Andorra
Principality of AndorraPrincipat d'Andorra
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality
Andorra as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 the Hispanic March states created by Frankish King Charlemagne in 795 after he halted the Moorish invasion of Spain. The March states were a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. 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 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's winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping attract approximately 8 million people each year. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of the effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment and engaged in other reforms, such as tax initiatives aimed at supporting 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 Andorra uses the euro as its national currency.
Geography
Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
17 fieldsLand useshare of 468 sq km
Population distribution
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
People and Society
31 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female(2023 est.)
Ethnic groups(2024 est.)
Languages
Catalan (official) 44.1%, Castilian 40.3%, Portuguese 13.5%, French 10%, English 3%, other 6.8% (2022 est.) note: data represent mother tongue
Population distribution
population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 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 (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
Environment
8 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- deforestation;
- soil erosion from overgrazing;
- air pollution;
- wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements
- 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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 87.8% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
23 fieldsCountry name
- 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;
- may originate from the Navarrese word andurrial, meaning "shrub-covered land;" alternatively, may derive from the Arabic ad-darra meaning "the forest," a reference to its location;
- many other theories exist
Government type
- 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:
- 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
Administrative divisions
7 parishes ( parroquies , singular - parroquia ); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
Constitution
- history:
- drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
- amendment process:
- proposed by the co-princes 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 co-princes
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- 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
Executive branch
- 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 Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
- cabinet:
- Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government
- election/appointment process:
- head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term;
- the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
- most recent election date:
- 2 April 2023
- election results:
- 2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected 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
- expected date of next election:
- April 2027
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- General Council (Consell General)
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 28 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- mixed system
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 4 years
- most recent election date:
- 4/2/2023
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Democrats for Andorra (DA) and its allies (17);
- Concordia (Concòrdia) and its allies (5);
- Andorra Forward (Andorra Endavant) (3);
- Social Democrat Party (PS) - Social Democracy and Progress (SDP) (3)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 50%
- expected date of next election:
- April 2027
note: voters cast two separate ballots -- one for the national election and one for their parish
Judicial branch
- 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 co-princes, 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 co-princes 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
Political parties
- Concordia or C
- Democrats for Andorra or DA
- Forward Andorra or AE
- Liberals of Andorra or L'A
- Social Democratic Party or PS
- Social Democracy and Progress or SDP
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Joan FORNER ROVIRA (since 13 January 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
- 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:
- [email protected]; https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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: ;
- telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27;
- FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75;
- email address: [email protected]
International organization participation
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)
Independence
1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
Flag
- description:
- three vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band, which is slightly wider than the other two;
- the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia;
- the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger)
- meaning:
- the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to symbolize 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
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
- lyrics/music:
- Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS
- history:
- adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first-person narrative
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 1 (cultural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
Economy
21 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Budget(2023 est.)
Economic overview
- 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
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 0.5% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 12.8% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 77.6% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
Remittances
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) · 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) · 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Current account balance
$538.287 million (2023 est.) · $393.62 million (2022 est.) · $499.422 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$3.169 billion (2023 est.) · $2.736 billion (2022 est.) · $2.446 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
paintings, integrated circuits, cars, orthopedic appliances, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$2.716 billion (2023 est.) · $2.44 billion (2022 est.) · $2.143 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, garments, perfumes, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) · 0.925 (2023 est.) · 0.951 (2022 est.) · 0.845 (2021 est.) · 0.876 (2020 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
Energy
1 fieldElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023 est.)
Broadcast media
the media scene is partly shaped by the proximity to France and Spain; Andorrans have access to broadcasts from both countries (2023)
Transportation
2 fieldsMilitary and Security
No regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
2 fieldsMilitary and security forces
no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Andorra.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/andorra.