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 Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

42 30 N, 1 30 E

total: 468 sq km
land: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

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

avalanches

deforestatiand solid waste disposal

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

71,201 (July 2006 est.)

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 5,456/female 4,994)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 26,632/female 24,172)
65 years and over: 14% (male 4,918/female 5,029) (2006 est.)

total: 40.9 years
male: 41.2 years
female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)

0.89% (2006 est.)

8.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

total: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

total population: 83.51 years
male: 80.61 years
female: 86.61 years (2006 est.)

1.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran

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

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

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

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 Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Andorra la Vella

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

1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 1993

based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2

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; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, 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 consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, 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.

$1.84 billion (2004)

4% (2004 est.)

$24,000 (2004)

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

48,740 (2004)

agriculture: 0.34%
industry: 19.63%
services: 80.03% (2004)

0% (1996 est.)

3.4% (2004)

revenues: $373.5 million
expenditures: $373.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004)

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

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

NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

$145 million f.o.b. (2004)

tobacco products, furniture

Spain 58%, France 34% (2004)

$1.077 billion (1998)

consumer goods, food, electricity

Spain 51.5%, France 22.3%, US 0.3% (2004)

none

euro (EUR)

calendar year

35,000 (2001)

51,900 (2003)

general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain

AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

0 (1997)

.ad

7,058 (2005)

11,000 (2004)

none (2005)

total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

defence is the responsibility of France and Spain