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| National motto: Virtus Unita Fortior (Latin: Virtue united is stronger) | ||||
| Official language | Catalan | |||
| Capital | Andorra la Vella | |||
| French Co-Prince | Jacques Chirac | |||
| Catalan Co-Prince | Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia | |||
| Head of government | Marc Forné Molné | |||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 178th 468 km² Negligible | |||
| Population
- Total (2003) - Density | Ranked 184th
69,150 144.5/km² | |||
| Independence | 1278 | |||
| Currency | Euro¹ | |||
| Time zone | UTC +1 | |||
| National anthem | El Gran Carlemany | |||
| Internet TLD | .AD | |||
| Calling Code | 376 | |||
| (1) Prior to 1999: Fr. franc and Sp. peseta | ||||
| Table of contents |
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2 Politics 3 Parishes 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links |
Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting the Moors. Overlordship over the territory was passed to the local count of Urgell and eventually to the bishop of the diocese of Urgell. In the 11th century a dispute arose between the bishop and his northern French neighbour over Andorra.
In 1278, the conflict was resolved by the signing of a pareage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the French count of Foix (whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell, in Catalonia. The pareage, a feudal institution recognising the principle of equality of rights shared by two rulers, gave the small principality its territory and political form.
Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, its thriving tourist industry along with developments in transportation and communications have removed the country from its isolation and its political system was thoroughly modernised in 1993.
Until very recently, Andorra's political system had no clear division of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Ratified and approved in 1993, the constitution establishes Andorra as a sovereign parliamentary democracy that retains the co-princes as heads of state, but the head of government retains executive power. The two co-princes serve coequally with limited powers that do not include veto over government acts. They are represented in Andorra by a delegate.
Andorra's main legislative body is the unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de les Valls), a parliament of 28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes, with members serving four-year terms. The Andorran government is formed by the General Council electing the Head of Government (Cap de Govern), who then appoints ministers to the cabinet, the Executive Council (Govern).
Defense of the country is the responsibility of France and Spain.
Andorra consists of seven communities known as parishes (parròquies, singular - parròquia):
Befitting its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consist predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1,996 m with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2,946 m. 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).
Andorra's climate is similar to its neighbours' temperate climate, but its higher altitude means there is on average more snow in winter and it's slightly cooler in summer.
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 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 neighbouring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs.
The banking sector, with its 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 not a full member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, e.g. it is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacks a currency of its own and uses that of its two neighbours. Prior to 1999 these were the French franc and Spanish peseta, which have since been replaced by a single currency, the euro. Unlike other small European states that use the euro, Andorra does not mint its own euro coins.
Andorrans constitute a minority in their own country; only 33% holds the Andorran nationality. The largest group of foreign nationals is that of Spaniards (43%), with Portuguese (11%) and French (7%) nationals representing the other main groups. The remaining 6% belong to other nationalities.
The only official language is Catalan, the language of the Catalan Countries it is part of, including the neighbouring Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia, with which Andorra shares many cultural traits, though Spanish and French are also commonly spoken. The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism.
nds:Andorra History
Main article: History of AndorraPolitics
Main article: Politics of AndorraParishes
Main article: Parishes of Andorra
Geography
Main article: Geography of AndorraEconomy
Main article: Economy of AndorraDemographics
Main article: Demographics of AndorraCulture
Main article: Culture of AndorraMiscellaneous topics
External links