2019 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 8 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 bloc that is governed by various customs and cooperation agreements 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

Highest Point

Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Lowest Point

Riu Runer 840 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

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

Border Countries

France 55 km, Spain 63 km

Total

118 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

40% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

1.7% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

38.3% (2016 est.)

Forest

34% (2016 est.)

Other

26% (2016 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 seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Age Structure

0 14 Years

14.06% (male 6,197 /female 5,856)

15 24 Years

9.78% (male 4,344 /female 4,035)

25 54 Years

45.27% (male 19,813 /female 18,990)

55 64 Years

14.71% (male 6,674 /female 5,935)

65 Years And Over

16.18% (male 7,047 /female 6,817) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

7.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

10.4% (2016)

Death Rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

100% of population

Improved Urban

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population

Education Expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Andorran 48.8%, Spanish 25.1%, Portuguese 12%, French 4.4%, other 9.7% (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

85.3 years

Male

80.7 years

Total Population

82.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

100% (2016)

Male

100%

Total Population

100%

Major Urban Areas Population

23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

44.8 years

Male

45.1 years

Total

44.9 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Andorran

Noun

Andorran(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

25.6% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.33 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

85,708 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.01% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

100% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.08 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.12 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

1.03 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.06 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.41 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

-0.31% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

88% of total population (2019)

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

Amendments

proposed by the coprinces jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the coprinces (2019)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Principality of Andorra

Conventional Short Form

Andorra

Etymology

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

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

Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016)

Fax

[1] (212) 750-6630

Telephone

[1] (212) 750-8064

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Executive Council of 12 ministers designated by the head of government

Chief Of State

Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAURI (since 20 July 2012)

Election Results

Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7%

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 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023); 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) Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)

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 2 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

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 Courts

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 - 2 appointed 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 (religious) 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 - voters cast two separate ballots - one for a national list and one for a parish list

Election Results

percent of vote by party - DA 35.1%, PS 30.6%, L'A 12.5%, Third Way/Lauredian Union 10.4%, other 22.4%; seats by party - DA 11, PS 7, L'A 4, Third Way/Lauredian Union 4, other 2; composition - men 14, women 14, percent of women 50%

Elections

last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS

Name

"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)

National Holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

National Symbol S

red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Democrats for Andorra or DA [Xaviar ESPOT ZAMORA] Social Democratic Party or PS [Vicenc ALFY FERRER] Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Jordi GALLARDO FERNANDEZ] Third Way/Lauredian Union [Josep PINTAT FORNE] Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA] United for the Progress of Andorra or UPA [Alfons CLAVERA ARIZTI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

2.06 billion (2016)

Revenues

1.872 billion (2016)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-6.9% (of GDP) (2016)

Debt External

2016

$0

Economy Overview

Andorra has a developed economy and a free market, with per capita income above the European average and above the level of its neighbors, Spain and France. The country has developed a sophisticated infrastructure including a one-of-a-kind micro-fiber-optic network for the entire country. Tourism, retail sales, and finance comprise more than three-quarters of GDP. Duty-free shopping for some products and the country’s summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually. 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 and the government eased bank secrecy laws under pressure from the EU and OECD.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.To provide incentives for growth and diversification in the economy, the Andorran government began sweeping economic reforms in 2006. The Parliament approved three laws to complement the first phase of economic openness: on companies (October 2007), on business accounting (December 2007), and on foreign investment (April 2008 and June 2012). From 2011 to 2015, the Parliament also approved direct taxes in the form of taxes on corporations, on individual incomes of residents and non-residents, and on capital gains, savings, and economic activities. These regulations aim to establish a transparent, modern, and internationally comparable regulatory framework, in order to attract foreign investment and businesses that offer higher value added.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.7634

2014

0.885

2015

0.9214

2016

0.903

2017

0.885

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exports

2014

$79.57 million

2015

$78.71 million

Exports Commodities

tobacco products, furniture

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

11.9% (2015 est.)

Industry

33.6% (2015 est.)

Services

54.5% (2015 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$2.712 billion (2016 est.) (2016 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2013

$50,300

2014

$51,300

2015

$49,900

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2013

$3.273 billion

2014

$3.363 billion

2015

$3.327 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2013

-0.1%

2014

1.4%

2015

-1.1%

Imports

2014

$1.264 billion

2015

$1.257 billion

Imports Commodities

consumer goods, food, fuel, electricity

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2014

-0.1%

2015

-0.9%

Labor Force

39,750 (2016)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

0.5%

Industry

4.4%

Services

95.1% (2015)

Public Debt

2013

41.4% of GDP

2014

41% of GDP

Taxes And Other Revenues

69% (of GDP) (2016)

Unemployment Rate

2015

4.1%

2016

3.7%

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2016) (2016)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2016) (2016)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2016)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (2016) (2016)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

221.6 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity Exports

6,000 kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

61% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

23% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

15% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity Imports

471.3 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

520,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity Production

99.48 million kWh (2015 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2016) (2016)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2016) (2016)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2016) (2016)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2016) (2016)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (2016)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2016)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

45 (2017 est.)

Total

34,284

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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.ad

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

97.9% (July 2016 est.)

Total

83,887

Telephone System

Domestic

50 per 100 fixed-line, 45 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2019)

General Assessment

modern automatic telephone system; broadband Internet and LTE mobile lines for both consumer and enterprise customers available (2019)

International

country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

50 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

38,411

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

104 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

80,337

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

C3 (2016)

Roadways

320 km (2019)

Military And Security Forces

no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Disputes International

none