Andorra

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 37,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)

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 country code

.ad

Internet users

total: 71,084 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.)

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 (2020) domestic: about 52 per 100 fixed-line, 122 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 40,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 94,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.)

Agricultural products

small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle

Budget

revenues: 1.872 billion (2016) expenditures: 2.06 billion (2016)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.9% (of GDP) (2016)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB+ (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Debt - external

$0 (2016)

Economic overview

Andorra has a developed economy and a free market, with per capita income above the European average and above the level of its neighbors, Spain and France. The country has developed a sophisticated infrastructure including a one-of-a-kind micro-fiber-optic network for the entire country. Tourism, retail sales, and finance comprise more than three-quarters of GDP. Duty-free shopping for some products and the country s summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually. Andorra uses the euro and is effectively subject to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank. Andorra's comparative advantage as a tax haven eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened and the government eased bank secrecy laws under pressure from the EU and OECD. Agricultural production is limited - only about 5% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported, making the economy vulnerable to changes in fuel and food prices. The principal livestock is sheep. Manufacturing output and exports consist mainly of perfumes and cosmetic products, products of the printing industry, electrical machinery and equipment, clothing, tobacco products, 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. To provide incentives for growth and diversification in the economy, the Andorran government began sweeping economic reforms in 2006. The Parliament approved three laws to complement the first phase of economic openness: on companies (October 2007), on business accounting (December 2007), and on foreign investment (April 2008 and June 2012). From 2011 to 2015, the Parliament also approved direct taxes in the form of taxes on corporations, on individual incomes of residents and non-residents, and on capital gains, savings, and economic activities. These regulations aim to establish a transparent, modern, and internationally comparable regulatory framework, in order to attract foreign investment and businesses that offer higher value added.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports

$78.71 million (2015 est.) $79.57 million (2014 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, medical supplies, essential oils, cars, tanned hides (2019)

Exports - partners

Spain 40%, France 19%, United States 11%, Mauritania 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.712 billion (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 11.9% (2015 est.) industry: 33.6% (2015 est.) services: 54.5% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$1.257 billion (2015 est.) $1.264 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, perfumes, shaving products, liquors (2019)

Imports - partners

Spain 71%, France 17% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (2015 est.) -0.1% (2014 est.)

Labor force

39,750 (2016)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 0.5% industry: 4.4% services: 95.1% (2015)

Public debt

41% of GDP (2014 est.) 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

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 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate

-1.1% (2015 est.) 1.4% (2014 est.) -0.1% (2013 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$49,900 (2015 est.) $51,300 (2014 est.) $50,300 (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

69% (of GDP) (2016)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2016)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 9.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.47 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.)

Climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

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

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.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

315.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2012 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m mean elevation: 1,996 m

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total: 118 km border countries (2): France 55 km; Spain 63 km

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.)

Location

Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

avalanches

Natural resources

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Population distribution

population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Administrative divisions

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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; [1] (212) 750-8065 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 email address and website: contact@andorraun.org

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 Josep Maria MAURI (since 20 July 2012) head of government: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council of 12 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 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government election results: 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7% 2015: Antoni MARTI elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 58.3%

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

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

Independence

1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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)

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (a minimum of 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 a national list and one for a parish list elections: last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - DA 35.1%, PS 30.6%, L'A 12.5%, Third Way/Lauredian Union 10.4%, other 11.4%; seats by party - DA 11, PS 7, L'A 4, Third Way/Lauredian Union 4, other 2; composition - men 15, women 13, percent of women 46.4%

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

National holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

National symbol(s)

red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Democrats for Andorra or DA [Xaviar ESPOT ZAMORA] Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Jordi GALLARDO FERNANDEZ] Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA] Social Democratic Party or PS [Susanna VELA] Third Way/Lauredian Union [Josep PINTAT FORNE] United for the Progress of Andorra or UPA [Alfons CLAVERA ARIZTI] note: Andorra has several smaller parties at the parish level (one is Lauredian Union)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The Moorish invasion of Spain in the 8th century and subsequent incursions into France were finally stemmed at the Pyrenees by Frankish King Charlemagne, who in 795 created the Hispanic March, a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. 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 these March states. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique coprincipality, 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 has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately 8 million people each year drawn by the winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of its effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment, and engaged in other reforms, such as advancing tax initiatives aimed at supporting a 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 uses the euro as its national currency.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.37% (male 5,901/female 5,551) 15-24 years: 10.16% (male 4,474/female 4,227) 25-54 years: 43.19% (male 18,857/female 18,131) 55-64 years: 15.91% (male 7,184/female 6,443) 65 years and over: 17.36% (male 7,544/female 7,323) (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.)

Birth rate

6.88 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

6.7% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

7.92 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.1 youth dependency ratio: 18.1 elderly dependency ratio: 20.1 potential support ratio: 5 (2021)

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.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

Andorran 48.3%, Spanish 24.8%, Portuguese 11.2%, French 4.5%, Argentine 1.4%, other 9.8% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83.42 years male: 81.2 years female: 85.79 years (2022 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2016)

Major urban areas - population

23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)

Median age

total: 46.2 years male: 46.3 years female: 46.1 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

32.8 years (2019)

Nationality

noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2016)

Physicians density

3.33 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

85,560 (2022 est.)

Population distribution

population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)

Population growth rate

-0.1% (2022 est.)

Religions

Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)

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.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.3% (2020 est.) female: 28.3% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Disputes - international

Andorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identified

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C3

Roadways

total: 320 km (2019)