ARCHIVE // AD // 1996
Andorra
1996 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Military - note
(Defense note)
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
10,000 (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
21,258 (1983 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
0
Televisions
[time series]
7,000 (1991 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep raising
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $138 million expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Economic aid
[time series]
none
Economic overview
[time series]
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do 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. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. 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 and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
Electricity
[time series]
capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
[time series]
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)
Exports
[time series]
$46.2 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France 35%, Spain 59%
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP per capita)
[time series]
$16,200 (1993 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Imports
[time series]
$920.2 million (1993) commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain, US 2.6% (1992)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
NA%
Labor force
[time series]
NA
Unemployment rate
[time series]
0%
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 450 sq km land area: 450 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Coastline
[time series]
0 km (landlocked)
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography - note
(Geographic note)
[time series]
landlocked
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
none
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 125 km border countries: France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 22% other: 20%
Location
[time series]
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural resources
[time series]
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Terrain
[time series]
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Capital
[time series]
Andorra la Vella
Constitution
[time series]
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Data code
[time series]
AN
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) embassy: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 750-8064
Executive branch
[time series]
chiefs of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); each coprince is represented by a veguer (current names NA) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994) was elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces cabinet: Executive Council was designated by the executive council president
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
(212) 750-6630
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
(343) 205-7705; note - Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra
Flag
[time series]
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
Legislative branch
(General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls)
[time series]
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) AND 8, UL 5, ND 5, CNA 2, IDN 2, other 6
Independence
[time series]
1,278
International organization participation
[time series]
CE, ECE, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, WIPO
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the co-princes alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases; Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases, presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council
Legal system
[time series]
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral
Country name
(Name of country)
[time series]
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra
National holiday
[time series]
Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
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), Marc FORNE note: there are two other small parties
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type
(Type of government)
[time series]
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (343) 280-2227;
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 16% (male 5,829; female 5,851) 15-64 years: 73% (male 28,724; female 24,757) 65 years and over: 11% (male 3,718; female 3,887) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
10.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
2.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 90.94 years male: 86.47 years female: 95.2 years (1996 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
NA
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate
[time series]
22.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population
[time series]
72,766 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.96% (1996 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female all ages: 1.11 male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
none
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1991 est.)
Ports
[time series]
none
Railways
[time series]
0 km