While Luxembourg’s population recently surpassed 670,000, a significant number of Luxembourg nationals live abroad.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC), just over 137,000 Luxembourg nationals were living abroad as of 1 January 2024.
Europe remains the most popular destination for Luxembourg expatriates. France tops the list with 32,925 residents, followed by Belgium with 27,212 and Germany with 20,466, as noted in STATEC’s latest demographic report. Officially, Portugal hosts a smaller Luxembourg community, with 1,134 nationals.
Read also: Demographic breakdown: Luxembourg’s population reaches 672,050 as of 1 January 2024
Outside of Europe, the largest Luxembourg communities can be found across the Atlantic. Brazil is home to over 27,000 Luxembourg nationals, and nearly 15,000 live in the United States. The number of Luxembourg nationals in Brazil has surged 4.3 times over the past five years, while the population in the United States has nearly tripled. According to STATEC, this growth is largely due to Luxembourg citizenship recovery initiatives that allow descendants of Luxembourg nationals from 1 January 1900 to reclaim their heritage.
In Africa, Cape Verde (94) and South Africa (69) have the largest Luxembourg communities. In Asia, the United Arab Emirates hosts 180 nationals, while Thailand has 111. Oceania, meanwhile, counts 320 Luxembourg nationals across all countries.
STATEC notes a steady increase in the number of Luxembourg nationals living abroad, with a rise of 68.5% from 2020 to 2024. While many Luxembourgers move to neighbouring countries, others have obtained Luxembourg citizenship while residing far from its borders.
