|
Andorra | |
 |
Travel
Information
Best places to Visit Other Countries |
|
|
|
Andorra Travel Guide:Facts on Andorra |
 |
| History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation | ||
|
Map of Andorra and its major cities
|
||
| History | Top of Page | |
|
Andorra is the last independent survivor of the March States (the Spanish
Border states), which were buffer states created by Charlemagne to keep the Muslim Moors from
advancing into Christian France. Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a
charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting the Moors.
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes. |
||
| Geography | Top of Page | |
| Location | Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain | |
| Geographic Coordinates | 42 30 N, 1 30 E | |
| Area |
Total: 468 sq km Water: 0 sq km Land: 468 sq km |
|
| Area - Comparative | 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC | |
| Land Boundaries |
Total: 120.3 km Border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km |
|
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | |
| Climate | Temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers | |
| Terrain | Rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys | |
| Elevation Extremes |
Lowest point: Riu Runer 838 m Highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,942 m |
|
| Natural Resources | Coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land | |
| Geography Note | Landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees | |
| Natural hazards | Avalanches | |
| Population | Top of Page | |
| Population | 71,201 (July 2006 est.) | |
| Age Structure |
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 5,433/female 4,984) 15-64 years: 71.2% (male 26,775/female 24,354) 65 years and over: 14.3% (male 5,074/female 5,202) (2007 est.) |
|
| Nationality |
Noun: Andorran(s) Adjective: Andorran |
|
| Ethnic Groups | Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998) | |
| Religions | Roman Catholic (predominant) | |
| Language | Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese | |
| Literacy |
Definition: NA Total population: 100% |
| Government | Top of Page | |
| Country Name |
Conventional long form: Principality of Andorra Conventional short form: Andorra Local short form: Andorra Local long form: Principat d'Andorra |
|
| Government Type | Parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives | |
| Capital | Andorra la Vella | |
| Administrative Divisions | 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria | |
| Independence | 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel) | |
| Flag Description | Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; 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 | |
| Economy | Top of Page | |
| Overview | Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. | |
| Currency | Euro | |
| Currency Code | EUR | |
| Communications | Top of Page | |
| Telephone System | NA | |
| Internet Country Code | .ad | |
| Transportation | Top of Page | |
| Railways | 0 km | |
| Roadways |
Total: 269 km Paved: 198 km Unpaved: 71 km |
|
| Waterways | None | |
| Ports and Harbors | None | |
| Andorra: | Travel Information Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page | |
