ARCHIVE // AD // 2023
Andorra
2023 Edition — sovereign
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2022
2023
2024
2025
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 37,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
1 public TV station and 2 public radio stations; about 10 commercial radio stations; good reception of radio and TV broadcasts from stations in France and Spain; upgraded to terrestrial digital TV broadcasting in 2007; roughly 25 international TV channels available (2019)
Internet country code
[time series]
.ad
Internet users
[time series]
total: 74,260 (2021 est.) percent of population: 94% (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: Andorra has a modern telecommunications system with microwave radio relay connections between the exchanges and land line circuits to France and Spain (2020) domestic: about 63 per 100 fixed-line, 110 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021) international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2019)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 50,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 89,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $1.872 billion (2016) expenditures: $2.06 billion (2016)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-6.9% (of GDP) (2016)
Credit ratings
[time series]
Fitch rating: A- (2022) Moody's rating: Baa2 (2022) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2023) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Current account balance
[time series]
$448.869 million (2020 est.) $568.257 million (2019 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$0 (2016)
Economic overview
[time series]
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
Exchange rates
[time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.921 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) note: while not an EU member state, Andorra has a 2011 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage but not banknotes that began enforcement in April 2012
Exports
[time series]
$1.842 billion (2020 est.) $2.335 billion (2019 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Exports - commodities
[time series]
integrated circuits, dental fitting supplies, cars, gold, essential oils (2021)
Exports - partners
[time series]
Spain 40%, France 19%, United States 11%, Mauritania 5% (2019)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$2.712 billion (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 11.9% (2015 est.) industry: 33.6% (2015 est.) services: 54.5% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports
[time series]
$1.727 billion (2020 est.) $2.032 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
cars, refined petroleum, perfumes, shaving products, liquors (2019)
Imports - partners
[time series]
Spain 71%, France 17% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-3.9% (2020 est.) NA
Industries
[time series]
tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
-0.9% (2015 est.) -0.1% (2014 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
39,750 (2016)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 0.5% industry: 4.4% services: 95.1% (2015)
Public debt
[time series]
41% of GDP (2014 est.) 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$3.327 billion (2015 est.) $3.363 billion (2014 est.) $3.273 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
8.95% (2021 est.) -11.18% (2020 est.) 2.02% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$49,900 (2015 est.) $51,300 (2014 est.) $50,300 (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
69% (of GDP) (2016)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
3.7% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2016)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 8.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.47 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
[time series]
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 26% (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2012 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 468 sq km 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
[time series]
highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m mean elevation: 1,996 m
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]
0 sq km (2022)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 118 km border countries (2): France 55 km; Spain 63 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 26% (2018 est.)
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
Population distribution
[time series]
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
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 etymology: translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years
Constitution
[time series]
history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 amendments: proposed by the coprinces 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 coprinces
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra etymology: the origin of the country's name is obscure; the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest," a reference to its location as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century; an alternate explanation is that the name originates from a Navarrese word "andurrial" meaning "shrub-covered land"
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
embassy: 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, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 email address and website: contact@andorraun.org https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Executive branch
[time series]
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 Josep Maria MAURI (since 20 July 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council of 12 ministers designated by the head of government elections/appointments: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; election last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government election results: 2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) re-elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1% 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7
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 2 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 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
Independence
[time series]
1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
International law organization participation
[time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
[time series]
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 coprinces, 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 coprinces and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms subordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
Legal system
[time series]
mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (a minimum of 28 seats; 14 members directly elected in two-seat constituencies (7 parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - voters cast two separate ballots - one for national and one for their parish elections: last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2027) election results: percent of vote by party - DA 57.1%, Concord 17.8%, Forward 10.7%, SDP 10.7%, L'A 3.6%; seats by party - DA 16, Concord 5, Forward 3, SDP 3, L'A 1; composition as of August 2023 - men 14, women 14, percent of women 50%
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 heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
National holiday
[time series]
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Concord [Cerni ESCALE Cabre] Democrats for Andorra or DA [Xaviar ESPOT ZAMORA] Forward Andorra [Carine Montaner RAYNAUD] Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Joseph Maria CABANES] Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Pere Lopez AGRAS] note: Andorra has several smaller parties at the parish level (one is Lauredian Union)
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
The Moorish invasion of Spain in the 8th century and subsequent incursions into France were finally stemmed at the Pyrenees by Frankish King Charlemagne, who in 795 created the Hispanic March, a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. 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 these March states. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique coprincipality, 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 has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately 8 million people each year drawn by the winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of its effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment, and engaged in other reforms, such as advancing tax initiatives aimed at supporting a 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 uses the euro as its national currency.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Military and security forces
[time series]
no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 12.31% (male 5,426/female 5,096) 15-64 years: 68.17% (male 29,845/female 28,419) 65 years and over: 19.52% (2023 est.) (male 8,471/female 8,211)
Alcohol consumption per capita
[time series]
total: 10.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
6.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
NA
Current health expenditure
[time series]
9.1% of GDP (2020)
Death rate
[time series]
8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 38.1 youth dependency ratio: 18.1 elderly dependency ratio: 20.1 potential support ratio: 5 (2021)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Andorran 47.6%, Spanish 24.8%, Portuguese 10.8%, French 4.5%, Argentine 1.7%, British, 1%, other 9.7% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by nationality
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
0.7 (2023 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
2.5 beds/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.) male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
Catalan (official) 35.7%, Castilian 43.2%, Portuguese 17.1%, French 8.9%, English 1.8%, other 5% (2018 est.) note: data represent mother tongue
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 83.6 years (2023 est.) male: 81.4 years female: 86 years
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2016)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)
Median age
[time series]
total: 48.1 years (2023 est.) male: 48.1 years female: 48.1 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
[time series]
32.8 years (2019)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Net migration rate
[time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
25.6% (2016)
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Population
[time series]
85,468 (2023 est.)
Population distribution
[time series]
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Population growth rate
[time series]
-0.11% (2023 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Tobacco use
[time series]
total: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.3% (2020 est.) female: 28.3% (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.46 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
Andorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identified
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
C3
Roadways
[time series]
total: 320 km (2019)