Andorra

Location

• Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
• landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Andorra la Vella	20,430	Capital
les Escaldes	15,853

Size

• 181 square miles
• 468 square kilometers
• 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

History

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 the Hispanic March states created by Frankish King Charlemagne in 795 after he halted the Moorish invasion of Spain. The March states were a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. 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's winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping attract approximately 8 million people each year. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of the effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment and engaged in other reforms, such as tax initiatives aimed at supporting 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 Andorra uses the euro as its national currency.

Climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Languages

Catalan (official) 44.1%, Castilian 40.3%, Portuguese 13.5%, French 10%, English 3%, other 6.8% (2022 est.)note: data represent mother tongue

Religions

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

Government

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

• Constitution: history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993amendment process: proposed by the co-princes 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 co-princes
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
• 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 Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)head of government: Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)cabinet: Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of governmentelection/appointment process: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of governmentmost recent election date: 2 April 2023election results: 2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1%2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7expected date of next election: April 2027
• 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 - 2 appointed by the co-princes and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year termssubordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: General Council (Consell General)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 28 (all directly elected)electoral system: mixed systemscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/2/2023parties elected and seats per party: Democrats for Andorra (DA) and its allies (17); Concordia (Concòrdia) and its allies (5); Andorra Forward (Andorra Endavant) (3); Social Democrat Party (PS) - Social Democracy and Progress (SDP) (3)percentage of women in chamber: 50%expected date of next election: April 2027note: voters cast two separate ballots -- one for the national election and one for their parish

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high GDP; low unemployment; non-EU Euro user; co-principality duty-free area between Spain and France; tourist hub but hit hard by COVID-19; modern, non-tax haven financial sector; looking for big tech investments; new member of SEPA and IMF
• Budget: revenues: $1.054 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $989.38 million (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
• Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
• Agricultural Products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
• Land Use: agricultural land: 39.9% (2022 est.)arable land: 1.6% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 38.3% (2022 est.)forest: 34% (2022 est.)other: 26.1% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, refined petroleum, garments, perfumes, electricity (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Spain 65%, France 11%, Germany 4%, China 3%, Italy 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: paintings, integrated circuits, cars, orthopedic appliances, garments (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Spain 39%, USA 21%, France 11%, UK 5%, UAE 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports