Luxembourg - the immigration haven of Europe

Luxembourg City welcomed 635 new Luxembourgers to its fold this year, meanwhile the country has recorded the highest migratory population growth rates in Europe.

Among the 635 new Luxembourgers who can now take a Luxembourg passport, 125 gained dual nationality through naturalisation and 507 by proving a direct parental ancestral link to Luxembourg under the current regulations.

The majority of applicants were Belgian nationals (352) applying for dual nationality, French (156), Portuguese (37) and Italian (24).

High migration rates

The figure reflect a growing migratory trend in the Grand Duchy, which last year recorded the highest population growth from migration in Europe at 18.9 percent. As of January 1, 2013, the total population was recorded at 537,000 people.

Luxembourg's rampant migratory population expansion was well ahead of all other EU28 countries as second place went to Malta with a 7.4 percent growth and Italy with 6.2 percent, according to Eurostat.

Natural growth rates

Altogether, populations increased in 17 member states and decreased in 11.

Natural growth rates, meaning the difference between live births and deaths per 1,000 inhabitants, were also high in Luxembourg, which recorded a 4 percent rise, placing it behind Ireland (9.5 percent) and Cyprus (5.2 percent).