Chief
of State: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since
17 May 1995) Head of Government: Executive
Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May
2005) Government Type: parliamentary
democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs
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
Population Demographics
Population:
71,201 (July 2006 est.) Languages: Catalan (official),
French, Castilian, Portuguese Religion: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Life Expectancy: 83.51
Economic Information
Currency:
EUR GDP(per capita) $24,000 (2004) 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. Exports: tobacco products,
furniture Import: consumer goods, food,
electricity
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Geography
Information
Location:
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Area: total: 468 sq km
land: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Background:
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 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.
Independence Day: 1278 (formed
under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix
and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
Capital City: Andorra la Vella Administrative divisions: 7
parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra
la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana,
Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
