TOP 20 SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT WORLD'S RICHEST COUNTRY LUXEMBOURG

 

1. - Luxembourg is the richest country in the world by GDP per capita, with an estimated $128,820 in 2023¹. It is also the second-richest country by total wealth, with an estimated $1.4 trillion in 2021.
2. - Luxembourg is the only grand duchy in the world, which means it is ruled by a grand duke or a grand duchess. The current head of state is Grand Duke Henri, who has been reigning since 2000.
3. - Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage in the EU, with €2,202.18 per month as of 2022². It also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, with 5.5% as of 2021².
4. - Luxembourg has the highest rate of car ownership in the world, with an average of 647 car owners for every 1,000 inhabitants¹. It also has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in Europe, with 64 deaths per million inhabitants in 2019.
5. - Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was the first EU leader to marry a same-sex partner in 2015. He wed his partner Gauthier Destenay, a Belgian architect, after Luxembourg legalized same-sex marriage in 2014.
6. - Luxembourg produces award-winning wines, especially sparkling wines made from Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir grapes. The country has about 1,300 hectares of vineyards along the Moselle River and exports about 10% of its wine production.
7. - Luxembourg's national symbol is the red lion, which appears on its flag, coat of arms, and currency. The lion originates from the medieval coat of arms of Count Henry VI of Luxembourg, who became king of Germany in 1308.
8. - Luxembourg's national motto is mir wëllebleiwewatmirsinn, which means "we want to remain what we are" in Luxembourgish. The motto reflects the country's desire to preserve its identity and independence despite being surrounded by larger and more powerful neighbors.
9. - Luxembourg is one of the founding members of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and the Benelux Union. It is also home to several EU institutions, such as the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Investment Bank.
10. - Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world, with a land area of 2,586 square kilometers (998 square miles). It is also one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, with 263 people per square kilometer (681 people per square mile).
11. - Luxembourg is one of the safest countries in the world, with a low crime rate and a high quality of life. It also has only two jails in the entire country, with a total capacity of 800 inmates.
12. - Luxembourg was originally built as a fortress that grew into one of the greatest fortified sites in Europe. It had over 23 kilometers (14 miles) of underground tunnels and galleries, known as the casemates, that could shelter up to 35,000 soldiers and their equipment.
13. - Luxembourg is the only country in the world where an asteroid has been discovered by one of its citizens. In 1930, amateur astronomer Eugène Delporte spotted an asteroid from the Uccle Observatory in Belgium and named it Luxembourg after his homeland.
14. - Luxembourg has the largest wine list in the world at the Restaurant Chiggeri in Luxembourg City. The restaurant has over 2,200 different wines to choose from, and has been recognized by the Guinness World Records since 2008.
15. - Luxembourg is one of the founding members of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement of people across 26 European countries without border checks. The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 in the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, near the borders with France and Germany.
16. - Luxembourg has one of the highest rates of beer consumption in the world, with an average of 79 liters (21 gallons) per person per year. The country has over 12 breweries that produce various types of beer, such as lager, pilsner, ale, and stout.
17. - Luxembourg has one of the most diverse populations in Europe, with nearly half of its residents being foreign-born. The country has people from over 170 different nationalities, and the most common foreign groups are Portuguese, French, Italian, Belgian, and German.
18. - Luxembourg is one of the major financial centers in the world, and a tax haven for many corporations and individuals. The country has over 140 banks and over 13,000 holding companies that benefit from low taxes and high confidentiality.
19. - Luxembourg is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world, with a high percentage of renewable energy sources and a low carbon footprint. The country aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2050.
20. - Luxembourg is one of the most generous countries in the world, with a high level of official development assistance and humanitarian aid. The country spends about 1% of its gross national income on helping developing countries, which is more than twice the UN target of 0.7%.