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  Andorra  
Flag of Andorra
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Andorra

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Andorra
Background:
Definition Field Listing
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by 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.
   Geography    Andorra
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 468 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 120.3 km
border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
avalanches
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees
   People    Andorra
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
69,150 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 5,473; female 4,974)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 26,063; female 23,542)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 4,543; female 4,555) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 39.1 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.06% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.65 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
6.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 83.49 years
male: 80.58 years
female: 86.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
   Government    Andorra
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads 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
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Episcopal Monsignor Joan Enric VIVES SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA)
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA%
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE MOLNE (since 21 December 1994)
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD 23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party or PD (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Ladislau BARO SOLO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Marc FORNE MOLNE] (used to be Liberal Union or UL); Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Group or AND [Ladislau BARO SOLO]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vicenc MATEU ZAMORA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU CASSANY]; Social Democratic Party or PSD (formerly part of National Democratic Group of AND) [leader NA]; Union of the People of Ordino (Unio Parroquial d'Ordino) or UPO [Simo DURO COMA]
note: there are two other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
CE, ECE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V. PIA-COMELLA
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Andorra
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.8% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.3% (2000)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$58 million f.o.b. (1998)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
tobacco products, furniture
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.077 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
consumer goods, food, electricity
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
none
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
EUR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Andorra
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
32,946 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,117 (December 1998)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
0 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ad
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,500 (2001)
   Transportation    Andorra
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km (1994)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
none (2002)
   Military    Andorra
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces, but there is a police force
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
   Transnational Issues    Andorra
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none; border is undemarcated in sections but is not in dispute (a few French farmers still remain upset about the transfer of 35 hectares of land to Andorra)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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