Andorra
Andorra la Vella (Capital) • Canillo • Encamp • Escaldes-Engordany • La Massana • Ordino • Sant Julià de Lòria •
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 Location of Andorra within the continent of Europe | |||
 Map of Andorra | |||
 Flag Description of Andorra:The Andorra flag was officially adopted in 1866. The flag features three equal vertical bands of blue, yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band. Those colors are said to represent Andorra'a independence from both Franc.. |
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Official name Principat d’Andorra (Principality of Andorra)
Form of government parliamentary coprincipality with one legislative house (General Council [28])
Heads of state President of France: François Hollande; Bishop of Urgell, Spain: Joan Enric Vives Sicília
Head of government Head of Government: Antoni Martí Petit
Capital Andorra la Vella
Official language Catalan
Official religion none1
Monetary unit euro (€)2
Population (2013 est.) 75,300COLLAPSE
Total area (sq mi) 180
Total area (sq km) 468
Urban-rural population
- Urban: (2011) 87.3%
- Rural: (2011) 12.7%
Life expectancy at birth
- Male: (2012) 80.4 years
- Female: (2012) 84.7 years
Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate
- Male: 100%
- Female: 100%
GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2009) 43,770
1Roman Catholicism enjoys special recognition in accordance with Andorran tradition.
2Andorra uses the euro as its official currency even though it is not a member of the EU.
Background of Andorra
Andorrans live in seven valleys that form Andorra's political districts. Andorrans are a minority in their own country; they make up only approximately 37% of the population or about 31,500 native Andorrans. Spanish, French, and Portuguese residents make up the other 63% of the population.
Anorra, small independent European coprincipality situated among the southern peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains and bounded by France to the north and east and by Spain to the south and west. It is one of the smallest states in Europe. The capital is Andorra la Vella.
Geography of Andorra
Andorra consists of a cluster of mountain valleys whose streams unite to form the Valira River. Two of these streams, the Madriu and the Perafita, flow into the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, which occupies about one-tenth of Andorra’s land area and is characterized by glacial landscapes, steep valleys, and open pastures. The valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.
Andorra has traditionally had a strong affinity with the region of Catalonia in northern Spain. Andorra’s official language is Catalan (Spanish and French are also spoken); its institutions are based in Catalonian law, and a large proportion of the Spanish immigrants (or their descendants) in Andorra are Catalan. Most Andorrans are Roman Catholic; Andorra is part of the diocese of Urgel. More than nine-tenths of the population is classified as urban, and some two-thirds of residents are foreign nationals, mainly from Spain, France, and Portugal.
With only a tiny proportion of Andorra’s land cultivable, the traditional economy centred on the pasturing of sheep and the harvesting of modest quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, olives, grapes, and potatoes. Industry was limited to processing these products and to handicrafts. Because of the lack of customs duties and low or nonexistent taxes, Andorra has become an important international centre of retail trade that has attracted millions of shoppers from all over Europe with its duty-free imported consumer goods, including alcoholic beverages, electronic devices, tobacco, and clothing. Tourism is another of Andorra’s leading industries, and the area has excellent opportunities for winter sports. The construction industry flourished in response to the increase in tourism. The banking sector is also economically significant. Although not a member of the European Union, Andorra has used the euro as its de facto primary currency since 2002. In July 2011 Andorra concluded a monetary agreement with the EU that made the euro its official currency, although the Andorran government was not granted the power to issue its own euro banknotes. No railway system exists, but good roads link Andorra with France and Spain, and the principality is served by a small airport in Seo de Urgel, Spain. The University of Andorra was established in 1997; it has faculties in nursing, computer studies, and virtual studies and continuing education. Virtually all Andorrans are literate.
Historically, the coprinces (the French president and the bishop of Urgel) represented Andorra internationally and jointly headed the government through their delegates. The elected members of Andorra’s unicameral legislature, the 28-member General Council of the Valleys, were responsible for internal administration and functioned as both an informal legislature and a cabinet headed by a prime minister. The 1993 constitution, approved by Andorran voters in a referendum, changed this structure and transferred most of the powers of the coprinces to the General Council, which became a true national parliament elected by universal suffrage. Every four years, the General Council elects an Executive Council president who heads the government and who then chooses cabinet members.
The government was newly empowered to raise revenues through taxation, to create an independent judiciary, to give citizens the right to form political parties and trade unions, and to control its foreign policy and join international organizations. The coprinces remained the constitutional heads of state, though this role was largely ceremonial. In the early 21st century the main political parties were the centre-right Democrats for Andorra, the Social Democratic Party, and the Lauredian Union.
- Area: total: 468 sq km,land: 468 sq km, water: 0 sq km
- Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
- Land boundaries: total: 118 km
- border countries: France 55 km, Spain 63 km
- Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
- Location Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
- Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
- Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
- Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
- Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
- Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
- Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m, highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
- Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
- Land use: arable land: 5.32%, permanent crops: 0%, other: 94.68% (2011)
- Natural hazards: avalanches
- Map references: Europe
- 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: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Demographics of Andorra
Population :85,458 (July 2014 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 6,708/female 6,379)
- 15-24 years: 9.2% (male 4,078/female 3,766)
- 25-54 years: 48.7% (male 21,395/female 20,231)
- 55-64 years: 12.5% (male 5,756/female 4,957)
- 65 years and over: 14.3% (male 6,145/female 6,043) (2014 est.)
Median age
- total: 42.4 years
- male: 42.6 years
- female: 42.2 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate :0.17% (2014 est.) Birth rate :8.48 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) Death rate:6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) Net migration rate :0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population: 87.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.93% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population:ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 23,000 (2011)
Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
- total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births
- male: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births
- female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 82.65 years
- male: 80.51 years
- female: 84.92 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Drinking water source 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 (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access 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 (2012 est.)
Nationality
- noun: Andorran(s)
- adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups :Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998) Religions:Roman Catholic (predominant) Languages:Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Literacy
- definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- total population: 100%
- male: 100%
- female: 100%
Health expenditures :7.2% of GDP (2011) Physicians density :3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2009 Hospital bed density :2.5 beds/1,000 population (2009) Obesity - adult prevalence rate :25.2% (2008)
People of Andorra
Andorrans live in seven valleys that form Andorra's political districts between France and northeast Spain. Andorrans are a minority in their own country; Spanish, French, and Portuguese citizens make up 64.01% of the population.
The national language is Catalan, a romance language related to the Provençal group. French and Spanish also are spoken.
Education law requires school attendance for children up to age 16. A system of French, Spanish, and Andorran public schools provide education up to the secondary level. Schools are built and maintained by Andorran authorities, but teachers are paid for the most part by France or Spain. About 50% of Andorran children attend the French primary schools; the rest attend Spanish or Andorran schools. Andorran schools follow the Spanish curriculum, and their diplomas are recognized by the Spanish education system. In July 1997, the University of Andorra was established. Due to its small student body, the University of Andorra is unable to develop a full academic program, and it serves principally as a center for virtual studies, connected to Spanish and French universities. There are two graduate schools in Andorra--the Nursing School and the School of Computer Science.
Andorra Government type
Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Urgell, whose diocese is located in neighboring Spain; both co-princes maintain offices and representatives in Andorra
Definition: This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized oposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.
History of Andorra
Andorra’s independence is traditionally ascribed to Charlemagne, who recovered the region from the Muslims in 803, and to his son Louis I (the Pious), who granted the inhabitants a charter of liberties. Charlemagne’s grandson, Charles II, granted Andorra to the counts of Urgel, from whom it passed to the bishops of Urgel. Andorra’s dual allegiance to two princes, one in Spain and one in France, originated in the late 13th century in a proprietary quarrel between the Spanish bishops of Urgel and the French heirs to the countship of Urgel. Andorra was subsequently governed jointly by representatives of the Spanish bishop of Urgel and of the French head of state, each of whom received an annual payment of a token tribute. This feudal system of government remained intact until 1993, when a constitution was adopted that greatly reduced the power of the coprinces and established separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Andorra subsequently joined the United Nations (1993) and the Council of Europe (1994).
Disclaimer
This is not the official site of this country. Most of the information in this site were taken from the U.S. Department of State, The Central Intelligence Agency, The United Nations, [1],[2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14],[15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24],[25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30],[31], [32], [33], [34], and the [35].
Other sources of information will be mentioned as they are posted.