Introduction
Background
The landlocked Principality of Andorra -- one of the smallest states in Europe and nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders -- is the last independent survivor of the Hispanic March states created by Frankish King Charlemagne in 795 after he halted the Moorish invasion of Spain. The March states were a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. 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 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's winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping attract approximately 8 million people each year. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of the effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment and engaged in other reforms, such as tax initiatives aimed at supporting 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 Andorra uses the euro as its national currency.
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Geography
Location
Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total: 118 km
border countries (2): France 55 km; Spain 63 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
highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
mean elevation: 1,996 m
Natural resources
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use
agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 34% (2018 est.)
other: 26% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Natural hazards
avalanches
Geography - note
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups
Spanish 34.3%, Andorran 32.1%, Portuguese 10%, French 5.6%, other 18% (2024 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages
Catalan (official) 35.7%, Castilian 43.2%, Portuguese 17.1%, French 8.9%, English 1.8%, other 5% (2018 est.)
note: data represent mother tongue
Religions
Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 12.31% (male 5,426/female 5,096)
15-64 years: 68.17% (male 29,845/female 28,419)
65 years and over: 19.52% (2023 est.) (male 8,471/female 8,211)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 38.1
youth dependency ratio: 18.1
elderly dependency ratio: 20.1
potential support ratio: 5 (2021)
Median age
total: 48.1 years (2023 est.)
male: 48.1 years
female: 48.1 years
comparison ranking: total 5
Population distribution
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
32.8 years (2019)
Infant mortality rate
total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 198
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.6 years (2023 est.)
male: 81.4 years
female: 86 years
comparison ranking: total population 10
Gross reproduction rate
0.7 (2023 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
9.1% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 10.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 4.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 12
Tobacco use
total: 31.8% (2020 est.)
male: 35.3% (2020 est.)
female: 28.3% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 23
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2016)
Environment
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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Land use
agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 34% (2018 est.)
other: 26% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 8.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.47 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources
320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local 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; an alternate explanation is that the name originates from a Navarrese word "andurrial" meaning "shrub-covered land"
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
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
etymology: translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan
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 Urgell)
National holiday
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Constitution
history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
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
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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 Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
cabinet: Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government
elections/appointments: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; election last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
election results:
2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1%
2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7
Legislative branch
description: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (28 seats; 14 members directly elected in two-seat constituencies (7 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 national election and one for their parish
elections: last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027)
election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - DA, CC, L'A & ACCIO alliance 43.6%, C 21.4%, AE 16%, PS & SDP alliance 21.1%; seats by party/coalition - DA, CC, L'A & ACCIO alliance 17, C 5, AE 3, PS & SDP alliance 3; composition as of February 2024 - men 14, women 14, percentage women 50%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Political parties and leaders
Action for Andorra or ACCIO [Judith PALLARES]
Committed Citizens or CC [Carles NAUDI d'ARENY PLANDOLIT]
Concord [Cerni ESCALE Cabre]
Democrats for Andorra or DA [Xavier Espot ZAMORA]
Forward Andorra or AE [Carine Montaner RAYNAUD]
Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Josep Maria CABANES]
Social Democratic Party or PS [Pere Barao ROCAMONDE]
Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Victor NAUDI]
note: Andorra has several smaller parties at the parish level (one is Lauredian Union)
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016)
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
email address and website:
contact@andorraun.org
https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 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, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov
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
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 symbol(s)
red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
Economy
Economic overview
high GDP; low unemployment; non-EU Euro user; co-principality duty-free area between Spain and France; tourist hub but hit hard by COVID-19; modern, non-tax haven financial sector; looking for big tech investments; new member of SEPA and IMF
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.327 billion (2015 est.)
$3.363 billion (2014 est.)
$3.273 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2012 dollars
comparison ranking: 191
Real GDP growth rate
8.81% (2022 est.)
8.29% (2021 est.)
-11.18% (2020 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 24
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.352 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A- (2022)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2022)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2023)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 11.9% (2015 est.)
industry: 33.6% (2015 est.)
services: 54.5% (2015 est.)
comparison rankings: services 159; industry 52; agriculture 80
Agricultural products
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
Industries
tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
Industrial production growth rate
4.94% (2022 est.) NA
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 63
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Remittances
1.59% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.64% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.67% of GDP (2019 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $1.872 billion (2016)
expenditures: $2.06 billion (2016)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$467.435 million (2021 est.)
$448.869 million (2020 est.)
$568.257 million (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 53
Exports
$2.414 billion (2021 est.)
$1.842 billion (2020 est.)
$2.335 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 157
Exports - partners
Spain 40%, France 19%, United States 11%, Mauritania 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, dental fitting supplies, cars, gold, essential oils (2021)
Imports
$2.143 billion (2021 est.)
$1.727 billion (2020 est.)
$2.032 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 175
Imports - partners
Spain 71%, France 17% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, perfumes, shaving products, liquors (2019)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.951 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)
0.903 (2016 est.)
0.921 (2015 est.)
note: while not an EU member state, Andorra has a 2011 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in April 2012
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 50,871 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 154
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 89,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 195
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Andorra has a modern telecommunications system with microwave radio relay connections between the exchanges and land line circuits to France and Spain (2023)
domestic: about 63 per 100 fixed-line, 110 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2023)
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 users
total: 74,260 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 94% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 193
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 37,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 146
Transportation
Heliports
2 (2024)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain