What is Andorra?

Principat d'Andorra Principality of Andorra
Flag of Andorra Flag Coat of arms
Motto "Virtus Unita Fortior"  (Latin) "Strength United is Stronger"
Anthem El Gran Carlemany, Mon Pare  (Catalan) The Great Charlemagne, my Father
Location of Andorra Location of  Andorra  (circled in inset) on the European continent  (white)  —  [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Andorra la Vella
Official languages		Catalan
Demonym		Andorran
Government		Parliamentary co-principality
-	French Co-Prince	Nicolas Sarkozy
-	Episcopal Co-Prince	Joan Enric Vives Sicília
-	Head of Government	Albert Pintat Santolària
Independence
-	Paréage	1278
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	2007 estimate	71,822 (194th)
-	2006 census	69,150
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$2.77 billion (177th)
-	Per capita	$38,800 (unranked)
Currency		euro (€)1 (EUR)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.ad²
Calling code		+376
1	Prior to 1999: French franc and Spanish peseta. Small amounts of Andorran diners (divided into 100 centim) were minted after 1982.
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Andorra (Catalan: Andorra), officially The Principality of Andorra (Catalan: Principat d'Andorra) is a small landlocked country in western Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. Once isolated, it is currently a prosperous country mainly because of tourism and its status as a tax haven. The people of Andorra are currently listed as having the highest human life expectancies on Earth, at an average of 83.52 years (2007 est).^[1]

Origin and history of the 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.

History

Main article: History of Andorra

Tradition holds that Charles the Great (Charlemagne) granted a charter to 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 eleventh century a dispute arose between the bishop and his northern neighbour over Andorra.

The conflict was resolved in 1278 by the signing of a paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the 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.

Andorra was briefly annexed to Aragon twice, in 1396 and 1512.

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 First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it in four départements. Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district of Puigcerdà (département of Sègre).

Andorra declared war on Imperial Germany during World War I but did not actually take part in the fighting. It remained in an official state of belligerency until 1957 as it was not included in the Versailles Peace Treaty.

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 Urgell, declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra, simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgell. 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. Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993, the year in which it became a member of the United Nations.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Andorra

Andorra is a co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, Spain as co-princes, in a duumvirate. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, whereby the Prime Minister of Andorra is the head of government, and of a 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.

Responsibility for defending Andorra rests with Spain and France. Andorra currently has no military force.

Parishes

Main article: Parishes of Andorra

Andorra consists of seven municipalities / regions, known as comuns ("commons", singular comú):

• Andorra la Vella
• Canillo
• Encamp
• Escaldes-Engordany
• La Massana
• Ordino
• Sant Julià de Lòria

Geography

Main article: Geography of Andorra

Befitting its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1996 meters with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2946 meters. 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). The Andorra surface is 468 km².

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

Economy

Main article: Economy of Andorra

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. Some tobacco is grown locally. 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 both replaced by the EU's single currency, the euro.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Andorra

Andorrans are a minority in their own country; Spaniards, Portuguese, Frenchmen, Britons, and Italians resident in Andorra make up 67.7% of the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Andorra has the longest life expectancy – 83.5 years.

The national language is Catalan, a Romance language. Andorra is one of only four nations (together with France, Monaco, and Turkey) that never signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.^[2]

Religion

Mostly due to its Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian influences, Andorra is predominantly Roman Catholic. A small and well-integrated Jewish population of about 100 exists in Andorra, and the community built a synagogue in 2000. The Cultural Islamic Center provides some 50 students (mostly of Moroccan descent) with Arabic lessons, although there is no mosque in the country.[1]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Andorra

The official and historic language is Catalan. Other languages stemming from the immigration such as Spanish and French are also commonly spoken. Portuguese is also noticeable.

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. It has given a significant and easily identifiable contribution to the conglomerate of Catalan culture.

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.

See also:

See also

Civil unions in Andorra Communications in Andorra European microstates Foreign relations of Andorra

Front Envaliran de Libération List of Andorra-related topics List of Andorrans

Scouting in Andorra Tourism in Andorra Transportation in Andorra University of Andorra

References

External links

• Govern d'Andorra - Official governmental site (in Catalan)
• Official Tourism Website
• History of Andorra: Primary Documents
• HiT Andorra - Andorra's health care system and general historical and government background information
• U.S. Library of Congress Portals on the World - Andorra
• CIA World Factbook entry on [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/.html Andorra]
• BBC information on Andorra
• Andorra's location on a 3D globe (Java)
• Andorra Paper Money
• Andorra on globalEDGE

Geographic locale

•  • [ e] Sovereign states of Europe Albania Andorra Armenia2 Austria Azerbaijan1 Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus2 Czech Republic Denmark3 Estonia Finland France1 Georgia1 Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy3 Kazakhstan1 Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands3 Norway3 Poland Portugal3 Romania Russia1 San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain1 Sweden Switzerland Turkey1 Ukraine United Kingdom3 Vatican City 1 Has part of its territory outside Europe.  2 Entirely in West Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe.  3 Has dependencies or similar territories outside Europe.

International membership

•  • [ e] Catalan-speaking regions Catalan as the only official language Andorra Catalan as co-official language Balearic Islands Catalonia L'Alguer Valencia (as Valencian) Spoken without official status Carxe La Franja Northern Catalonia  •  • [ e] Romance-speaking nations of Europe Andorra Belgium1 France Guernsey1 Italy Jersey1Luxembourg1 Monaco Moldova Portugal Romania San Marino Spain Switzerland1 Vatican City 1 Also has official non-Romance languages at national level.  •  • [ e] Council of Europe Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom  •  • [ e] Member states and observers of La Francophonie Members Albania Andorra Belgium (French Community) Benin Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada (New Brunswick Quebec) Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Cyprus1 Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Cte d'Ivoire Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia France (including French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Gabon Ghana1 Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Laos Luxembourg Lebanon Madagascar Mali Mauritania Mauritius Moldova Monaco Morocco Niger Romania Rwanda St. Lucia So Tom and Prncipe Senegal Seychelles Switzerland Togo Tunisia Vanuatu Vietnam Observers Armenia Austria Croatia Czech Republic Georgia Hungary Lithuania Mozambique Poland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Ukraine 1 Associate member.