2015 Edition

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 10 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.

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

Pic de 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

Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

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

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

France 55 km, Spain 63 km

total

118 km

Land use

arable land 5.5%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 37.9%

agricultural land

43.4%

forest

34%

other

22.6% (2011 est.)

Location

Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border 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

15.04% (male 6,598/female 6,269)

15-24 years

9.42% (male 4,182/female 3,880)

25-54 years

47.78% (male 20,980/female 19,910)

55-64 years

13.05% (male 5,996/female 5,176)

65 years and over

14.71% (male 6,357/female 6,232) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

8.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Andorran 49%, Spanish 24.6%, Portuguese 14.3%, French 3.9%, other 8.2% (2012 est.)

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

3.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.02 years (2015 est.)

male

80.56 years

total population

82.72 years

Major urban areas - population

ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 23,000 (2014)

Median age

female

42.8 years (2015 est.)

male

43.2 years

total

43 years

Nationality

adjective

Andorran

noun

Andorran(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.1% (2014)

Physicians density

4 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

85,580 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.12% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.16 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.02 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

85.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 31 E

name

Andorra la Vella

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

25 years

Constitution

drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 (2015)

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 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

assador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 22 September 2015)

FAX

[1] (212) 750-6630

telephone

[1] (212) 750-8064

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council designated by Head of Government

chief of state

French Co-prince Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Thierry LATASTE (since 5 January 2015) and Spanish Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAUN (since 20 July 2012)

election results

Antoni MARTI PETIT (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 79%

elections/appointments

head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; election last held on 31 March 2015 (next to be held in April 2019); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government

head of government

Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011)

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

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

Independence

1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

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 2 consecutive 8-year terms

subordinate courts

Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (a minimum of 28 seats; 14 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies (parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - each voter casts two separate ballots - one for a national list and one for a parish list

election results

seats by party - percent of vote by party: DA 34.5%, PLA 25.0%, PS-VA-IC-independent coalition 21.3%, SDP 9.6%, invalid votes 9.5%; seats by party: DA 15, PLA 8, PS-VA-IC-independent coalition 3, SDP 2

elections

last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in April 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS

name

"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)

note

adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first person narrative

National holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

National symbol(s)

national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Citizens' Initiative or IC [Sergi RICART] (including PS, VA, IC, and independents)

Democrats for Andorra or DA [Antoni MARTI PETIT]

Greens of Andorra or VA [Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ, Juli FERNANDEZ BLASI]

Liberal Party or PLA [Josep PINTAT FORNE]

Social Democratic Party or PS [Vincenc ALAY FERRER]

Social Democratic Progress Party or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA]

note

there are also several smaller parties at the Parish level (one is Lauredian Union)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.041 billion (2012)

revenues

$1.029 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.3% of GDP (2012)

Debt - external

$NA

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. The Government is also planning to institute an income tax at the behest of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The new tax will apply to anyone who lives in the principality for at least 183 days in a calendar year. The first $30,000 of income will be tax free, with the next $20,000 taxed at 5%. The balance of income exceeding the initial $50,000 will be taxed at 10%, which is still less than in most West European countries. Andorra’s Government also relaxed its residency and investment laws in 2012 to make the country more attractive to foreign investors. A person now must spend 90 days a year in the principality to qualify for residency, compared with the previous 180-day requirement. Foreigners now have the same property ownership rights as citizens. In addition, three new categories of residency permits were introduced. Anyone who is retired or at least not working in Andorra can obtain a permit in the first category by making a financial investment in the country of at least €400,000, which can include a property purchase.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.75 (2014 est.)

0.76 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.72 (2011 est.)

0.76 (2010 est.)

Exports

$70 million (2012 est.)

$72 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco products, furniture

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

14%

industry

79%

services

6% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,200 (2011 est.)

$37,700 (2010 est.)

$37,900 (2009 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-1.6% (2012 est.)

-0.4% (2011 est.)

-1.9% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.8 billion (2012 est.)

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.43 billion (2012 est.)

$1.501 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, food, fuel, electricity

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2012 est.)

-2.5% (2011 est.)

Labor force

36,060 (2012)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

0.4%

industry

4.7%

services

94.9% (2010)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

41.1% of GDP (2012)

37.7% of GDP (2011)

Taxes and other revenues

21.4% of GDP (2012)

Unemployment rate

4% (2012 est.)

1.9% (2011 est.)

Electricity - consumption

562.4 million kWh (2012)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

61.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

23.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

520,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

91.24 million kWh (2011)

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 users

percent of population

89.3% (2014 est.)

total

76,300

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 0 (easy access to radio and television broadcasts originating in France and Spain) (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges

general assessment

modern automatic telephone system

international

country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain (2012)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

45 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

38,200

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

78 (2014 est.)

total

66,200

Television broadcast stations

1 (2009)

Roadways

total

320 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

22,390 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

17,069 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

17,977

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

347 (2010 est.)

male

397

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Military branches

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2011)

Disputes - international

none