Andorra

Andorra

Introduction

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 Seu d’Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. For decades Andorra enjoyed its status as a small refuge of fiscal and banking freedom and benefitted from Spanish and French tourists attracted to the country’s duty-free shopping. The situation has changed in recent years as Andorra started to tax foreign investment and other sectors. Tourism accounts for over 80% of Andorra’s gross domestic product.

Geography

Location

Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 468 sq km
country comparison to the world: 195 land:468 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 120.3 km
border countries:France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

temperate

snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Elevation extremes

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: 2.13%
permanent crops:0%
other:97.87% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

avalanches

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

Geography – note

landlocked

straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Andorran(s)
adjective:Andorran

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Population

84,825 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 6,799/female 6,440)
15-64 years:71.4% (male 31,545/female 29,037)
65 years and over:13% (male 5,502/female 5,502) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 40.5 years
male:40.8 years
female:40.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.33% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Birth rate

9.66 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Death rate

6.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Urbanization

urban population: 88% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 25,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.99 male(s)/female
total population:1.07 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 204 male:3.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.43 years
country comparison to the world: 4 male:80.35 years
female:84.64 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.35 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Health expenditures

7.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61

Physicians density

3.716 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 19

Hospital bed density

2.62 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 85

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 122

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:100%
male:100%
female:100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:11 years
female:12 years (2008)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form:Andorra
local long form:Principat d’Andorra
local short form:Andorra

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 Seu d’Urgell, Spain, who are represented in Andorra by the coprinces’ representatives

Capital

name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates:42 30 N, 1 31 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

7 parishes (parroquies, singular – parroquia)

Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence

1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Seu d’Urgel)

National holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Constitution

Andorra’s first written constitution was drafted in 1991

approved by referendum 14 March 1993

effective 28 April 1993

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)

represented by Christian FREMONT (since September 2008) and Spanish Coprince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003)

represented by Nemesi MARQUES i Oste (since 30 July 2003)
head of government:Executive Council President (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011)
cabinet:Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:Executive Council president elected by the General Council (Andorran Parliament) and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term

election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015)
election results:Antoni MARTI PETIT was elected Executive Council president

percent of General Council vote – NA

note – the leader of the party which wins a majority of seats in the General Council is usually elected president

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28-42 seats

members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes

to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – DA 55%, PS 35%, Andorra for Change 7%, Andorran Green 3%

seats by party – DA 20, PS 6, Lauredian Union 2
note:under usual circumstances, the next election would have been held in 2013, but because the General Council was unable to pass important laws such as the budget, it was dissolved and an election was held

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 (coprinces appoint the members)

Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional (coprinces appoint the members)
note:all judges elected for a 6-year term renewable term

Political parties and leaders

there are four political parties at the national level: Andorra for Change or ApC [Eusebio NOMEN CALVET]

Democrats for Andorra or DA [Antoni MARTI PETIT], coalition including Liberal Party (PRA) and Reformist Coalition

Greens of Andorra [Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ]

Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Narcis CASAL de Fonsdeviela
chancery:2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone:[1] (212) 750-8064
FAX:[1] (212) 750-6630

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

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

National anthem

name: “El Gran Carlemany” (The Great Charlemagne)
lyrics/music:Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS
note:adopted 1921

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

Economy

Economy – overview

Tourism, commerce, and finance are the mainstays of Andorra’s tiny, well-to-do economy, accounting for more than three-quarters of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra’s duty-free status for some products and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra’s comparative advantage eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector 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 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.3 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174 $4.22 billion (2008 est.)
$3.66 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP – real growth rate

3.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 2.6% (2008 est.)
2% (2007 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$46,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $44,900 (2008 est.)
$42,500 (2007 est.)

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%

Labor force

38,220 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 199

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 0.4%
industry:4.7%
services:94.9% (2010)

Unemployment rate

2.9% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22 2.7% (2008)

Population below poverty line

NA (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $872 million
expenditures:$868.4 million (2009)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50 0% (2009)

Agriculture – products

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

sheep

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

101 million kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity – consumption

598.7 million kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity – exports

9 million kWh (2009)

Electricity – imports

497.7 million kWh
note:most electricity supplied by Spain and France

Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower (2009)

Exports

$64 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194 $89.5 million (2008)

Exports – commodities

tobacco products, furniture

Imports

$1.474 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163 $1.801 billion (2008)

Imports – commodities

consumer goods, food, electricity

Debt – external

$NA

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7179 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7306 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Roadways

total: 320 km (2008)
country comparison to the world:202

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 22,390 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,977
females age 16-49:17,069 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 397
female:347 (2010 est.)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none