1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 450 sq km land area: 450 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 22% other: 20%
Location
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Note
landlocked
Terrain
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (female 5,503; male 5,985) 15-64 years: 70% (female 21,873; male 24,334) 65 years and over: 12% (female 4,020; male 4,065) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
12.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
NA
Languages
Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.52 years male: 75.65 years female: 81.66 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
NA%
Nationality
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate
21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
65,780 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
2.72% (1995 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Total fertility rate
1.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Capital
Andorra la Vella
Constitution
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Digraph
AN
Diplomatic representation in US
Andorra has no mission in the US
Executive branch
chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); note - COURTOIS is to become French ambassador to Libreville and his replacement has not been announced; Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata (since NA); two permanent delegates (French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE (since 21 December 1994) elected by Parliament, following resignation of Oscar RIBAS Reig cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council president
Flag
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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
General Council of the Valleys
(Consell General de las Valls); elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA
Independence
1278
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases
Legal system
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral
Member of
ECE, IFRCS (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO
Names
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra
National holiday
Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Political parties and leaders
National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA; New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA), Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU; Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE note: there are two other small parties
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a co-principality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers
US diplomatic representation
Andorra is included within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District, and the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically
Economy
Agriculture
sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables
Budget
revenues: $138 million expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Currency
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Economic aid
none
Electricity
capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995), 5,5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 132.61 (January 1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990)
Exports
$30 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France, Spain
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$NA commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $760 million (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$14,000 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union; it is unclear what effect the European Single Market will have on the advantages Andorra obtains from its duty-free status.
Unemployment rate
0%
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
17,700 telephones; digital microwave network local: NA intercity: NA international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Television
broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
total: 96 km paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports
none
Railroads
0 km
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain ________________________________________________________________________ ANGOLA