2016 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 coprincipality, 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 EU, Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the organization and uses the euro as its national currency.

Area

468 sq km 468 sq km 0 sq km

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

1,996 m lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m

highest point

Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

mean elevation

1,996 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected 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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

118 km France 55 km, Spain 63 km

border countries (2)

France 55 km, Spain 63 km

total

118 km

Land use

43.4% arable land 5.5%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 37.9% 34% 22.6% (2011 est.)

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

Population - distribution

population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the 7 urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Age structure

14.74% (male 6,476/female 6,151) 9.52% (male 4,236/female 3,915) 47.01% (male 20,614/female 19,651) 13.59% (male 6,229/female 5,412) 15.15% (male 6,566/female 6,410) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

14.74% (male 6,476/female 6,151)

15-24 years

9.52% (male 4,236/female 3,915)

25-54 years

47.01% (male 20,614/female 19,651)

55-64 years

13.59% (male 6,229/female 5,412)

65 years and over

15.15% (male 6,566/female 6,410) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

7.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 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.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2014)

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

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

82.8 years 80.6 years 85.1 years (2016 est.)

female

85.1 years (2016 est.)

male

80.6 years

total population

82.8 years

Major urban areas - population

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

Median age

43.7 years 43.8 years 43.5 years (2016 est.)

female

43.5 years (2016 est.)

male

43.8 years

total

43.7 years

Nationality

Andorran(s) Andorran

adjective

Andorran

noun

Andorran(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.1% (2014)

Physicians density

4 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

85,660 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the 7 urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)

Population growth rate

0.07% (2016 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.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

Sex ratio

1.07 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.15 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

1.15 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Urbanization

85.1% of total population (2015) 0.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Andorra la Vella 42 30 N, 1 31 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

no the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra no 25 years

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 (2016)

Country name

Principality of Andorra Andorra Principat d'Andorra Andorra the origin of the country's name is obscure; since the area served as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century, the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest"

conventional long form

Principality of Andorra

conventional short form

Andorra

etymology

the origin of the country's name is obscure; since the area served as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century, the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest"

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

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

Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016) 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 750-8064 [1] (212) 750-6630

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016)

FAX

[1] (212) 750-6630

telephone

[1] (212) 750-8064

Executive branch

French Coprince Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Thierry LATASTE (since 5 January 2015) and Spanish Coprince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAUN (since 20 July 2012) Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011) Executive Council designated by head of government head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the coprinces 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 Antoni MARTI PETIT (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 79%

cabinet

Executive Council designated by head of government

chief of state

French Coprince Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Thierry LATASTE (since 5 January 2015) and Spanish Coprince 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 coprinces 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 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

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

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain, who are represented in Andorra by the co-princes' representatives

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

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) 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 coprinces, 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 coprinces and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts

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 coprinces, 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 coprinces 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

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

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

"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne) Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first person narrative

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

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

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

$1.029 billion $1.041 billion (2012)

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. Agricultural production is limited - only about 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. 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. 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 - 0.885 (2015 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.78 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 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

14% 79% 6% (2011 est.)

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.) data are in 2012 US dollars

note

data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

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

0.4% 4.7% 94.9% (2010)

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)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

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

83,000 96.9% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

96.9% (July 2015 est.)

total

83,000

Telephone system

modern automatic telephone system modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain (2012)

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

38,850 45 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

45 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

38,850

Telephones - mobile cellular

71,000 83 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

83 (July 2015 est.)

total

71,000

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C3 (2016)

Roadways

320 km (2008)

total

320 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Military branches

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

Disputes - international

none