FLAG: The national flag is a tricolor of blue, yellow, and red vertical stripes. On the state flag (shown here) the yellow stripe bears the coat of arms.

ANTHEM: The Himne Andorra begins “El gran Carlemany mon pare” (“Great Charlemagne my father”).

MONETARY UNIT: Andorra has no currency of its own; the euro, adopted by both Spain and France, is used. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 euro and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. €1 = $1.25475 (or $1 = €0.79697) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system and some old local standards are used.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; National Festival, 8 September; Christmas, 25 December. Movable religious holidays include Good Friday and Easter Monday.

TIME: 1 pm = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

The landlocked nation of Andorra lies in southwestern Europe on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees between France and Spain, with a total boundary length of 125 kilometers (77.7 miles).

Andorra is slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C., with a total area of 468 square kilometers (181 square miles).

Andorra’s capital city, Andorra la Vella, is located in the southwestern part of the country.

2 Topography

Most of the country’s terrain is rough and mountainous, and there is little level surface. All the valleys are at least 900 meters (3,000 feet) high, and the mean altitude is over 1,800 meters (6,000 feet).

The highest point is the mountain peak, Coma Pedrosa (2,946 meters/9,665 feet). The lowest point is on the Riu Valira (Valira River) at 840 meters (2,755 feet), located near the intersection of the Runer and Valira Rivers.

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 468 sq km (181 sq mi)

Size ranking: 179 of 194

Highest elevation: 2,946 meters (9,665 feet) at Coma Pedrosa

Lowest elevation: 840 meters (2,755 feet) at Riu Valira

Land Use*

Arable land: 2%

Permanent crops: 0%

Other: 98%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 97 centimeters (38 inches)

Average temperature in January: 0°c (32° F)

Average temperature in July: 16°c (61.5°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

3 Climate

Because of its high elevation, Andorra has severe winters. The northern valleys are completely filled with snow for several months. Most rain falls in April and October. Summers are warm or mild, depending on the altitude. There are wide variations between the maximum day and night temperatures.

4 Plants and Animals

The plant and animal life is similar to that found in the neighboring areas of France and Spain. Chestnut and walnut trees grow only in the area around Sant Julía de Lòria, the lowest village. Elsewhere, evergreen oaks still are common. Higher regions and many valleys have pines, firs, and various forms of subalpine and alpine plant life. At the highest altitudes there are no trees, but grass is plentiful during the summer. There are carnations, violets, bellflowers, and daisies, as well as blackberries, wild strawberries, and moss. Bears, wolves, foxes, martens, Pyrenean chamois, rabbits, hares, eagles, vultures, wild ducks, and geese may be found in isolated areas. The mountain streams contain trout, brochet, and crayfish.

5 Environment

Andorra was once heavily forested, but the forested area has been decreasing steadily. Overgrazing of mountain meadows by sheep, with consequent soil erosion, is another environmental problem. The Apollo butterfly, the European otter, and the lesser horseshoe bat are vulnerable species.

6 Population

The population in 2005 was estimated at 74,000, with a density of 140 persons per square kilometer (363 persons per square mile). The population is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that form Andorra’s political districts. Andorran citizens are outnumbered three to one by other ethnic groups, the majority of whom are of Spanish descent. The capital, Andorra la Vella, had a population of 21,000 in 2005.

7 Migration

Immigration consists mainly of Spanish, Portuguese, and French people who intend to work in Andorra. Spanish nationals account for the largest group of foreign residents. There is also a small but rapidly growing group of African immigrants, especially from North Africa, working mostly in agriculture and construction. Immigrant workers are supposed to hold temporary work authorization permits, which are valid only as long as the job exists for which the permit was obtained. However, more than 4,000 immigrants did not have work permits in 1999, due to the fact that the quota for immigration is not as high as the number of workers needed in the country. In 2005, the net migration rate was estimated at 6.53 migrants per 1,000 population. In 2004, approximately 63% of the population were not born in Andorra.

8 Ethnic Groups

Native Andorrans make up just over one-third of the total population. They are of Catalan stock. About 43% of the population was Spanish, 11% were Portuguese, and about 7% were French. About 6% were from other groups.

9 Languages

The official language is Catalan. French and Spanish also are spoken.

10 Religions

Traditionally, over 90% of all Andorrans are Roman Catholic. Though Catholicism is not an official state religion, the constitution acknowledges a special relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. The Muslim community (about 2,000 people) consists primarily of North African immigrants. Other Christian denominations include the Anglican Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Reunification Church, the New

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Albert Pintat Santolaria

Position: Executive Council President of a parliamentary democracy

Took Office: 27 May 2005

Birthplace: 23 June 1943

Education: Studied economics at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Of interest: Pintat is dedicated to building Andorra’s international relationships.

Apostolic Church, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

11 Transportation

A north-south highway links Andorra la Vella with the Spanish and French borders. There are 269 kilometers (167 miles) of surfaced roads, and as of 2001, Andorra had 40,127 motor vehicles. Among several cable cars, the most important operates between Encamp and Engolasters Lake. Most merchandise is transported by vehicles from neighboring countries.

Andorra does not have railways or commercial airports. The nearest international airports are at Barcelona, Spain, and Toulouse, France.

12 History

According to one tradition, Charlemagne (742–814) gave the region the name Andorra for its supposed likeness to the biblical town of Endor. Tradition also asserts that Charlemagne granted the Andorran people a charter in return for their help in fighting the Moors, and that Charlemagne’s son Louis I, king of France, confirmed the charter.

It is generally agreed that Charles the Bald, the son of Louis, appointed the count of Urgel overlord of Andorra and gave him the right to collect the imperial tribute (tax). The bishop of Urgel, however, also claimed Andorra as part of the endowment of his cathedral. In 1226, the lords of the countship of Foix, in present-day south-central France, became heirs to the counts of Urgel by marriage. The quarrels between the Spanish bishop and the French counts over rights in Andorra led in 1278 to their adoption of a pareage, a feudal institution recognizing equal rights of two lords.

Joint rule continued until 1793, when the French revolutionary government renounced its claim to Andorra, despite the wish of the Andorrans to enjoy French protection and avoid being under only Spanish influence. Napoleon restored joint rule in 1806 after the Andorrans asked him to do so. French rule of Andorra later passed from the kings to the president of France.

Long an impoverished land having little contact with any nations other than adjoining France and Spain, Andorra achieved prosperity through tourism after World War II (1939–45). It formally became a parliamentary democracy in May 1993.

Its new constitution retained the French and Spanish coprinces, although with reduced powers. Civil rights were greatly expanded, including the legalization of political parties and trade unions. Andorra was admitted to the United Nations on 28 July 1993.

At the start of the 21st century, the country was seeking ways to improve its export potential and increase its economic ties with its European neighbors. The financial services sector of the economy is highly important, given Andorra’s status as a tax haven and banking secrecy laws.

13 Government

The governmental system of Andorra is unique. Authority is shared equally by the president of France and the (Spanish) bishop of Urgel as coprinces. Legislation is enacted by the General Council, consisting of 28 members.

The president of the General Council, Albert Pintat Santolaria, was elected in May 2005. He replaced Marc Forné Molné, who had been president since December 1997.

Andorra is divided into seven parishes or districts. Voters elect members of the parish council, which usually consists of 8 to 14 members.

14 Political Parties

Prior to 1993, political parties were illegal in Andorra. In the general election of 2001, three main parties won seats in the twenty-eight–seat General Council: the conservative Liberal Party, the left-of-center Social Democratic Party, and the centrist Democratic Party. The local Lauredian Union won two seats in that election.

15 Judicial System

A Superior Council of Justice oversees and administers the judicial system. Appeals from lower courts are decided by a Supreme Court in France or an Ecclesiastical Court in Spain. The current system provides a hearing for civil and criminal cases, with different appeals systems for each. Sentenced criminals have the choice of French or Spanish jails.

16 Armed Forces

France and Spain are pledged to defend Andorra, which has no defense force.

17 Economy

The Andorran economy is primarily based on trade and tourism, with the traffic between France and Spain providing most of the revenue. Andorra also is a tax haven because there are no direct taxes. Before the European Union (EU) passed new trade policies in the mid-1990s, there was an active trade in consumer goods, which were duty-free in Andorra. With more open trade policies between European countries, Andorra lost its unique duty-free status.

18 Income

In 2005, Andorra’s gross domestic product (GDP) was $1.9 billion. The annual growth rate in 2004 was estimated at 4%. The average inflation rate in 2002 was 4.3%.

19 Industry

Andorran industry produces cigars, cigarettes, textiles, leather, building materials, and furniture. There also are distilleries for the production of anisette, vermouth, liqueurs, and brandy. Several firms manufacture woolen goods.

20 Labor

Total employment as of 2001 was 33,000, of which fewer than 1% were employed in agriculture, about 21% in industry, and more than 78% in services. There is virtually no unemployment in Andorra. Under a new constitution passed in 1993, workers are permitted to form unions. It is unclear whether strikes are legal under the constitution. There is a government-set minimum wage, which was $7.20 per hour in 2005. The minimum working age is 18.

21 Agriculture

Because of Andorra’s mountainous character, only about 2% of the land is suitable for crops. Most of the cropped land is devoted to hay production for animal feed. Since there is insufficient sunlight on northward-facing slopes and the lands in shadow are too cold for most crops, some southward-facing fields high in the mountains must be used even though they are a considerable distance from the farmers’ homes.

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

Tobacco, the most distinctive Andorran crop, is grown on the best lands. Andorran tobacco is usually mixed with eastern tobaccos, because of its strong quality. Other farm products include cereals, potatoes, and garden vegetables. Grapes are used mainly for raisins and for the making of anisette. Most food is now imported.

22 Domesticated Animals

For many centuries sheep raising was the basis of Andorra’s economy. Now tourism and service industries are more important to the economy. However, Andorran mules are still greatly prized. Cattle, sheep, and goats are raised both in the valleys and in some of the higher areas. Cattle are raised mainly for their meat, and there are few dairy cows. When the cattle move upward in the spring, entire families move to temporary villages in the mountains to herd, mow, and plant. Large droves of sheep and goats from France and Spain feed in Andorra in the summer. The Spanish-owned animals in particular are looked after by Andorran shepherds. On their way back to their native land, many of the animals are sold at annual fairs. The Spanish fairs are usually held in Andorra in September and the French in November. Andorra’s own animal fairs are also held in the fall.

Livestock includes an estimated 9,000 sheep, 1,100 cattle, and 200 horses. Meat production has increased in recent years, but imports account for about 90% of total meat consumption. The milk produced is sufficient for domestic consumption and some milk has been exported to Spain.

23 Fishing

The streams are full of trout and other freshwater fish, but Andorra imports most fish for domestic consumption from Spain.

24 Forestry

About 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres), or 22% of the total land area, are forested. Fuel wood may be freely gathered by anyone, but it may not be bought or sold. Wood needed for building purposes is cut in rotation from a different district each year. For centuries logs have been shipped to Spain. Most newly planted trees are pines.

25 Mining

For hundreds of years, Andorran forges were famous in northern Spain. There are still iron ore deposits in the valley of Ordino and in many of the mountain areas, but access to them is difficult. In addition to iron, small amounts of lead

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Andorra	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$24,000	$2,258	$31,009	$39,820
Population growth rate	0.9%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	140	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	81	58	76	75
female	87	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1,000 people	3.7	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	n.a.	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	100%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1,000 people	462	84	735	938
Internet users per 1,000 people	164	28	538	6303
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	n.a.	501	5,410	7,843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	n.a.	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

are still mined, and alum and building stones are extracted. The sulfurous waters of Les Escaldes are used in washing wool.

26 Foreign Trade

Owing to the heavy traffic in smuggled goods across Andorra’s borders, official statistics do not reflect the true volume of transactions. Of recorded trade, close to half is with Spain and over one-quarter with France. The majority of imports consists of consumer goods sold to visitors.

27 Energy and Power

Hydroelectric power provides about 40% of Andorra’s electric power needs. There are four gas companies, with Andor Gas supplying propane and the others butane.

28 Social Development

There is a social welfare system, expanded in 1968 to cover the entire population. Women have only enjoyed full suffrage (the right to vote) since 1970. There is no governmental department specifically designated to address women’s issues, but in 2001 a Secretariat of State for the Family was created.

Foreigners account for more than half of the population. Although they are accorded the same rights and freedoms as citizens, they lack access to some of the social benefits provided by law.

29 Health

In 2005, infant mortality was estimated at 4 per 1,000 births. Life expectancy was estimated at 81 years for men and 87 years for women. In 2004, Andorra had 3.7 physicians, and 3.2 nurses per 1,000 people.

30 Housing

Most Andorran houses are made of stone. Because the flat land is used for farm crops, the rural houses are frequently built against the mountainsides. All residents have access to safe water and sanitation systems.

31 Education

By law, students must attend school until age 16. Education is provided by both French- and Spanish-language schools. The French government partially subsidizes education in Andorra’s French-language schools. Schools in the southern section, near Spain, are supported by the church. About 50% of Andorran children attend French primary schools, and the rest attend Spanish or Andorran schools. In general, Andorran schools follow the Spanish curriculum, and their diplomas are recognized by Spain.

The University of Andorra was established in July 1997. It has a small enrollment and mostly offers long-distance courses through universities in Spain and France. The majority of secondary graduates who continue their education attend schools in France or Spain. Andorra also has a nursing school and a school of computer science. Nearly 100% of the adult population are literate.

32 Media

In 2001, there were 35,000 mainline and 23,500 mobile cellular phones in use. Postal and telegraph services are handled by the Spanish and French administrations.

As of 1998, there were 15 FM radio stations. Andorra does not have its own television stations. Television transmission is provided through technical agreements with the Spanish and French government networks. In 1997 there were 16,000 radios and 27,000 television sets in use throughout the country.

The two main daily papers are the independent publications of Diari D’Andorra (Andorra Daily, 2002 circulation 3,000) and El Peridico de Andorra. Poble Andorra is a major weekly publication with a circulation of about 3,000. Other newspapers, with smaller circulations, are the dailies Independent and Informacions Diari, and the weeklies Correu Andorra and Informacions. French and Spanish newspapers are also widely available.

As of 2001, there was only one Internet service provider with an estimated 24,500 Internet users in 2001.

33 Tourism and Recreation

Tourism has brought considerable prosperity to Andorra and now constitutes the principal source of income. Visitors, mostly from France and Spain, come to Andorra each summer to attend the fairs and festivals, to buy consumer items at lower prices than are obtainable in the neighboring countries, and to enjoy the pleasant weather and beautiful scenery. There is skiing at Pas de la Casa and Soldeu in winter.

Romanesque churches and old houses of interest are located in Ordino, Encamp, Sant Julía de Lória, Les Escaldes, Santa Coloma, and other villages. Pilgrims come from France and Spain to pay homage on 8 September, the festival day of Andorra’s patroness.

In 2003, there were an estimated 3.1 million visitors to Andorra.

34 Famous Andorrans

Some famous Andorrans include Bonaventura Riberaygua i Argelich (1892–1950), secretary of parliament from 1935 to 1950 and a writer who published the book Les Valls d’Andorra, a geographical, historical, and political documentary about Andorra. Philippe Wolff (1913–2001) was an author and a member of the French Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. Jacques Tremoulet (1896–1971), French radio and press magnate, was the founder of Radio Andorra.