World Facts

conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Type of Government: 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-
Administrative Divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 5,471/female 4,995)
Agriculture: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Airports: none (2004 est.)-
With Paved Runways: -
With Unpaved Runways:
Area: total: 468 sq km. 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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 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.
Birth rate: 9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget: revenues: $385 million
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)-
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Communications:
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 1993
Currency: euro (EUR)-
Current account balance:
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external: $NA-
Dependency status: -
Dependent areas:
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 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: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V. PIA-COMELLA
Disputes - international: none-
Distribution of family income: -
Economic aid - donor:
Economic aid - recipient: none
Economy - overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 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 "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.
Electricity - consumption:
Electricity - exports:
Electricity - imports:
Electricity - production:
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal-
Environment - International Agreements:
Ethnic groups: Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Executive branch: chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)
Exports: $58 million f.o.b. (1998)
Exports - partners: Spain 58%, France 34% (2004)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; 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
GDP (official exchange rate): NA
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $26,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees-
Government - note:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA-
Heliports:
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%-
Illicit drugs:
Imports: $1.077 billion (1998)
Imports - partners: Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2004)
Independence: 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (2000)
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Internet country code: .ad
Internet hosts: 4,144 (2004)
Internet users: 24,500 (2001)-
Investment (gross fixed):
Irrigated land: NA sq km
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; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional
Labor force: 33,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Land boundaries: total: 120.3 km
Land use: arable land: 2.22%
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch:
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.51 years
Literacy: definition: NA
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain-
Major infectious diseases: -
Manpower available for military service: -
Manpower fit for military service: -
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Map references: Europe
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Median age: total: 40.34 years
Merchant marine: registered in other countries: 1
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain-
Military branches: -
Military expenditures - dollar figure: -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: -
Military service age and obligation:
National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Nationality: noun: Andorran(s)-
Natural gas - consumption: -
Natural gas - exports: -
Natural gas - imports:
Natural gas - production: -
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Natural hazards: avalanches
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Net migration rate: 6.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)-
Oil - consumption: -
Oil - exports: -
Oil - imports: -
Oil - production: -
Oil - proved reserves: -
People - note: -
Political parties and leaders: Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Mariona GONZALEZ REOLIT]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
Population: 70,549 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Population growth rate: 0.95% (2005 est.)-
Ports and terminals: -
Public debt:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)-
Railways: -
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)-
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Roadways: total: 269 km
Sex ratio:
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
Telephones - main lines in use: 35,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 23,500 (2001)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2005 est.)-
Transportation - note:
Unemployment rate: 0% (1996 est.)-
Waterways: