Market research in Luxembourg: we’re here to help

IntoTheMinds has been conducting market research in Luxembourg for more than 20 years. To achieve this, we rely on our expertise in panel surveys and qualitative studies. However, the success of a study also depends on the use of secondary data, i.e. data accessible through desk research. This article lists the best data sources currently available to successfully carry out your market research project in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

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Why does Luxembourg require a specific approach?

The Luxembourg market has characteristics that clearly distinguish it from other European markets:

• Highest GDP per capita in the European Union
• Economy structured around finance, logistics, technology, and industry
• Cross-border dimension: a significant share of the workforce consists of employees residing in Belgium, France, and Germany

These specificities have a direct impact on the methodology of a market study in Luxembourg: generic sources are not sufficient. Data must be collected from institutions that understand this context in detail.

IntoTheMinds has been supporting companies in their market research projects in Luxembourg for over 20 years. This field experience has made it possible to identify the most reliable and relevant sources depending on sectors and analytical objectives. The 10 sources presented below are those systematically used in our projects. We also present below a brand awareness study project we conducted for a client by analysing data from Luxembourg and its three neighbouring countries.

What you can expect from these sources

Each source presented in this article addresses a specific need in building a market study. Some support macroeconomic framing (STATEC, Eurostat), others are used for competitive analysis (LBR, Central Balance Sheet Office), while others provide sector-specific intelligence (CSSF for finance, ILR for regulated markets, Housing Observatory for real estate). The summary table at the end of the article consolidates these uses.

The 10 best data sources for your market study in Luxembourg

The sources below are classified according to their use in the successive stages of a market study: macro framing, competitive analysis, consumer understanding, regulatory framework, and sector-specific data.

1. STATEC and the official statistics portal

The Luxembourg official statistics portal is the essential entry point for any market study in Luxembourg. Managed by STATEC (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), it brings together official data on population, employment, prices, businesses, territory, and the environment.

For macroeconomic framing, this is the first source to consult. Regular economic reports allow tracking Luxembourg’s economic evolution and identifying ongoing sectoral dynamics. Municipal-level demographic data helps define catchment areas or size local markets.

Since April 2022, STATEC also provides LUSTAT (lustat.statec.lu), a database with an API that allows extraction of detailed time series and automation of analytical dashboards. For projects requiring continuous data monitoring, this interface offers significant time savings.

2. The Open Data portal (data.public.lu)

data.public.lu centralises reusable datasets produced by the Luxembourg public sector. It aggregates data from STATEC, the General Inspectorate of Social Security (IGSS), ILR, and many other public contributors.

Its added value compared to the STATEC portal lies in two aspects. First, geolocated data at municipal level: for location studies or catchment analysis, this level of granularity is often decisive. Second, the ability to cross datasets from different sources, enabling analytical perspectives that would not be accessible through a single institution.

3. Luxembourg Business Registers (RCS, RESA, RBE)

The Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR) manage three complementary registers that form the foundation of competitive analysis in any B2B market study in Luxembourg:

• RCS (Trade and Companies Register): company identification, incorporation documents, registration data
• RESA (Electronic Register of Companies and Associations): electronic publication of legal acts and annual accounts
• RBE (Register of Beneficial Owners): identification of individuals exercising effective control over entities

Search is free by company name, registration number, or VAT number. For market studies, these registers are used to list sector players, verify ownership structures of competitors or potential partners, and support the due diligence phase. In B2B contexts, they also help build qualified prospect lists.

To these three registers is added Guichet.lu, which details legal procedures, establishment authorisations, tax frameworks, and administrative requirements for companies in Luxembourg. It is a key source for analysing market entry barriers.

4. The Central Balance Sheet Office

Managed by STATEC, the Central Balance Sheet Office archives and publishes financial statements of Luxembourg companies and traders who file annual accounts. Combined with LBR data, it enables financial benchmarking of competitors, calculation of profitability ratios, and assessment of the overall economic health of a sector.

For any market study assessing sector attractiveness in Luxembourg, analysing financial statements is considered a non-negotiable step by the IntoTheMinds team. It provides objective insights into real market profitability, beyond sector narratives.

5. Eurostat

Eurostat provides harmonised European data that makes it possible to position Luxembourg in relation to its neighbouring countries and other economies of the European Union. For market research, this comparative dimension is valuable in two ways.

On the one hand, it enables international benchmarking: a price, penetration rate, or purchasing behaviour observed in Luxembourg takes on a different meaning when compared with European averages. On the other hand, Eurostat is essential for analysis at the level of the Greater Region (Luxembourg, Saarland, Lorraine, Rhineland-Palatinate, Wallonia), which forms a coherent economic area for many companies operating from the Grand Duchy.

6. IGSS and cross-border worker data

The General Inspectorate of Social Security (IGSS) publishes, notably via the Open Data portal, data on insured employees, cross-border workers, healthcare expenditure, and pensions. These data are particularly useful for two types of analysis.

For socio-professional segmentation in a B2C market, IGSS data makes it possible to distinguish between the resident population and the cross-border workforce, two segments with often very different consumption behaviours. For studies in the healthcare or personal services sectors, data on expenditure and affiliations provide a quantitative framework that is otherwise difficult to obtain.

7. CSSF and specialised financial data sources

For any market study in the Luxembourg financial sector, four sources must be used jointly:

• CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier): statistics on banks, investment funds, PSFs and fintechs, lists of authorised entities
• ALFI (Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry): statistics on assets under management, ESG trends, asset management product benchmarks
• ABBL: data on banking employment, activity, and financial centre trends
• Luxembourg for Finance: consolidated studies on the state of the sector and the attractiveness of the financial centre

Luxembourg is home to one of the largest investment fund centres in the world. To map regulated actors, size a market segment, or analyse regulatory trends, these four sources are complementary and cover different angles of the same ecosystem.

For the insurance market, the Insurance Supervisory Authority (CAA) and the ACA publish key sector indicators. The ACA regularly publishes data on total premium income, illustrating the scale of this segment in the Luxembourg insurance market.

8. ILR and regulated markets

The Luxembourg Institute of Regulation (ILR) publishes statistics on regulated markets: telecommunications, energy, water, postal services, and rail transport. These data are based on information collected directly from operators active in each market, which ensures a high level of accuracy.

For a market study in one of these sectors, the ILR allows analysis of market shares, pricing levels, and competitive structure. In the energy sector, this source is usefully complemented by myenergy.lu, which provides details on regulations, news, and energy indicators for individuals, municipalities, and businesses in Luxembourg.

9. The Housing Observatory and the real estate market

The Housing Observatory, a service of the Ministry of Housing created in 2003 and developed in collaboration with LISER, publishes sale prices and rents by municipality and district in Luxembourg.

A methodological nuance should be noted: statistics based on listings reflect asking prices before negotiation, not actual transaction prices, which are derived from notarial deeds. For site selection studies, feasibility analyses, or market research in construction and housing, this distinction is important for correct interpretation of the data.

10. Luxinnovation, the Chamber of Commerce, and complementary sector sources

Several sources cover specific segments of the Luxembourg market with a level of detail that general portals do not reach.

• Luxinnovation: sector clusters (ICT, space, health, cleantech, automotive, logistics), R&D ecosystem, identification of emerging actors and startups
• Chamber of Commerce: economic opinions, sector analyses, business confidence indicators
• Chamber of Trades: data on crafts, SMEs, and business creation, useful for construction and local services markets
• ADEM: labour market statistics (job seekers, vacancies, sector data), used to assess labour availability
• LISER (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research): research on labour markets, mobility, living conditions, and territorial development, useful for socio-demographic segmentation
• Health Portal: health policy, regulated professions, health legislation
• Food Safety: legislation, consumer and industry data (complemented by EFSA regulations)
• Customs and Excise: trade agreements, customs regulations, cross-border logistics (particularly useful for the “L” dimension of a PESTEL analysis)
• ULC (Consumers’ Union): product and service comparisons, sector analyses, Konsument magazine

Summary table of data sources for market research in Luxembourg

The table below summarises the 10 categories of sources presented in this article, along with their main use in the context of market research in Luxembourg.

How to combine these sources in your market research?

The quality of market research in Luxembourg does not depend on the number of sources consulted, but on how they are integrated with each other. A common mistake is to treat each source in isolation, without cross-referencing data to produce a coherent analysis.

The recommended approach follows a three-step logic.

1. Macroeconomic framing: STATEC, Eurostat and Open Data sources make it possible to size the market, identify underlying trends and position Luxembourg within its European context. This framing directly feeds into PESTEL analysis, particularly the economic, social and environmental dimensions.
2. Competitive analysis: LBR, the Central Balance Sheet Office and, depending on the sector, CSSF or ILR, allow mapping of existing players, assessing their financial health and identifying dominant positions. For B2B market research in Luxembourg, this phase is often the most decisive in evaluating the real attractiveness of a sector.
3. Behavioural and demand analysis: ULC, IGSS, LISER and specialised sector sources help understand the expectations of consumers or professional clients, identify underserved segments and refine positioning. At this stage, secondary data often needs to be complemented with primary research (interviews, surveys, satisfaction studies) to obtain insights that official sources cannot provide.

Also worth consulting

• Top 10 data sources in France
• Top 10 data sources in Belgium
• Top 10 data sources in Switzerland
• Top 10 data sources in Germany
• Top 10 data sources in the United Kingdom
• Top 10 data sources in Italy
• Top 10 data sources in Spain
• Top 10 data sources in Portugal
• Top 10 data sources in the Netherlands
• Top 10 data sources in the European Union

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

How much does market research cost in Luxembourg?

The cost of market research in Luxembourg varies depending on the depth of analysis, the chosen methodology and the sectors covered. A study based solely on secondary sources (official data, registers, sector reports) is less expensive than a study combining secondary data with primary research (interviews, surveys, satisfaction studies). To get a quote tailored to your project, contact the IntoTheMinds team.

What is the difference between B2B and B2C market research in Luxembourg?

A B2B market research study in Luxembourg relies primarily on company registers (LBR), the Central Balance Sheet Office and sector-specific sources to analyse players, their financial health and purchasing potential. A B2C market research study in Luxembourg relies more on STATEC demographic data, IGSS data on cross-border workers and ULC analyses of consumer behaviour. The cross-border dimension is a distinctive factor in both cases.

Should you hire a specialised consultancy for market research in Luxembourg?

Official data sources are freely accessible, but their use requires a deep understanding of the Luxembourg context and a rigorous methodology. A specialised consultancy provides the ability to cross-reference sources, interpret data within its sectoral and geographical context, and complement secondary analysis with primary research. IntoTheMinds has been conducting market research in Luxembourg for many years and has strong expertise in its specificities.

How to perform a PESTEL analysis for the Luxembourg market?

A PESTEL analysis in Luxembourg draws on several sources depending on the dimension: STATEC and Eurostat for economic and social aspects, Guichet.lu and customs for legal and regulatory aspects, ILR and myenergy.lu for technological and environmental aspects, and the Chamber of Commerce for political and economic aspects. The customs portal (douanes.public.lu) is particularly useful for the “L” (legal) dimension of PESTEL analysis, especially for import/export businesses.

Which sources should be used for brand awareness or satisfaction surveys in Luxembourg?

Secondary data (STATEC, IGSS, ULC) provides a reference framework, but a brand awareness survey or a customer satisfaction survey in Luxembourg requires primary data collection from target populations. The specific nature of the Luxembourg market (multilingual environment, high share of foreign residents and cross-border workers) requires adapting questionnaires and collection channels to ensure representative results.

Are there specific data sources for the Luxembourg financial sector?

Yes. The Luxembourg financial sector has particularly rich dedicated sources: CSSF for regulated entities (banks, funds, PSF, fintech), ALFI for investment fund statistics and assets under management, ABBL for banking sector data, and Luxembourg for Finance for consolidated analyses. For the insurance market, CAA and ACA provide detailed sector data. These sources are essential for any market research in financial services in Luxembourg.