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Europe :: Andorra

- ## Introduction :: ANDORRA

- Background:
  The landlocked Principality of Andorra is one of the smallest states in Europe, nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders. 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 has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately 10 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 European Union (EU), Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the EU and uses the euro as its national currency.

- ## Geography :: ANDORRA

- Location:
  Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
  Geographic coordinates:
  42 30 N, 1 30 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 468 sq km
  land: 468 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Area - comparative:
  2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  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 extremes:
  lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
  highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
  Natural resources:
  hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 43.4%
  arable land 5.5%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 37.9%
  forest: 34%
  other: 22.6% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  avalanches
  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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

- ## People and Society :: ANDORRA

- Nationality:
  noun: Andorran(s)
  adjective: Andorran
  Ethnic groups:
  Andorran 49%, Spanish 24.6%, Portuguese 14.3%, French 3.9%, other 8.2% (2012 est.)
  Languages:
  Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic (predominant)
  Population:
  85,580 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15.04% (male 6,598/female 6,269)
  15-24 years: 9.42% (male 4,182/female 3,880)
  25-54 years: 47.78% (male 20,980/female 19,910)
  55-64 years: 13.05% (male 5,996/female 5,176)
  65 years and over: 14.71% (male 6,357/female 6,232) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 43 years
  male: 43.2 years
  female: 42.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.12% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Birth rate:
  8.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Death rate:
  6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 85.1% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 23,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 82.72 years
  male: 80.56 years
  female: 85.02 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Total fertility rate:
  1.38 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Health expenditures:
  8.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Physicians density:
  4 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  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 (2015 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 (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  32.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Education expenditures:
  3.1% of GDP (2011)

- ## Government :: ANDORRA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
  conventional short form: Andorra
  local long form: Principat d'Andorra
  local short form: Andorra
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Urgell, whose diocese is located in neighboring Spain; both co-princes maintain offices and representatives in Andorra
  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
  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:
  drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon 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: French Co-prince Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by Thierry LATASTE (since 5 January 2015) and Spanish Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAUN (since 20 July 2012)
  head of government: Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011)
  cabinet: Executive Council designated by 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 31 March 2015 (next to be held in April 2019); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
  election results: Antoni MARTI PETIT (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 79%
  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 multi-seat constituencies (parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - each voter casts two separate ballots - one for a national list and one for a parish list
  elections: last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in April 2019)
  election results: seats by party - percent of vote by party: DA 34.5%, PLA 25.0%, PS-VA-IC-independent coalition 21.3%, SDP 9.6%, invalid votes 9.5%; seats by party: DA 15, PLA 8, PS-VA-IC-independent coalition 3, SDP 2
  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 co-princes, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates appointed 2 by the co-princes 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:
  Citizens' Initiative or IC [Sergi RICART] (including PS, VA, IC, and independents)
  Democrats for Andorra or DA [Antoni MARTI PETIT]
  Greens of Andorra or VA [Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ, Juli FERNANDEZ BLASI]
  Liberal Party or PLA [Josep PINTAT FORNE]
  Social Democratic Party or PS [Vincenc ALAY FERRER]
  Social Democratic Progress Party or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA]
  note: there are also 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: assador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 22 September 2015)
  chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
  telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
  FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
  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 US 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
  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 two 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):
  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

- ## Economy :: ANDORRA

- Economy - overview:
  Tourism, retail sales, and finance are the mainstays of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounting for more than three-quarters of GDP. Andorra's duty-free status for some products and its summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually, although the economic downturn in neighboring countries has curtailed the number of tourists. Andorra's comparative advantage as a tax haven eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened; its bank secrecy laws have been relaxed under pressure from the EU and OECD. Agricultural production is limited - only 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. Andorra uses the euro and is effectively subject to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank. Slower growth in Spain and France has dimmed Andorra's economic prospects. Since 2010, a drop in tourism contributed to a contraction in GDP and a sharp deterioration of public finances, prompting the government to begin implementing several austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit, including levying a special corporate tax. The Government is also planning to institute an income tax at the behest of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The new tax will apply to anyone who lives in the principality for at least 183 days in a calendar year. The first $30,000 of income will be tax free, with the next $20,000 taxed at 5%. The balance of income exceeding the initial $50,000 will be taxed at 10%, which is still less than in most West European countries. Andorra’s Government also relaxed its residency and investment laws in 2012 to make the country more attractive to foreign investors. A person now must spend 90 days a year in the principality to qualify for residency, compared with the previous 180-day requirement. Foreigners now have the same property ownership rights as citizens. In addition, three new categories of residency permits were introduced. Anyone who is retired or at least not working in Andorra can obtain a permit in the first category by making a financial investment in the country of at least €400,000, which can include a property purchase.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $3.163 billion (2012 est.)
  $3.214 billion (2011 est.)
  $3.227 billion (2010 est.)
  note: data are in 2012 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 183
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $4.8 billion (2012 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -1.6% (2012 est.)
  -0.4% (2011 est.)
  -1.9% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $37,200 (2011 est.)
  $37,700 (2010 est.)
  $37,900 (2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 14%
  industry: 79%
  services: 6% (2011 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco; sheep, cattle
  Industries:
  tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
  Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%
  Labor force:
  36,060 (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 0.4%
  industry: 4.7%
  services: 94.9% (2010)
  Unemployment rate:
  4% (2012 est.)
  1.9% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $1.029 billion
  expenditures: $1.041 billion (2012)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  21.4% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.3% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Public debt:
  41.1% of GDP (2012)
  37.7% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.1% (2012 est.)
  -2.5% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Exports:
  $70 million (2012 est.)
  $72 million (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Exports - commodities:
  tobacco products, furniture
  Imports:
  $1.43 billion (2012 est.)
  $1.501 billion (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Imports - commodities:
  consumer goods, food, fuel, electricity
  Debt - external:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.75 (2014 est.)
  0.76 (2013 est.)
  0.78 (2012 est.)
  0.72 (2011 est.)
  0.76 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ANDORRA

- Electricity - production:
  91.24 million kWh (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Electricity - consumption:
  562.4 million kWh (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  520,000 kW (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  61.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  23.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86

- ## Communications :: ANDORRA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 38,200
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 66,200
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
  domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
  international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain (2012)
  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 (2012)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 0 (easy access to radio and television broadcasts originating in France and Spain) (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .ad
  Internet users:
  total: 76,300
  percent of population: 89.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176

- ## Transportation :: ANDORRA

- Roadways:
  total: 320 km (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 203

- ## Military :: ANDORRA

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2011)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 22,390 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 17,977
  females age 16-49: 17,069 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 397
  female: 347 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

- ## Transnational Issues :: ANDORRA

- Disputes - international:
  none

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