{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
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.
" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "42 30 N, 1 30 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Europe" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "468 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "468 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "2.5 times the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "118 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "France 55 km; Spain 63 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "0 km (landlocked)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Riu Runer 840 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "1,996 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "40% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "34% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "26% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "0 sq km (2022)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "avalanches" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "85,468 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Andorran(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Andorran" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Andorran 48.3%, Spanish 24.8%, Portuguese 11.2%, French 4.5%, Argentine 1.4%, other 9.8% (2021 est.)", "note": "note: data represent population by nationality" }, "Languages": { "text": "Catalan (official) 35.7%, Castilian 43.2%, Portuguese 17.1%, French 8.9%, English 1.8%, other 5% (2018 est.)", "note": "note: data represent mother tongue" }, "Religions": { "text": "Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "12.31% (male 5,426/female 5,096)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "68.17% (male 29,845/female 28,419)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "19.52% (2023 est.) (male 8,471/female 8,211)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "38.1" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "18.1" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "20.1" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "5 (2021)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "46.2 years" }, "male": { "text": "46.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "46.1 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "-0.11% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "6.87 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "87.8% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.07 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "32.8 years (2019)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "3.39 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "3.49 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "3.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "83.61 years" }, "male": { "text": "81.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "85.97 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.46 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.7 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "9.1% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2015)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.5 beds/1,000 population" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "25.6% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "10.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "3.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "4.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "31.8% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "35.3% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "28.3% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "100%" }, "male": { "text": "100%" }, "female": { "text": "100% (2016)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "40% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "34% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "26% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "87.8% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "9.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "0.47 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "0.05 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "43,000 tons (2012 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Principality of Andorra" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Andorra" }, "local long form": { "text": "Principat d'Andorra" }, "local short form": { "text": "Andorra" }, "etymology": { "text": "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\"" } }, "Government type": { "text": "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" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Andorra la Vella" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "42 30 N, 1 31 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October" }, "etymology": { "text": "translates as \"Andorra the Old\" in Catalan" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria" }, "Independence": { "text": "1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993" }, "amendments": { "text": "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" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "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": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "25 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "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": { "text": "Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council of 12 ministers designated by the head of government" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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": { "text": "Andorra-France: none identified
Andorra-Spain: none identified