Luxembourg

Summary

Official Name

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

International Conventions

CDE (1970), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), ECRML (2005), ICCPR (1983), UNCRPD (2011), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

614,000

Principal Languages

French, Standard German

Literacy Rate

100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)

General References

Stephens 1976

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Luxembourg is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 1 is developing, and 1 is vigorous. Also listed are 12 unestablished languages.

Languages

Bosnian bos: Users: 1,960 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 1,720 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Mandarin Chinese and Yue Chinese (Cantonese) [yue]. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Danish dan: Users: 1,460 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
Dutch nld: Users: 4,330 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Widespread. Users: 356,900 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 12,900 in Luxembourg (2019). L2 users: 344,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Anglais, Englesch, Englisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 543,600 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 57,600 in Luxembourg (2011 census). L2 users: 486,000 (2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 2). Alternate Names: Französisch, Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German Sign Language gsg: Scattered. Users: 600 in Luxembourg (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 600 deaf signers (0.1% of general population), most of whom use German Sign Language. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (Gesetzesvorentwurf No. 7142). Alternate Names: DGS, Deutsche Gebärdensprache Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
German, Standard deu: Users: 443,000 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 19,000 in Luxembourg (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 424,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Articles 2, 4). Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch, Däitsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 1,110 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Hindi hin: Users: 1,200 in Luxembourg (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Italian ita: Users: 13,900 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kabuverdianu kea: Users: 3,300 in Luxembourg (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Luxembourgish ltz: Widespread. Users: 402,500 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 319,000 in Luxembourg (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 83,500 (2019). Total users in all countries: 514,600 (as L1: 431,100; as L2: 83,500). Status: 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 1). Alternate Names: Frankish, Letzburgisch, Letzeburgisch, Luxembourgeois, Luxemburgian, Luxemburgish, Moselle Franconian Autonym: Lëtzebuergesch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Moselle Franconian
Polish pol: Users: 2,140 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por: Diekirch district: Diekirch canton; Luxembourg district: Esch-sur-Alzette canton, Luxembourg canton. Users: 74,600 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Russian rus: Users: 4,500 in Luxembourg (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 1,510 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Users: 4,600 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Spanish spa: Scattered. Users: 9,270 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 3,780 in Luxembourg (2011 census). L2 users: 5,490 (2019). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Swedish swe: Users: 1,260 in Luxembourg (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

German, Standard

[deu] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Articles 2, 4). 443,000 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 19,000 in Luxembourg (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 424,000 (European Commission 2012).

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 2). 543,600 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 57,600 in Luxembourg (2011 census). L2 users: 486,000 (2018).

4 (Educational)

Luxembourgish

[ltz] 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 1). 402,500 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 319,000 in Luxembourg (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 83,500 (2019). Total users in all countries: 514,600 (as L1: 431,100; as L2: 83,500).

Spanish

[spa] 4 (Educational). 9,270 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 3,780 in Luxembourg (2011 census). L2 users: 5,490 (2019).

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 356,900 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 12,900 in Luxembourg (2019). L2 users: 344,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Portuguese

[por] 5* (Dispersed). 74,600 in Luxembourg (2011 census).

6a (Vigorous)

German Sign Language

[gsg] 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (Gesetzesvorentwurf No. 7142). 600 in Luxembourg (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 600 deaf signers (0.1% of general population), most of whom use German Sign Language.