1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 450 sq km land: 450 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Environment-current issues
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion
Environment-international agreements
party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography-note
landlocked
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total: 125 km border countries: France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 22% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Location
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
snowslides, avalanches
Natural resources
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Terrain
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,819; female 4,474) 15-64 years: 73% (male 25,448; female 22,028) 65 years and over: 13% (male 4,041; female 3,906) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
10.48 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
4.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.45 years male: 80.54 years female: 86.54 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate
9.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
64,716 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.5% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.23 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
7 parishes (parroquies, singular-parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Constitution
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra
Data code
AN
Executive branch
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); note-each coprince is represented by a veguer (French: Jean-Pierre COURTOIS; Spanish: Francesc BADIA Battalla) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994) cabinet: Executive Council designated by the executive council president elections: executive council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote-NA
FAX
[1] (212) 750-6630 Diplomatic representation from the US: 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; FAX: (343) 205-7705; note-Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra
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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
Government type
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
Independence
1278
International organization participation
CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND [Oscar RIBAS Reig]; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU Cassany]; Andorran National Coalition or CNA [Antoni CERQUEDA Gispert]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vincenc MATEU Zamora]; Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra) or PLA [Marc FORNE]; Unio Parroquial d'Ordino or UDO note: there are two other small parties
Legal system
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held February 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party-UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
National capital
Andorra la Vella
National holiday
Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep raising
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
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
none
Economy-overview
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 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 (1992)
Electricity-consumption per capita
NA kWh; note-Andorra exports most of its electricity to France and Spain
Electricity-production
140 million kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1-153.94 (January 1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993)
Exports
total value: $47 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France 49%, Spain 47%
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$1.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$18,000 (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $1 billion (1995) commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain, US 4.2%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA%
Labor force
NA
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.)
Television broadcast stations
0
Televisions
7,000 (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate
0%
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1991 est.) Ports and harbors: none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues
Current issues
Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire between the government and (UNITA) lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when UNITA refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the country. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions and banditry persist. The peace accord provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces and the government. A Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997 and military integration was declared complete in June 1997, although UNITA filled fewer than half of the military positions allocated to the rebels. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996 and all UN military components are scheduled to depart by 30 June 1998 except for through 1998.
Disputes-international
none Introduction