Andorra

Introduction Geography People and Society Government Economy Energy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Introduction

Background: The landlocked Principality of Andorra is one of the smallest states in Europe, nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders. 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 Bishop of Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the introduction of a modern, constitution; the co-princes remained as titular heads of state, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Andorra has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately ten million people each year drawn by the winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of its effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment, and engaged in other reforms, such as advancing tax initiatives aimed at supporting a broader infrastructure. Although not a member of the European Union (EU), Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the EU and uses the euro as its national currency.

Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border 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: 118 km
border countries: France 55 km, Spain 63 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: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use: arable land: 5.32%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 94.68% (2011)
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, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

People and Society

Nationality: noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups: Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Population: 85,458 (July 2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 6,708/female 6,379)
15-24 years: 9.2% (male 4,078/female 3,766)
25-54 years: 48.7% (male 21,395/female 20,231)
55-64 years: 12.5% (male 5,756/female 4,957)
65 years and over: 14.3% (male 6,145/female 6,043) (2014 est.)
Median age: total: 42.4 years
male: 42.6 years
female: 42.2 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.17% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: 8.48 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.93% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 23,000 (2011)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.65 years
male: 80.51 years
female: 84.92 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures: 7.2% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density: 3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.2% (2008)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

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 co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Urgell, whose diocese is located in neighboring Spain; both co-princes maintain offices and representatives in Andorra
Capital: name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 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 sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Constitution: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 (2013)
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: French Co-Prince Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Christian FREMONT (since September 2008) and Spanish Coprince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i Oste (since 30 July 2003)
head of government: Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011)
cabinet: Executive Council of nine ministers designated by the Head of Government
elections: Head of Government elected by the General Council (Andorran Parliament) and formally appointed by the co-princes for a four-year term; election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015)
election results: Antoni MARTI PETIT was elected Head of Government; percent of General Council vote - 79%; note - the leader of the party which wins a majority of seats in the General Council is usually elected Head of Government
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (a minimum of 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); note - each voter casts two separate ballots - one for the national list, one for the parish list
elections: last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - DA 55%, PS 35%, Andorra for Change 7%, VA 3%; seats by party - DA 22, PS 6; note - numbers of votes and percentages are for the respective national list; number of seats include seats won by the parish lists
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the co-princes, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates appointed 2 by the co-princes and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to two consecutive 8-year terms
subordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
Political parties and leaders: there are four political parties at the national level:
Andorra for Change or ApC [Eusebio NOMEN CALVET]
Democrats for Andorra or DA [Antoni MARTI PETIT], coalition including Liberal Party (PRA) and Reformist Coalition
Greens of Andorra or VA [Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ]
Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]
note: there are also several smaller parties at the Parish level (one is Lauredian Union)
International organization participation: CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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 Narcis CASAL de Fonsdeviela (since 2 November 2009)
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 US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the latter band is slightly wider than the other two so that the ratio of band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left and proceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection
note: 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
National anthem: name: "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
lyrics/music: Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS
note: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first person narrative

Economy

Economy - overview: Tourism, retail sales, and finance are the mainstays of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounting for more than three-quarters of GDP. Andorra's duty-free status for some products and its summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually, although the economic downturn in neighboring countries has curtailed the number of tourists. Andorra's comparative advantage as a tax haven eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened; its bank secrecy laws have been relaxed under pressure from the EU and OECD. Agricultural production is limited - only 5% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported, making the economy vulnerable to changes in fuel and food prices. The principal livestock is sheep. Manufacturing output and exports consist mainly of perfumes and cosmetic products, products of the printing industry, electrical machinery and equipment, clothing, tobacco products, 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. Andorra uses the euro and is effectively subject to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank. Slower growth in Spain and France has dimmed Andorra's economic prospects. Since 2010, a drop in tourism contributed to a contraction in GDP and a sharp deterioration of public finances, prompting the government to begin implementing several austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit, including levying a special corporate tax. To bring in new revenue and diversify future sources of economic growth, the government approved in July 2012 a new foreign investment law opening investment to foreign capital.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.163 billion (2012 est.)
$3.214 billion (2011 est.)
$3.227 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.8 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -1.6% (2012 est.)
-0.4% (2011 est.)
-1.9% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $37,200 (2011 est.)
$37,700 (2010 est.)
$37,900 (2009 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 14%
industry: 79%
services: 6% (2011 est.)
Agriculture - products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco; sheep, cattle
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 36,060 (2012)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 4.7%
services: 94.9% (2010)
Unemployment rate: 4% (2012 est.)
1.9% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA% (2008)
Budget: revenues: $1.029 billion
expenditures: $1.041 billion (2012)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% of GDP (2012)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.3% of GDP (2012)
Public debt: 41.1% of GDP (2012)
37.7% of GDP (2011)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2012 est.)
-2.5% (2011 est.)
Exports: $70 million (2012 est.)
$72 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities: tobacco products, furniture
Imports: $1.43 billion (2012 est.)
$1.501 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, food, fuel, electricity
Debt - external: $NA
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7778 (2013 est.)
0.7185 (2012 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production: 91.24 million kWh (2011)
Electricity - consumption: 562.4 million kWh (2012)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 520,000 kW
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 61.3% of total installed capacity
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2010)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 23.3% of total installed capacity

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 39,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 65,000 (2012)
Telephone system: general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain (2012)
Broadcast media: 1 public TV station and 2 public radio stations; about 10 commercial radio stations; good reception of radio and TV broadcasts from stations in France and Spain; upgraded to terrestrial digital TV broadcasting in 2007; roughly 25 international TV channels available (2012)
Internet country code: .ad
Internet hosts: 28,383 (2012)
Internet users: 67,100 (2009)

Transportation

Roadways: total: 320 km (2008)

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2011)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 22,390 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 17,977
females age 16-49: 17,069 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 397
female: 347 (2010 est.)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.