Andorra

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.ad

Internet users

24,500 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges international: landline circuits to France and Spain

Telephones - main lines in use

32,946 (December 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14,117 (December 1998)

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Agriculture - products

small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep

Budget

revenues: $385 million expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Currency

euro (EUR)

Currency code

EUR

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

none

Economy - overview

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 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 - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output 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 - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Exports

$58 million f.o.b. (1998)

Exports - commodities

tobacco products, furniture

Exports - partners

Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.077 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, food, electricity

Imports - partners

Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2000)

Labor force

33,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

0%

Area

total: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 468 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to: Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 120.3 km border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

Land use

arable land: 2.22% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.78% (1998 est.)

Location

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

avalanches

Natural resources

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Terrain

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Administrative divisions

7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Capital

Andorra la Vella

Constitution

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993

Country name

conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V. PIA-COMELLA chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064

Executive branch

chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Episcopal Monsignor Joan Enric VIVES SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA) elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA% cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE MOLNE (since 21 December 1994)

Flag description

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, 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

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Independence

1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

International organization participation

CE, ECE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

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; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Legal system

based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD 23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, independents 2

National holiday

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or PD (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Ladislau BARO SOLO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Marc FORNE MOLNE] (used to be Liberal Union or UL); Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Group or AND [Ladislau BARO SOLO]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vicenc MATEU ZAMORA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU CASSANY]; Social Democratic Party or PSD (formerly part of National Democratic Group of AND) [leader NA]; Union of the People of Ordino (Unio Parroquial d'Ordino) or UPO [Simo DURO COMA] note: there are two other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Military branches

no regular military forces, but there is a police force

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.1% (male 5,473; female 4,974) 15-64 years: 71.7% (male 26,063; female 23,542) 65 years and over: 13.2% (male 4,543; female 4,555) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

9.65 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83.49 years male: 80.58 years female: 86.58 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 39.1 years male: 39.4 years female: 38.8 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran

Net migration rate

6.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

69,150 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.06% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

none; border is undemarcated in sections but is not in dispute (a few French farmers still remain upset about the transfer of 35 hectares of land to Andorra)

Airports

none (2002)

Highways

total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1994)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none