Andorra

Principality of Andorra

LOCATION

Background: 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.

Location: Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 468 sq km
land: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 118 km
border countries: France 55 km; Spain 63 km
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: highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
mean elevation: 1,996 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use: agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 38.7% (2023 est.)
other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Natural hazards: avalanches
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

Population: total: 85,370 (2024 est.)
male: 43,652
female: 41,718
Nationality: noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups: Spanish 34.3%, Andorran 32.1%, Portuguese 10%, French 5.6%, other 18% (2024 est.)
Languages: Catalan (official) 44.1%, Castilian 40.3%, Portuguese 13.5%, French 10%, English 3%, other 6.8% (2022 est.)
Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 12% (male 5,276/female 4,954)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 29,562/female 28,201)
65 years and over: 20.4% (2024 est.) (male 8,814/female 8,563)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 47.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 17.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 49.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 48.7 years
female: 48.8 years
Population growth rate: -0.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)
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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 32.8 years (2019)
Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.6 years
female: 86.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.6% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 33% (2025 est.)
male: 31.7% (2025 est.)
female: 34.4% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.1% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years (2023 est.)
male: 14 years (2023 est.)
female: 15 years (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
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Land use: agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 38.7% (2023 est.)
other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2024 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 315.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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
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 CDemocrats 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: contact@andorraun.orghttps://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: 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
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)
National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
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
National symbol(s): red cow (breed unspecified)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
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

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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.402 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.226 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.094 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $65,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $64,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $63,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.04 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 12.8% (2024 est.)
services: 77.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.054 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $989.38 million (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2013: 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $538.287 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $393.62 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $499.422 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $3.169 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $2.736 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $2.446 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 39%, USA 21%, France 11%, UK 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: paintings, integrated circuits, cars, orthopedic appliances, garments (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $2.716 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $2.44 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $2.143 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 65%, France 11%, Germany 4%, China 3%, Italy 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, garments, perfumes, electricity (2023)
Exchange rates: Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 52,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 126,214 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 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)
Internet country code: .ad
Internet users: percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 42,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C3
Heliports: 2 (2025)

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain