Information about Andorra

ANDORRA

The Principality of Andorra is a small, landlocked principality in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by France and Spain. Once isolated, it is currently a prosperous country mainly because of tourism and its status as a tax haven.
Andorra has no military force of its own; its defense is the responsibility of Spain and France.

NAME

The name "Andorra" is of unknown origin but (according to Joan Coromines) clearly pre-roman. Many of the local toponyms are of Iberian-Basque origin.

POLITICS

Andorra is a principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, Spain as co-princes. Politics of Andorra takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the Prime Minister of Andorra is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
A secessionist movement exists, based at Pas de la Casa. This has only limited support.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

Andorra consists of seven municipalities, known as comuns (singular comú Engl.: commons): Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julià de Lòria.

GEOGRAPHY

Befitting its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1996 metres with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2946 metres. These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of 870 m).

CLIMATE

Andorra's climate is similar to its neighbours' temperate climates, but its higher altitude means there is on average more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer.

ECONOMY

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP.
The principal livestock activity is domestic sheep raising.
Andorra is not a full member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
Andorra’s natural resources include hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, and lead.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Andorrans constitute a minority in their own country; only 33% of inhabitants hold Andorran nationality. The largest group of foreign nationals is that of Spaniards (43%), with Portuguese (11%) and French (7%) nationals the other main groups. The remaining 6% belong to several other nationalities. The Current population is estimated at 71,201 (July 2006).

CULTURE

Andorra's long history has provided it with a rich folklore and an abundance of folk tales, with roots originating as far as Andalusia in the south and the Netherlands in the north.
Andorran culture is Catalan in essence, since the native-born population of Andorra is Catalan.
Two writers renowned in Catalonia and the region, Michèle Gazier and Ramon Villeró, both come from Andorra.
Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to all of its neighbors, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances like the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany.

LANGUAGE

The only official language is Catalan, the language of the nearby Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia, with which Andorra shares many cultural traits, though Spanish, Portuguese and French are also commonly spoken.

RELIGION

The predominant religion is Catholicism.

More information about Andorra.