Luxembourg

Summary

Official Name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Population: 635,000
Principal Languages: French, Standard German
Literacy Rate: 100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: 300
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 16 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Tosk als: Users: 1,330 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Bosnian bos: Users: 2,610 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 2,290 in Luxembourg (2021). Mandarin Chinese and Yue Chinese (Cantonese) [yue]. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Danish dan: Users: 1,940 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
Dutch nld: Users: 5,770 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Widespread. Users: 369,300 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 13,300 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 356,000 (2021). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Anglais, Englesch, Englisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 590,800 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 76,800 in Luxembourg (2021 census). L2 users: 514,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). 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: 457,700 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 19,700 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 438,000 (2021). 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: 1,480 in Luxembourg (2021). 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
Hungarian hun: Users: 1,120 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
Italian ita: Users: 18,400 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kabuverdianu kea: Users: 2,430 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Luxembourgish ltz: Widespread. Users: 416,400 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 330,000 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 86,400 (2021). Total users in all countries: 528,500 (as L1: 442,100; as L2: 86,400). 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
Montenegrin cnr: Users: 1,730 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Polish pol: Users: 2,850 in Luxembourg (2021). 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: 99,700 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Romanian ron: Users: 1,300 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 4,500 in Luxembourg (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 2,010 (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Users: 4,670 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Spanish spa: Scattered. Users: 10,520 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 5,030 in Luxembourg (2021). 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: 1,680 in Luxembourg (2021). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 2). 590,800 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 76,800 in Luxembourg (2021 census). L2 users: 514,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).

German, Standard

[deu] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Articles 2, 4). 457,700 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 19,700 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 438,000 (2021).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 369,300 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 13,300 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 356,000 (2021).

Luxembourgish

[ltz] 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Article 1). 416,400 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 330,000 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 86,400 (2021). Total users in all countries: 528,500 (as L1: 442,100; as L2: 86,400).

Spanish

[spa] 4 (Educational). 10,520 in Luxembourg, all users. L1 users: 5,030 in Luxembourg (2021). L2 users: 5,490 (2019).

5 (Dispersed)

Portuguese

[por] 5* (Dispersed). 99,700 in Luxembourg (2021).

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.

Unestablished

Albanian, Tosk

[als] Unestablished. 1,330 in Luxembourg (2021).

Bosnian

[bos] Unestablished. 2,610 in Luxembourg (2021).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 2,290 in Luxembourg (2021). Mandarin Chinese and Yue Chinese (Cantonese) [yue].

Danish

[dan] Unestablished. 1,940 in Luxembourg (2021).

Dutch

[nld] Unestablished. 5,770 in Luxembourg (2021).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 1,480 in Luxembourg (2021).

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 1,200 in Luxembourg (2017 J. Leclerc).

Hungarian

[hun] Unestablished. 1,120 in Luxembourg (2021).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 18,400 in Luxembourg (2021).

Kabuverdianu

[kea] Unestablished. 2,430 in Luxembourg (2021).

Montenegrin

[cnr] Unestablished. 1,730 in Luxembourg (2021).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 2,850 in Luxembourg (2021).

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 1,300 in Luxembourg (2021).

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 4,500 in Luxembourg (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 2,010 (2021).

Serbian

[srp] Unestablished. 4,670 in Luxembourg (2021).

Swedish

[swe] Unestablished. 1,680 in Luxembourg (2021).

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Luxembourg with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Luxembourg is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Luxembourg with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Luxembourg is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Luxembourg in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Luxembourg ($149.95, 27 page PDF)

Luxembourg

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action