Andorra

Highways

total: 96 km paved: NA unpaved: NA

Telecommunications

international digital microwave network; international landline circuits to France and Spain; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 17,700 telephones

Note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Agriculture

sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables

Budget

revenues: $138 million expenditures: $177 million, Including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 143.04 (January 1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989)

Exports

$30 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France, Spain

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

Imports

$NA commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $760 million (1992 est.)

National product per capita

$14,000 (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Overview

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union; it is unclear what effect the European Single Market will have on the advantages Andorra obtains from its duty-free status.

Unemployment rate

0%

Area

total area: 450 sq km land area: 450 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 22% other: 20%

Location

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

Natural resources

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Note

landlocked

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Andorra la Vella

Constitution

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993

Digraph

AN

Diplomatic representation in US

Andorra has no mission in the US

Executive branch

chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata - two co-princes (President Francois MITTERRAND of France, since 21 May 1981, and Bishop of Seo de Urgel Juan MARTI Alanis in Spain, since 31 January 1971), two designated representatives (France - Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS, since NA, and Spain - Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata, since NA), two permanent delegates (French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA) head of government: Executive Council President Oscar RIBAS Reig (since 10 December 1993) elected by Parliament cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council president

Flag

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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center

General Council of the Valleys

(Consell General de las Valls); elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA

Independence

1278

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

ECE, INTERPOL, IOC, UN

Names

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

National holiday

Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA; New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA), Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA note: there are two other small parties

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Type

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a co-principality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers

US diplomatic representation

Andorra is included within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District, and the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically

Birth rate

13.34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate

7.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force

NA

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.37 years male: 75.5 years female: 81.5 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran

Net migration rate

23.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population

63,930 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.99% (1994 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (1994 est.)