2004 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

468 sq km

total

468 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

highest point

Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

lowest point

Riu Runer 840 m

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

Hazardous Wastes

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

total

120.3 km

Land use

arable land

2.22%

other

97.78% (2001)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

avalanches

Natural resources

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Age structure

0-14 years: 15% (male 5,478; female 4,988) 15-64 years: 71.6% (male 26,268; female 23,766) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 4,659; female 4,706) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

9.32 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

86.59 years (2004 est.)

male

80.59 years

total population

83.5 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

100%

Median age

female

39.4 years (2004 est.)

male

40 years

total

39.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Andorran

noun

Andorran(s)

Net migration rate

6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

69,865 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1% (2004 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.09 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.28 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Administrative divisions

7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Capital

Andorra la Vella

Constitution

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Principality of Andorra

conventional short form

Andorra

local long form

Principat d'Andorra

local short form

Andorra

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, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;

telephone

[34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175

Diplomatic representation in the US

PIA-COMELLA

FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V.

telephone

[1] (212) 750-8064

Executive branch

represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)

Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held April-May 2005)

president; percent of General Council vote - NA%

Council president

(since 21 December 1994)

cabinet

Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive

chief of state

French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995),

election results

Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council

elections

Executive Council president elected by the General

head of government

Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne

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

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

Independence

1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

International organization participation

CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

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

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)

2005)

23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, other 2

election results

percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD

elections

last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March-April

National holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Political parties and leaders

Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

(1997)

expenditures

$342 million, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

$385 million

Currency

euro (EUR)

Currency code

EUR

Debt - external

NA

Economic aid - recipient

none

Economy - overview

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 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 - 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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Exports

$58 million f.o.b. (1998)

Exports - commodities

tobacco products, furniture

Exports - partners

Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

NA

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$1.077 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, food, electricity

Imports - partners

Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2000)

Labor force

33,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

0% (1996 est.)

Internet country code

.ad

Internet hosts

4,144 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

24,500 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

16,000 (1997)

Telephone system

between exchanges

Spain

domestic

modern system with microwave radio relay connections

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 376; landline circuits to France and

Telephones - main lines in use

35,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

23,500 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Televisions

27,000 (1997)

Airports

none

Highways

paved

198 km

total

269 km

unpaved

71 km (1994)

Ports and harbors

none

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Military branches

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Angola