Andorra
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.

geography

location

42.30° N, 1. 30° E
Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain

area

468 sq km
land
468 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

118 km

coastline

0 km

climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

elevation

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

natural resources

  • hydropower
  • mineral water
  • timber
  • iron ore
  • lead

land use

arable land
1.7 %
permanent crops
0 %
permanent pasture
38.3 %
forest
34 %
other
26 %

population distribution

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

people

population

  • 77,000
  • 201
    global rank

nationality

  • Andorran(s)
    noun
  • Andorran
    adjective

ethnic groups

Andorran
48.8 %
Spanish
25.1 %
Portuguese
12 %
French
4.4 %
other
9.7 %

languages

  • Catalan
    official
  • French
  • Castilian
  • Portuguese

religions

  • Roman Catholic

birth rate

  • 7
    per 1,000 population
  • 227
    global rank

death rate

  • 7.7
    per 1,000 population
  • 99
    global rank

urban population

87.9 %

major urban areas

  • Andorra La Vella
    pop. 23,000

life expectancy

  • 83
    total population
  • 9
    global rank
80.8
male
85.4
female

adult obesity rate

  • 25.6%
    percent of adults
  • 49
    global rank

government

country name

    conventional

  • Principality of Andorra
    long form
  • Andorra
    short form

    local

  • Principat d'Andorra
    long form
  • Andorra
    short form

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

capital

Andorra la Vella
42.30 N, 1.31 E

independence

national holidays

  • Our Lady of Meritxell Day
    8 September

legal system

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

age of suffrage

18

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

national colors

  • blue
  • yellow
  • red

national anthem

"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)

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.

GDP

3,327,000,000 USD
2015

agriculture products

  • rye
  • wheat
  • barley
  • oats
  • vegetables
  • tobacco
  • sheep
  • cattle

budget

  • 1,872,000,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 2,060,000,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 39,375
    total subscriptions
  • 163
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 82,614
    total subscriptions
  • 196
    global rank

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

.ad
country code

    users

  • 78,483
    total
  • 91.57
    % of population
  • 182
    global rank

energy

electricity access

100%
2016

transportation

air transport

roadways

320 km
total length

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.