Without naturalisation reforms, fewer than half of Luxembourg residents would have the right to vote, according to a new study.

A new study based on the 2021 STATEC census, in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), has found that, without the option to obtain citizenship through naturalisation, the right to vote would be restricted to less than half of the population.

Further reading: 2021 census reveals almost half of residents lack Luxembourg citizenship

Just under half of Luxembourg's residents were born in the Grand Duchy, while the number of Luxembourgers with at least one parent born in the country has dropped by almost 10% from one census to the next. According to the 2021 report, this number is now 37%, down from just under 47%.

In the same time period, however, the number of first-generation Luxembourgers has increased significantly, notably due to 2017 reforms which made it possible for foreign nationals to acquire citizenship following a minimum of five years' residence.

Louis Chauvel, a researcher at the University of Luxembourg, explained: "We have a country which, through migration, has been able to absorb a number of immigrants who were able to vote in the most recent elections through their attachment to the country. This certainly ensures a strong stability for our democracy."

Researchers also observed the number of people who take on citizenship after five years. Almost 60% of foreign residents are eligible for Luxembourgish nationality due to fulfilling the residence clause, yet have declined to apply.

LISER's Aleksandra Szymanska explained that this number is primarily made up of EU citizens: "It is an individual decision, so it is hard for us to accurately estimate, but we see that among residents from countries outside of Europe, the proportion of eligible people who have not applied for citizenship is significantly lower than EU citizens, around 30%. This means the option for citizenship is more likely to be used by people who are forced to obtain Luxembourg nationality in order to stay in the country for a longer period of time."

This dynamic illustrates the nuanced choices individuals make in the context of European mobility and residency rights.