1996 Edition

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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center

Location

42 30 N, 1 30 E -- Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Flag ----

Area

comparative area

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

450 sq km

total area

450 sq km

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

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

snowslides, avalanches

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Geographic note

landlocked

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

France 60 km, Spain 65 km

total

125 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forest and woodland

22%

meadows and pastures

56%

other

20%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

highest point

Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

lowest point

Riu Valira 840 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 16% (male 5,829; female 5,851) 15-64 years: 73% (male 28,724; female 24,757) 65 years and over: 11% (male 3,718; female 3,887) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

10.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

2.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%

Infant mortality rate

2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian

Life expectancy at birth

female

95.2 years (1996 est.)

male

86.47 years

total population

90.94 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Andorran

noun

Andorran(s)

Net migration rate

22.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

72,766 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.96% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Sex ratio

all ages

1.11 male(s)/female

at birth

0.96 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Data code

AN

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission

Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN)

embassy

2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017

telephone

(212) 750-8064

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council was designated by the executive council president

chiefs of state

French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); each coprince is represented by a veguer (current names NA)

head of government

Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994) was elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces

FAX

(212) 750-6630

(343) 205-7705; note - Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra

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 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) AND 8, UL 5, ND 5, CNA 2, IDN 2, other 6

Independence

1,278

International organization participation

CE, ECE, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, WIPO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the co-princes alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases; Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases, presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council

Legal system

based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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 of government

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; 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

the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (343) 280-2227;

Agriculture

small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep raising

Budget

expenditures

$177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)

revenues

$138 million

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used

Economic aid

none

Economic overview

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do 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. 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 "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 and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

Electricity

capacity

35,000 kW

consumption per capita

2,570 kWh (1992)

production

140 million kWh

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)

Exports

$46.2 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

electricity, tobacco products, furniture

partners

France 35%, Spain 59%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$16,200 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$920.2 million (1993)

commodities

consumer goods, food

partners

France, Spain, US 2.6% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Unemployment rate

0%

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

10,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges

international

landline circuits to France and Spain

Telephones

21,258 (1983 est.)

Televisions

7,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

none

Highways

paved

198 km

total

269 km

unpaved

71 km (1991 est.)

Ports

none

Railways

0 km