Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 public television station and 2 public radio stations; about 10 commercial radio stations operating; good reception of radio and TV broadcasts from stations in France and Spain; upgraded to terrestrial digital television broadcasting in 2007; roughly 25 international television channels available (2010)
Internet country code [time series]
.ad
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
26,773 (2010) country comparison to the world: 100
Internet users [time series]
67,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 170
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
38,200 (2010) country comparison to the world: 173
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
65,500 (2010) country comparison to the world: 195
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Budget [time series]
revenues: $872 million expenditures: $868.4 million (2009)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Tourism, commerce, and finance are the mainstays of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounting for more than three-quarters of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status for some products and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. 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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
598.7 million kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - exports [time series]
9 million kWh (2009)
Electricity - imports [time series]
497.7 million kWh note: most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower (2009)
Electricity - production [time series]
101 million kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 193
Exchange rates [time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.7179 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7306 (2007) 0.7964 (2006)
Exports [time series]
$64 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 194 $89.5 million (2008)
Exports - commodities [time series]
tobacco products, furniture
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$3.3 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $4.22 billion (2008 est.) $3.66 billion (2007 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 (PPP)) [time series]
$46,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $44,900 (2008 est.) $42,500 (2007 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 2.6% (2008 est.) 2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$1.474 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 163 $1.801 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities [time series]
consumer goods, food, electricity
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco, furniture
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.6% (2010) country comparison to the world: 50 0% (2009)
Labor force [time series]
38,220 (2010) country comparison to the world: 199
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 0.4% industry: 4.7% services: 94.9% (2010)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA (2008)
Unemployment rate [time series]
2.9% (2009) country comparison to the world: 22 2.7% (2008)
Geography
total: 468 sq km country comparison to the world: 195 land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km
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 Runer 840 m highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates [time series]
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography - note [time series]
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 120.3 km border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 2.13% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.87% (2005)
Location [time series]
Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards [time series]
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 la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Capital [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; effective 28 April 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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Narcis CASAL de Fonsdeviela chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Christian FREMONT (since September 2008) and Spanish Coprince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i Oste (since 30 July 2003) head of government: Executive Council President (or Cap de Govern) Antoni MARTI PETIT (since 12 May 2011) cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council (Andorran Parliament) and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015) election results: Antoni MARTI PETIT was elected Executive Council president; percent of General Council vote - NA; note - the leader of the party which wins a majority of seats in the General Council is usually elected president
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain, who are represented in Andorra by the coprinces' representatives
Independence [time series]
1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Seu d'Urgel)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
CE, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch [time series]
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia (coprinces appoint the members); Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional (coprinces appoint the members) note: all judges elected for a 6-year term renewable term
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of civil and customary law with canon (religious) law influences
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28-42 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - DA 55%, PS 35%, Andorra for Change 7%, Andorran Green 3%; seats by party - DA 20, PS 6, Lauredian Union 2 note: under usual circumstances, the next election would have been held in 2013, but because the General Council was unable to pass important laws such as the budget, it was dissolved and an election was held
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
there are four political parties at the national level: Andorra for Change or ApC [Eusebio NOMEN CALVET]; Democrats for Andorra or DA [Antoni MARTI PETIT], coalition including Liberal Party (PRA) and Reformist Coalition; Greens of Andorra [Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ]; Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]; note - there are also several smaller parties at the Parish level (one is Lauredian Union)
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 Spanish bishop of Seu d'Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. For decades Andorra enjoyed its status as a small refuge of fiscal and banking freedom and benefitted from Spanish and French tourists attracted to the country's duty-free shopping. The situation has changed in recent years as Andorra started to tax foreign investment and other sectors. Tourism accounts for over 80% of Andorra's gross domestic product.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 22,390 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 17,977 females age 16-49: 17,069 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 397 female: 347 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2010)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 6,799/female 6,440) 15-64 years: 71.4% (male 31,545/female 29,037) 65 years and over: 13% (male 5,502/female 5,502) (2011 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
9.66 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Death rate [time series]
6.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.2% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 122
Ethnic groups [time series]
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
7.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 61
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.62 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 85
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 204 male: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Languages [time series]
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 82.43 years country comparison to the world: 4 male: 80.35 years female: 84.64 years (2011 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]
ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 25,000 (2009)
Median age [time series]
total: 40.5 years male: 40.8 years female: 40.2 years (2011 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.716 physicians/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 19
Population [time series]
84,825 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Population growth rate [time series]
0.33% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2008)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.35 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 88% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Roadways [time series]
total: 320 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 201