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Multicultural Luxembourg
The present-day territory of Luxembourg is situated in a geographic area that has served as a region of encounter between German and French-speaking groups since the Early Middle Ages. The onset of industrialization at the end of the 19th century also marked the beginning of immigration to Luxembourg – which has continued to this day and which has uniquely shaped the country’s society. Linguistic diversity is the distinctive characteristic of Luxembourg and is consciously promoted by an education system that aims for multilingualism. With over 43% of today’s population being non-Luxembourg citizens, French, German, the Luxembourg language (Lëtzebuergesch) and English have become indispensable means of communication. Portuguese citizens – at approximately 15% of the total population – make up the largest share of non-Luxembourg citizens, followed by the French, Italian, Belgian and German communities. With respect to multiculturalism, the more than 130,000 people from the border regions of France, Germany and Belgium who daily commute to Luxembourg for work must be added to the large number of immigrants.
Additional information on Luxembourg’s language situation, on the composition of the population and on immigration can be found in the following brochures:
On the language situation:
http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/luxembourg/a_propos_des_langues/a_propos_des_langues_2008_EN.pdf
The multicultural environment:
http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/luxembourg/apropos_multiculturel/ap_multiculturel_2008_EN.pdf
Ministry for Family Affairs and Integration:
http://www.mfi.public.lu/index.html
Luxembourg Office of Welcome and Integration:
www.olai.public.lu
Website of the Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés (Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers) with residence information:
http://www.bienvenue.lu/index.php?lang=en
Ministry of Labor, Employment and Immigration:
www.mte.public.lu
Ministry for Equal Opportunities:
www.mega.public.lu