For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
Location
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
468 sq km
land
468 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total
120.3 km
border countries
France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Riu Runer 840 m
highest point
Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use
arable land
2.13%
permanent crops
0%
other
97.87% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
avalanches
Environment - current issues
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees
Population
71,822 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
14.5% (male 5,433/female 4,984)
15-64 years
71.2% (male 26,775/female 24,354)
65 years and over
14.3% (male 5,074/female 5,202) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
41.5 years
male
41.8 years
female
41.3 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.842% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
8.45 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
6.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.099 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.975 male(s)/female
total population
1.079 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male
4.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female
3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
83.52 years
male
80.62 years
female
86.62 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.31 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Andorran(s)
adjective
Andorran
Ethnic groups
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
Religions
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Literacy
definition
NA
total population
100%
male
100%
female
100%
Country name
conventional long form
Principality of Andorra
conventional short form
Andorra
local long form
Principat d'Andorra
local short form
Andorra
Government type
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives
Capital
name
Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 1 30 E
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence
1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel)
National holiday
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Constitution
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
Legal system
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002) and Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)
head of government
Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005)
cabinet
Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president
elections
Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held in April-May 2009)
election results
Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA
Legislative branch
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 April 2005 (next to be held in March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2
Judicial branch
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional
Political parties and leaders
Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD); Century 21 or S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA] (formerly Liberal Union or UL); Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY] (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND)
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Julian VILA COMA
chancery
2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 750-8064
FAX
[1] (212) 750-6630
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (3) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (3) 205-5206
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem
Economy - overview
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.77 billion (2005)
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA
GDP - real growth rate
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$38,800 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
NA%
industry
NA%
services
NA%
Labor force
42,420 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
0.3%
industry
20.3%
services
79.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate
0% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2005)
Budget
revenues
$333.5 million
expenditures
$386.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005)
