
An increasingly diversified population
Between the 2011 and 2021 population censuses, the population increased by 131 588 people (+25.7%). Over the last ten years, the number of Luxembourgers has grown more slowly than the number of foreigners: from 291 831 in 2011 to 339 890 in 2021 (+16.5%). This increase is exclusively due to the increased acquisition of Luxembourg nationality following the 2008 law, which came into force on 1st January 2009, facilitating naturalisation procedures and the recovery of nationality.
Positive evolution of foreign nationalities between 2011 and 2021 (in %)
Negative evolution of foreign nationalities between 2011 and 2021 (in%)
18% of Luxembourgers have a second nationality
On 8 November 2021, 573 629 people had a single nationality, 67 594 two nationalities, 2 690 three nationalities and 28 four nationalities. Of those with more than one nationality, 87.0% had Luxembourg nationality and at least one other foreign nationality (61 207 persons).
| Second Nationality | Number | Percentage | |
| Other EU-27 country | 46 216 | 75.5% | |
| Portugal | 15 510 | 25.3% | |
| France | 8 884 | 14.5% | |
| Italy | 5 047 | 8.2% | |
| Belgium | 4 773 | 7.8% | |
| Germany | 3 819 | 6.2% | |
| Other European country | 8 281 | 13.5% | |
| Republic of Montenegro | 2 698 | 4.4% | |
| United Kingdom | 2 343 | 3.8% | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 400 | 2.3% | |
| Republic of Serbia | 1 218 | 2.0% | |
| Kosovo | 843 | 1.4% | |
| African country | 2 828 | 4.6% | |
| Caoe Verde | 1 118 | 1.8% | |
| Asian country | 2 257 | 3.7% | |
| Chine | 447 | 0.7% | |
| American country | 1 584 | 2.6% | |
| Brazil | 597 | 1.0% | |
| United States of America | 450 | 0.7% | |
| Oceania country | 41 | 0.1% | |
| Total | 61 207 | 100.0% | |
6 out of 10 residents are Luxembourgers
and/or born in the Grand Duchy
13.9% of foreign nationals residing in Luxembourg were born in Luxembourg, while 16.4% of Luxembourgers residing in the Grand Duchy were born outside Luxembourg (9.9% in 2011).
Country of birth by nationality
| Country of birth | Luxembourgish women | Foreign women | Total |
| Luxembourg | 83.6% | 13.9% | 50.7% |
| Foreign country | 16.4% | 86.1% | 49.3% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
The geographical distribution of foreign communities
Below is a series of maps illustrating the distribution by municipality of the most represented foreign populations in Luxembourg.
The geographical distribution of the French, Belgian and German communities is strongly linked to neighbouring countries. As for the Portuguese, their share of the population is particularly important in the municipalities located in the north-east and south-west of the country. The presence of Italians is concentrated in the city of Luxembourg and the neighbouring municipalities, as well as in the municipalities in the south-west of the country.
- Portuguese
- French
- Italians
- Belgians
- Germans
Find out more about the nationalities of Luxembourg, from the 2021 census
News
More results
In the coming months, various publications will be produced for the public, but also for the public specialised in demographic issues. At the same time, statistical tables on the various census topics will be published on the Statistics Portal.
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Census results are essential information for public policy decision-making.
Census data help to forecast needs for land use planning, schools, nurseries, hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, housing, etc.
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