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Andorra |
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Article: Andorra
| Motto: Virtus Unita Fortior (Latin for "Virtue United is Stronger") | |
| Anthem: El Gran Carlemany, Mon Pare | |
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| Capital | Andorra la Vella |
| Largest city | Andorra la Vella |
| Official language(s) | Catalan |
| Government | parliamentary co-principality |
| - French Co-Prince | Jacques Chirac |
| - Episcopal Co-Prince | Joan Enric Vives Sicília |
| - Executive Council President | Albert Pintat |
| Independence | |
| - Paréage | 1278 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 468 km² (194th) |
| 181 sq mi | |
| - Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
| - 2006 est. | 67,313 (202nd) |
| - 2004 census | 69,150 |
| - Density | 152/km² (70th) 393/sq mi |
| GDP (PPP) | 2003 estimate |
| - Total | $1.9 billion (183rd) |
| - Per capita | $26,800 (unranked) |
| HDI (2003) | (N/A) – unranked |
| Currency | Euro (€)1 (EUR) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Internet TLD | .ad |
| Calling code | +376 |
| Note 1: Prior to 1999: French franc and Spanish peseta. Small amounts of Andorran diners (divided into 100 centim) were minted after 1982. | |
The Principality of Andorra (Catalan: Principat d'Andorra, French: Principauté d'Andorre, Spanish: Principado de Andorra) is a small, landlocked principality in south-western 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 is not to be confused with the Comune di Andora. Andorra has no military force of its own; Its defense is the responsibility of Spain and France.
Origin and history of the name
The name "Andorra" probably originates from a Navarrese word andurrial, which translates as shrub-covered land.
History
Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting the Moors. Overlordship of the territory 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 parage, 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, Spain. This gave the small principality its territory and political form.
Over the years the title passed to the kings of Navarre. After Henry of Navarre became King Henry IV of France, he issued an edict (1607) that established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra.
In the period 1812–13, the French Empire annexed Spanish Catalonia and divided it in four departments. Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district of Puigcerdà (département of Sègre).
In 1933 France occupied Andorra as a result of social unrest before elections. On July 12, 1934, an adventurer named Boris Skossyreff issued a proclamation in Urgel, declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra, simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgel. He was arrested by Spanish authorities on July 20 and ultimately expelled from Spain. From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra to prevent influences of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's Spain. Francoist troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war.
During World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route between Vichy France and Spain.
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, the year in which it finally became a member of the United Nations.
Politics
- More information on politics and government of Andorra can be found at the Politics and government of Andorra series.
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 communities, known as parròquies (singular parròquia Engl.: parish)
- 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 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 is slightly cooler in summer.
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Economy
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 adjoining 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 domestic 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, 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 lacks a currency of its own and uses that of its two surrounding nations. Prior to 1999 these were the French franc and the 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 yet mint its own euro coins; in October 2004, negotiations between Andorra and the EU began on an agreement which would allow Andorra to mint its own coins. Andorra’s natural resources include hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, and lead.
Demographics
- See also: List of Andorrans
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.
Culture
- See also: Music of Andorra
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. The predominant religion is Catholicism.
Andorra's long history has provided it with a rich mythology and an abundance of folk tales, with roots originating as far as Andalusia in the south and the Netherlands in the north.
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Andorra
- Civil unions in Andorra
- Foreign relations of Andorra
- Postal services in Andorra
- Tourism in Andorra
- Transportation in Andorra
See also
- List of sovereign states
- Scouting in Andorra
- Front Envaliran de Libération
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