ARCHIVE // AD // 1998
Andorra
1998 Edition — sovereign
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Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture-products)
[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
Debt - external
(Debt-external)
[time series]
$NA
Economic aid
[time series]
none
Economic overview
(Economy-overview)
[time series]
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 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 - capacity
(Electricity-capacity)
[time series]
35,000 kW (1992)
Electricity - consumption per capita
(Electricity-consumption per capita)
[time series]
NA kWh; note-Andorra exports most of its electricity to France and Spain
Electricity - production
(Electricity-production)
[time series]
140 million kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
[time series]
French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1-153.94 (January 1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993)
Exports
[time series]
total value: $47 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France 49%, Spain 47%
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year Communications
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity-$1.2 billion (1995 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]
purchasing power parity-$18,000 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP-real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Imports
[time series]
total value: $1 billion (1995) commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain, US 4.2%
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
(Inflation rate-consumer price index)
[time series]
NA%
Labor force
[time series]
NA
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.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
0%
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 450 sq km land: 450 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
(Area-comparative)
[time series]
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)
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Environment - current issues
(Environment-current issues)
[time series]
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion
International environmental agreements
(Environment-international agreements)
[time series]
party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography - note
(Geography-note)
[time series]
landlocked
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% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 22% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
[time series]
snowslides, avalanches
Natural resources
[time series]
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Terrain
[time series]
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
7 parishes (parroquies, singular-parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Constitution
[time series]
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra
Data code
[time series]
AN
Diplomatic representation from the US
[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; FAX: (343) 205-7705; note-Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); note-each coprince is represented by a veguer (French: Jean-Pierre COURTOIS; Spanish: Francesc BADIA Battalla) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994) cabinet: Executive Council designated by the executive council president elections: executive council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote-NA
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[1] (212) 750-6630
Flag
(Flag description)
[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
Government type
[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
Independence
[time series]
1278
International organization participation
[time series]
CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes 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 General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held February 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party-UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Capital
(National capital)
[time series]
Andorra la Vella
National holiday
[time series]
Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
National Democratic Group or AND [Oscar RIBAS Reig]; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU Cassany]; Andorran National Coalition or CNA [Antoni CERQUEDA Gispert]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vincenc MATEU Zamora]; Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra) or PLA [Marc FORNE]; Unio Parroquial d'Ordino or UDO note: there are two other small parties
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
Military - note
(Military-note)
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,819; female 4,474) 15-64 years: 73% (male 25,448; female 22,028) 65 years and over: 13% (male 4,041; female 3,906) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
10.48 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
4.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 83.45 years male: 80.54 years female: 86.54 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
NA
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate
[time series]
9.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
[time series]
64,716 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.5% (1998 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.23 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Current issues
[time series]
Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire between the government and (UNITA) lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when UNITA refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the country. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions and banditry persist. The peace accord provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces and the government. A Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997 and military integration was declared complete in June 1997, although UNITA filled fewer than half of the military positions allocated to the rebels. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996 and all UN military components are scheduled to depart by 30 June 1998 except for through 1998.
Disputes - international
(Disputes-international)
[time series]
none ANGOLA Introduction
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
none
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1991 est.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
none
Railways
[time series]
0 km