Andorra

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra (in Catalan, Principat d'Andorra), is a micro -Sovereign landlocked state located in southwestern Europe, between Spain and France, on the border of the Iberian Peninsula. It is constituted as an independent state, governed by law, democratic and social, whose form of government is parliamentary co-principality. Its territory is organized into seven parishes, with a total population of 79,877 inhabitants as of February 28, 2022. Its capital is Andorra la Vella.

With its 468 km² of land area, Andorra is the largest micro-state in Europe and is located in the Pyrenees, between Spain and France; It has an average altitude of 1996 m s. no. m. It limits to the south with Spain —with the Catalan province of Lleida— and to the north with France —with the departments of Ariège and Pyrenees-Orientales (Occitania). It belongs culturally to Latin Europe.

Its political system is a parliamentary democracy whose heads of state are the co-princes of Andorra: the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France; the head of government is the president of the Government of Andorra.

The official language is Catalan (the only independent State that has said language as the only official language), although due to the influence of the surrounding States, Spanish, Portuguese and French are commonly used.

It does not have an army, but it does have a police force created in 1931. In case of emergencies or natural disasters, such as the floods that occurred in 1982, custom dictated that the somaten would be summoned, made up of the heads of family with Andorran nationality, although it is an out-of-date practice and the country's police manage all emergencies. In the event of a serious catastrophe, Spanish or French aid would be used, according to the trilateral treaty of neighbourhood, friendship and cooperation.

For a long time poor and isolated, it achieved remarkable prosperity since World War II through tourism and, especially, due to its status as a tax haven, a status that it lost for Spain on February 10, 2010.

Toponymy

The etymology of Andorra and its capital, Andorra la Vella, is unknown, as is its origin.

Among the proposed hypotheses, the most accepted consider that it is a term of pre-Roman origin and perhaps Iberian or Basque. The people of the andosini (Ἀνδοσίνοι), mentioned by Polybius as inhabitants of the Pyrenees, may be an antecedent, especially since in Iberian inscriptions the name andur(r)iensis is found , which presupposes the existence of a place name *Andura. This name may be related to the Basque handia, "big" or "giant".

Other possible derivations from Basque have also been suggested such as ur, "water", perhaps with the form Ameturra, "Diez sources", composed of hamar "ten" e iturri "fuentes". Caro Baroja, on the other hand, proposed a relationship with (h)erri, "land" or "town".

One hypothesis relates the word Andorra to andurrial, a word whose origin remains uncertain but which Coromines relates to the Arabic gandura, "flirty woman", and others with "scrubs", or, according to Francisco Martínez Marina, with the Arabic al darrah, which means "wooded".

A popular work proposes a Celtic etymology derived from the words an, "breath" and dor, "door", alluding to the Pyrenean winds.

Popular etymology has created the legend that Charlemagne, founder of the Andorran nationality, gave it the name, alluding to the Valley of Endor, transliterated as Andor, mentioned in the Bible as the place of Sisera's defeat.

Symbols

Escudo de Andorra en la Casa de la Vall.

Shield

The coat of arms of the Principality of Andorra, whose motto is Virtus Unita Fortior, is made up of four quarters (two for each co-prince).

• First barracks (left superior to the sight of the observer): From Gules, a mitre and a golden staff (oil Seo bishop).
• Second barracks (right superior in the eyes of the observer): Of gold, three sticks of gules (of Foix County).
• Third barracks (left inferior at the sight of the observer): Of gold, four sticks of gules (according to the law of Andorra, for that of Catalonia).
• Fourth barracks (right in the sight of the observer): of gold, two cows of gules put on a stick (from the Vizcondado de Bearne).

Flag

Andoran flag on a balcony of Ordino.

The flag of Andorra was officially adopted in 1866 and is a vertical tricolor of blue, yellow and red, the yellow stripe slightly larger than the other two. In the center the Andorra coat of arms is shown, to differentiate it from the flags of Chad, Moldova and Romania.

Anthem

The lyrics of the hymn, entitled El Gran Carlemany (in Spanish, El Gran Carlemagno), were written by Joan Benlloch i Vivó and the music was composed by Enric Marfany Bons. The hymn was officially adopted in 1914 and was first performed on September 8, 1921.

History

Prehistory

During the Mesolithic period, small groups of humans settled in caves close to Gran Valira, such as Balma de la Margineda, and other points in the territory such as Pal, La Massana and Ordino, where on June 5, 2001 a sarcophagus made of slate slabs was found containing human remains, bracelets and ceramic food containers.

Due to the fertility of the lands, these groups cultivated them and settled permanently and received from the peoples that passed through their territory the culture of bronze by benefiting from the metals found in Arinsal.

Roman Empire

The first written reference^{[citation needed]} to the Andosians can be found in the description given by the Greek historian Polybius of Hannibal's passage through the Pyrenees. In 27 a. C.. the territory is attached to the recently created Roman province of Hispania Tarraconense, to which it belonged even after the creation of the Visigothic kingdom. During the s. V d. C., the Roman Empire succumbs to the Visigoths, who occupy southern Gaul and part of Hispania.

Middle Ages and Modern Ages

Church of Sant Joan de Caselles, built in the centuryXI in Romanesque style.

Romanesque Church of San Miguel de Engolasters.

Three hundred years later, the Muslims conquered that territory by crossing the border of the Frankish kingdom. In the year 732, Carlos Martel defeated them in the battle of Poitiers (732) and they stopped their expansion towards the North, although they continued to settle in the Pyrenees. Later Charlemagne created the Hispanic Brand and his successor Luis the Pious integrated, in the year 817, Andorra into the Carolingian Empire.

In the Middle Ages (the valleys of) Andorra belonged to the County of Urgell, when they were ceded by Charles the Bald of Western Francia (present-day France) to Sunifredo I in the year 839. The Act of Consecration and Endowment of the Seo de Urgel Cathedral and, for the first time, its territorial organization by parishes is detailed. With the expansion of this county to the south, where there were more fertile lands, the mountainous areas ceased to be of interest to the count and, in 1133, Ermengol VI ceded all the assets and rights acquired over the valleys of Andorra to the bishop of Urgell. In 1095, the bishopric, in exchange for military protection, ceded its political, military and judicial rights to the Caboet family, although it retained sovereignty over Andorra, transforming the territorial domain into an episcopal lordship. In 1185, Arnalda de Caboet married Arnaldo I of Castellbó. The marriage of Roger Bernardo II de Foix and Ermesinda de Castellbó, in 1208, led to the feudal domination of Andorra by the counts of Foix, who would gradually increase their power in Béarne, the Kingdom of Navarre and, centuries later, the Kingdom of France.

According to tradition, Charlemagne, the first monarch of the Holy Roman Empire, granted independence to this state in exchange for help in his fight against Al-Andalus. To put an end to the struggles for power, in 1278 a co-principality regime was established through which the French Count of Foix and the Bishop of Urgell shared the government of that territory.

As a consequence of the conflicts between Roger Bernardo III de Foix and Pedro de Urtx, on September 8, 1278 the first pariaje was signed in Lérida, which set the limits of the power of each lord, represents the foundation of the Principality of Andorra and defines the obligations of Andorrans in terms of tithes and military matters, for which a "feudal condominium" was formed, although this does not concern the Crown of Aragon, since the county of Foix he was his vassal and Andorra was within the borders of the crown. Ten years later, as a result of the construction of a fortified church in San Vicente de Enclar by the Count of Foix, from where he could monitor the activities of the Bishop of Urgell, the second pariaje was signed in 1288. This second treaty grants, among other aspects, the right to name by both parties notaries who hold their representation in the Principality. In 1396 Martin the Human annexed the valleys of Andorra, since the power of France was increasing and that of c. Foix, but returned them to Foix's house four years later.

In 1419 the Council of the Land was created, made up of two or three representatives of the seven parishes, with the aim of defending local interests. Ferdinand the Catholic once again annexed them in 1512, in his fight against the Albret de Navarra and against the counts of Foix; but he reinstated them a year later to Germana de Foix, who was to be his second wife. Charles V ratified this donation and renounced all his rights to the Principality of Andorra, except for the right to appoint a bishop (which has been retained to this day), which was added to the French crown by Henry III of Navarre and IV of France in 1607, and his son in 1620, Louis XIII, declares it united with France until the Revolution, in which France temporarily renounced its rights and the Bishop of Urgell governed it for himself, until Napoleon once again accepted sovereignty until 1814, when it was liberated by England and its allies and a condominium was formalized between Urgell and France, in which their independence was recognized, and for this reason the heads of state will be the Bishop of Seo de Urgell and the King of France (currently, the President of the French Republic).

New Reform

Ordino, residence of Guillem d'Areny Plandolit.

Memorial of the centenary of the Nova Reformation in Andorra la Vieja.

In Andorran society before the XVIII century, there were only two social groups in the Principality: the focs who were Andorran families or houses that had existed for centuries and who had sufficient economic resources to pay the taxes of the Consell General or Parliament, and the casalers, a group made up of the poorest houses. Only members belonging to the first group (whose number was 179 houses compared to 600 for the casalers) could participate in political life.

The French Revolution (1789 - 1799), as heir to the territory, renounced its feudal rights over Andorra. Then Napoleon Bonaparte accepted his sovereignty again in 1806 at the express request of the Andorrans.

In 1866, Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit and Anton Maestre began a democratizing process with the Nova Reforma, which granted a more active participation to the Andorran people in the government of the country. The main modifications were:

• Right to vote for all heads of household.
• Incompatibility between the position of general adviser and Cònsol or adviser to the Common and duration of the four-year charges.
• Renewal of the general or common counselors every four years.
• Limitation of the number of Councillors of the Common in each parish.
• Creation of the position of People ' s Commissioner for the purpose of controlling or controlling the Administration and public accounts.

20th century

From August 18 to October 9, 1933, a detachment of French gendarmes occupied Andorra due to the riots that took place to obtain universal male suffrage (the female vote was not achieved until 1970) and the struggle, more or less less covertly, between the General Council (Consell General) and the co-princes. At the same time, the FHASA workers who were building the road from Andorra la Vella to Pas de la Casa, and coming from Spain affiliated with the CNT and FAI, began a strike to demand improvements in their working conditions.

The Russian Baron Boris Skósyrev proclaimed himself king of Andorra with the name of Boris I in 1934, although he was deposed a few days later.

The only historical period during which Andorra did not depend on any other state, except for a period of direct annexation to France by Napoleon between 1812 and 1814, were a few days in 1934, in which the Baron of Orange, a Russian citizen named Boris de Skossyreff, he proclaimed himself and crowned himself King of Andorra and, in just nine days, he proclaimed a constitution, an official bulletin and several decrees, in addition to declaring war on the Episcopal Co-Prince, the Bishop of Urgell. Before the reign of Boris I, on July 8, France officially announced that it would not intervene in Andorra. The Bishop of Urgel did not take long to act by force on the 21st of that same month, asking for help from four Spanish civil guards and a sergeant based in the Seo de Urgel barracks, who accompanied the supposed monarch to the Spanish-Spanish border. andorran. The inhabitants of the Principality did nothing to prevent him, seeing him march towards Seo de Urgel arrested and handcuffed. The following morning he was transferred to Barcelona and made available to Judge Bellón. He would reappear in February 1938, in Aix-en-Provence, claiming the Andorran throne, although he was arrested by the French authorities and tried on March 21, 1938.

In 1936, due to the Spanish civil war, the presence of French gendarmes was repeated, again commanded by Colonel René Baulard until 1940, the year in which France surrendered to the German army. The Civil War and the consequent victory of the Francoist side, in addition to the outbreak of World War II and the invasion of France by Hitler's Germans, left the country in a difficult situation, protected by the Vichy Government led by Marshal Petain had to sympathize with the regimes of Hitler and Francisco Franco to maintain his neutrality, taking advantage of this situation to organize chains of evasion aimed at passing Jews persecuted by the Gestapo, as well as allied officers and soldiers to Spain. Finally, in 1944, due to the incursions of the maquis from Andorra into Spain, General de Gaulle sent a contingent of gendarmes to prevent the Francoist invasion of Andorra. In turn, the Episcopal Co-Prince also sent a detachment of civil guards, both French and Spanish, remaining until 1945.

On January 14, 1982, the first Andorran government took office, chaired by Òscar Ribas Reig. The last historical date is March 14, 1993, when the second written Constitution in its history was approved in a referendum, which dismantled the last feudal reminiscences of the Principality by declaring the Andorran people as the sole sovereign of the State. That same year it was signed the Treaty of Good Neighbourhood, Friendship and Cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic and the Principality of Andorra.

Government and politics

Entrance in Andorra of Dr. Ramón Iglesias and Navarri as Prince, 1942.

La Casa de la Vall, former headquarters of the General Council of Andorra.

Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality and approved its Constitution on March 14, 1993. The general policy and administration of the country is the responsibility of the Government of Andorra. The head of State falls on the figure of the episcopal co-prince, the Bishop of Seo de Urgell, and the French co-prince, the President of the French Republic as heir to the rights of the Count of Foix. The current Heads of State are Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, represented by Patrick Strzoda, and the Bishop of Seo de Urgel Joan Enric Vives i Sicília, represented by Josep María Mauri. The President of the current Government is Xavier Espot Zamora.

The Principality is represented internationally in several organizations, in addition to having a diplomatic corps in foreign countries.

Executive Branch

The executive body is made up of a President of the Government and various ministries in a variable number.

Legislative branch

Plaque of the Andorran parliament.

The General Council of Andorra, formerly called the General Council of the Valleys of Andorra, is the legislative body and is a unicameral parliament with mixed and equal representation of the national population and the seven parishes, made up of 28 elected members every four years. The seat of the parliament is the New Parliament of Andorra, inaugurated in 2011. Until then the seat was the historic Casa de la Vall.

The parties represented in the General Council, according to the results of the elections of April 7, 2019 are:

Currently, Andorra is governed by Democrats for Andorra, a center-right party that obtained a simple majority in the last elections, governs with the support of the PLdA and Tercera Vía - Unió Laurediana. The President of the Government (Cap de Govern) of the country is Xavier Espot Zamora.

The right-wing parties obtain very good results and the right has always governed, except from 2009 to 2011, when the Social Democratic Party of Andorra governed. The Liberal Party of Andorra was the hegemonic party of the center right from 1992 to 2011, since 2011 the hegemonic party of the center right is Democrats for Andorra. The PSA has been the hegemonic party of the left since 1992, it has always been the second political force, except from 2009 to 2011, when it was the first, and from 2015 to 2019, when it was the third.

Judicial branch

The Andorran judicial system is made up of:

• Dance of Andorra: judges, in the first instance, minor offences and criminal offences as well as civil and administrative litigation,
• Court of Courts: decide, at first instance, on major crimes and, on appeal, on appeal, on appeal against the judgements handed down by the Batlles Tribunal,
• High Court of Justice of Andorra: composed of a president and eight judges appointed by the Superior Council of Justice. It has jurisdiction over civil, administrative and criminal matters.
• Higher Council of Justice: a body of representation, government and administration of the judiciary and ensuring the independence and good functioning of justice.
• Constitutional Court of Andorra: he is in charge of interpreting the Andorran Constitution, as well as deciding on the adequacy of the remaining laws to it. It consists of four judges.

Public administration

The commons are bodies of representation and civil administration of the parishes. They are public corporations with legal personality and local regulatory power. The commons are in charge of approving and executing the communal budget, managing communal property assets and can submit bills to the General Council of Andorra. Its members are elected every four years by universal suffrage and include a major consul, a minor consul and between 8 and 14 communal councillors.

Human Rights

In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), the Principality of Andorra has signed or ratified:

Status of major international human rights instruments

Principality of Andorra	International treaties
	CESCR		CCPR			CERD	CED	CEDAW		CAT		CRC			MWC	CRPD
	CESCR	CESCR-OP	CCPR	CCPR-OP1	CCPR-OP2-DP			CEDAW	CEDAW-OP	CAT	CAT-OP	CRC	CRC-OP-AC	CRC-OP-SC		CRPD	CRPD-OP
Pertenence
Signed and ratified, signed, but not ratified, neither signed nor ratified, without information, it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies.

The current regulations on medical examinations carried out on immigrants establish that work authorization will be denied to those people who suffer from alcoholism or other drug addiction, diseases subject to quarantine defined in the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization. Health, serious psychomental disorders that represent a danger to public order or safety, infectious diseases that represent a danger to public health such as hepatitis or AIDS, chronic diseases that evolve into work incapacity such as deafness or physical or mental disabilities for the type of work requested.

Human Rights are ensured with the figure of the Raonador del Ciutadà (Ombudsman), which is an institution independent of any other whose mission is the defense and protection of rights and freedoms fundamental rights recognized in the Constitution, the monitoring of compliance and the defense of the rights recognized in the international agreements signed and ratified by the Principality of Andorra in the terms established by law, in particular on the rights of children, of people with disability, and also the fight against discrimination of all kinds and against racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic and intolerant attitudes.

Defense

Andorra does not have its own armed forces, although there is a small ceremonial army. The responsibility for the defense of the nation falls mainly on its larger neighbors France and Spain under the Treaty of Good Neighbor, Friendship and Cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic and the Principality of Andorra.

Andorra has had through various periods a small army, which historically has been raised or reconstituted on various dates, but in modern times has never constituted a standing army. The basic principle of the Andorran defense is that all able-bodied men are available to fight if called upon by the Sometent (an Andorran civil defense organization, formed by the heads of families). Being a landlocked country, Andorra lacks a navy.

Prior to World War I, Andorra maintained an armed militia of about 600 part-time militiamen under the supervision of a Captain or Captain of Somatén (Capità or Cap de Sometent) and a Lieutenant (Desener or Lloctinent del Capità). This body could not serve outside the principality and was commanded by two officers (veguers) appointed by France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain.

In modern times, the army was made up of a very small body of volunteers willing to perform ceremonial duties. Uniforms and weaponry were passed down from generation to generation within families and communities.

The army's role in internal security was largely assumed by the formation of the Andorran Police Corps in 1931. Brief civil disturbances related to the 1933 elections led to requests for assistance from the French National Gendarmerie, with a detachment resident in Andorra for two months under the command of René-Jules Baulard. The Andorran Police was reformed the following year, with eleven soldiers appointed for supervisory functions. The force was made up of six corporals, one for each parish (although there are currently seven parishes, until 1978 there were only six), plus four junior officers for coordinate the action, and a commander with the rank of major. It was the responsibility of the six corporals, each in his parish, to be able to assemble a fighting force among the able men of the parish.

The only permanent section of the Somatén today is a twelve-man ceremonial unit. However, all able-bodied men are technically available for military service, with the requirement that each family have access to a firearm. One area weapon such as a Shotgun per household is not regulated, however ranged weapons such as Pistols and Rifles require a license. The army has not fought in more than 700 years, and its main responsibility is to present the Andorran flag in official ceremonial acts. According to Marc Forné Molné, Andorra's military budget comes strictly from voluntary donations, and from the availability of full-time volunteers.

In more recent times there has only been a general emergency call to the Sometent popular army during the 1982 floods in the Spanish Pyrenees, where 12 citizens of Andorra perished, to help the population and establish public order together with the units of the Local Police.

Territorial organization

Ordino Canillo LaMassana Encamp The Escaldas-Engordany Andorrala Vieja San Juliánde Loria France Spain Concordia land

Parishs of Andorra.

Andorra is territorially divided into seven parishes, the first and only political-administrative level in the country. Even so, there are territorial subdivisions: the parishes of Ordino, La Massana and San Julián de Loria are divided into quarts (rural quarters), and the parish of Canillo into veïnats (neighborhoods).

Parishes

The parishes take the name of their capital and the protocol order is:

• Canillo. Frontier with France.
• Encamp. Frontieriza con Francia y España.
• Ordino. Frontier with France.
• La Massana. Frontieriza con France y España
• Andorra la Vieja. Most populated and bordered Parish with Spain. Its main city is the capital of the country.
• San Julián de Loria. Border with Spain.
• Steps-Engordany. Frontieriza with Spain. It is the most recent one, having formed in June 1978.

Embassies and consulates

Embassies

• Embassy of Spain
• Embassy of France
• Embassy of Portugal

Consulates

• Consulate of Italy
• Consulate of the Philippines
• Consulate General of Spain

Geography

Map of Andorra.

Satellite image of Andorra.

It is located mainly in the Iberian Peninsula, with the exception of Solana, which flows into the Ariège River, a tributary of the Garonne, which flows into Bordeaux. The surface of Andorra, included in the Iberian Peninsula, is 468 km². Its relief is mountainous, with 65 peaks over 2,500 m in altitude. The highest mountain is the Comapedrosa peak which, with an altitude of 2946 m s. no. m., is located in the Pyrenees mountain range, nestled between the border of Spain and France. It is a region of steep mountain peaks and narrow valleys through which numerous water courses flow, joining to form the three main rivers: the Valira del Norte river, the Valira de Oriente river and the Gran Valira river. There are large forested areas of pine and birch due to the high mountain Mediterranean climate that the country enjoys. In 2004, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Climate

Andorra has a high mountain Mediterranean and oceanic climate, in which temperatures are cold in winter and mild in summer. Variations in weather occur depending on altitude and orientation. The Principality has a high percentage of sunny days and the climate is somewhat humid.

The average annual minimum is -11 °C and the maximum is 24 °C. The most abundant rainfall occurs during autumn while in winter it is mainly snow.

A global model can be defined characterized by convective and abundant rains during spring and summer, which can last until autumn (May, June and August are usually the rainiest months); in winter, however, it is less rainy, except in the highlands, subject to the influence of the Atlantic fronts, which explains the large amount of snow that falls in the Andorran mountains. The temperature regime is characterized, broadly speaking, by a mild summer and a long, cold winter; according to the mountainous condition of the Principality.

Average climate parameters of Andorra la Vieja (Roc de Sant Pere), altitude: 1,075msnm (1971-2000)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	6.9	8.9	11.7	13.3	17.6	21.9	26.2	25.4	21.4	16.0	10.7	7.5	15.6
Average temperature (°C)	2.2	3.5	5.8	7.5	11.5	15.4	18.8	18.5	14.9	10.3	5.7	3.0	9.8
Temp. medium (°C)	-2.5	-1.8	-0.2	1.7	5.3	8.8	11.4	11.4	8.5	4.7	0.6	-1.4	3.9
Total precipitation (mm)	53.1	37.9	40.5	71.2	89.8	84.2	60.7	85.6	80.9	72.4	68.4	67.9	812.3
Source: ACDA

Relief

This small country is characterized by its peaks of Paleozoic materials, which rise above 2,600 meters above sea level. no. m. and reach a maximum of 2946 m s. no. m. in the Pico de Coma Pedrosa, near the Pla de l'Estany on the Spanish-French border. Human activity is centered in the northeast-southwest transversal valley, which from the port of Envalira, with 2408 m s. no. m., descends to 840 m s. no. m., when the Valira river enters Spain.

Vegetation

Forests occupy 2/5 of the territory, distributed in three altitudinal floors: up to 1200 meters, holm oak and oak stand out; up to 1600-1700 meters, Scots pine predominates; and up to 2,200-2,300 meters, black pine abounds, replaced on the peaks by alpine meadows.

In the parish of La Massana is the Arinsal forest, one of the most important forest masses in Andorra. Its typical flower is the grandalla.

Hydrography

Grandvalira ski resort.

The country is crossed by three main rivers. The Valira de Oriente rises in the easternmost part, has a 23 km route and passes through the cities of Canillo and Encamp, coming together with the Valira del Norte river, which rises in the Tristaina lakes, has a 14 km route and it passes through the city of Ordino and La Massana to finally, in the city of Escaldes-Engordany, where both rivers come together and form the Gran Valira, with a route of 11.6 km and an average annual flow of 13 m³/s. The latter, as it descends to the south, ends up flowing into the Segre river, which, in turn, is a tributary of the Ebro.

Andorra has more than 60 lakes. The most representative are Lake Juclar, whose surface area is the largest of all the lakes in the Principality with 21 hectares and which, during the summer season and due to the consequent lack of water, can be seen as three different lakes, although in reality it is the same, the lake of l'Illa with 13 hectares, the pond of Engolasters with 7 hectares and the three lakes of Tristaina.

Demographics and society

Population

Pas de la Casa, border town with France.

The population of Andorra in 2022 was 79,877 inhabitants. In 2008 it was 84,484 inhabitants, of whom 31,636 were Andorran, 27,300 Spanish, 13,794 Portuguese, 5,214 French and 6,540 of other nationalities. to a voluntary policy of a restrictive nature to acquire nationality, in 1998, the latest date for which there is information on all inhabitants with Andorran nationality, only 53.1% had been born in Andorra. Even so, the total number of Andorran citizens has grown significantly in the last ten years: in 1998, they only represented 24.5% of the total population and today, they are already a relative majority. On the contrary, the absolute number of Spanish citizens in 2008 was slightly less than the number of 1998, but their percentage with respect to the total population has decreased significantly from 48.4% to 32.8%, and today they constitute the first minority of the country, along with Portuguese (16.3%) and French (6.3%) as the other main groups. Overall, citizens who do not have Andorran nationality are in the majority but do not have the right to vote in municipal elections, nor can they be presidents.

Arinsal, village of the parish of La Massana.

Regarding the parishes, the most populated is Andorra la Vella, with a population of 24,678 inhabitants in 2008, followed by Escaldes-Engordany with 16,714, Encamp with 14,234, San Julián de Loria with 9,652, La Massana 9636, Canillo 5625 and Ordino with only 3945 inhabitants, being the least populated.

The population growth rate is higher than most European states; in 2008 it was estimated at 2% per year. This demographic growth rate is due to a birth rate, estimated in 2008, of 10.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, a mortality rate of 5.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, and a very high net migration rate of 14 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants. The annual growth rate had reached a historical maximum of 7.7% in 2003, followed by 6.4% in 2004, with Canillo being the parish with the highest rate. Andorran life expectancy is the second highest in the world, estimated at 91.2 years (89.2 for men and 93.2 for women). The fertility rate is 1 32 children per woman. Regarding the age pyramid, 15.5% of Andorrans in 2008 were under 14 years of age, 72.5% between 15 and 64 years of age, and 12% were 65 or over. The average age of Andorran residents is 38.8 years.

Languages

Maternal language chart of Andorra (2012).

The official language of Andorra is Catalan, it is the only state that has it as the only official language. Although the linguistic reality is the result of the great demographic transformation that the country has experienced since the second half of the century XX: in 1940 foreigners residing in the country represented only 17%; in 1989 they represented 75.7% —an all-time high— and in 2007 they are around 65%. French is also often heard, given the Principality's border situation. Recently there has been a significant increase in the Portuguese-speaking population.

According to the Andorran government's Language Policy Service, Catalan is the mother tongue of 49.4% of the population of Andorran nationality, but only 29.9% of the total population uses it. On the contrary, Spanish is the most widespread mother tongue among the population of the Principality. Despite the growth of the population of Andorran and Portuguese nationalities, 43.4% declared that Spanish is their mother tongue. The study shows that in recent years there has been a deterioration in the position of the Catalan language in favor of from Spanish.

Regarding literacy, 100% of citizens know how to read and write. Spanish is the language that ranks first with respect to the proportion of the literate population, followed by French, and Catalan in third place.

According to a 2018 study by the Language Policy Service of the Government of Andorra, the most common languages in Andorra are:

Religion

Despite the fact that there is no official religion, the Constitution makes explicit mention of the Catholic Church, to which it guarantees the free and public exercise of its activities and the maintenance of relations of special collaboration with the State, in accordance with Andorran tradition, although it also establishes religious freedom. Note also that one of the co-princes of the Principality is the Catholic bishop of Seo de Urgell, and that the religious celebration of September 8, The Virgin of Meritxell is a national holiday. It is estimated that 95% of the Andorran population professes Christianity; among its denominations are Catholicism (mostly), Protestantism, Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. Other religions that are practiced are Islam - due to the 2,000 settled North African immigrants - and Hinduism.

Andorra's population is predominantly (88.2%) Catholic; its patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell. Although it is not an official religion of the micro-State, the constitution recognizes a special relationship with the Catholic Church, and gives it some privileges. Other Christian denominations include the Anglican Church, the Unification Church, the New Apostolic Church, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The small Muslim community is made up mainly of immigrants from North Africa. There is a small community of Hindus and Baha'is, and approximately one hundred Jews live in Andorra.

Health

Health care in the country is part of the public network and is accessed through social security affiliation called Caja Andorrana Social Security (CASS). There is only one hospital, the Nuestra Señora de Meritxell Hospital, in Escaldes-Engordany and eleven health centers spread throughout the main towns.

Andorra has agreements with the Generalitat of Catalonia in health matters. In 2010, a new agreement was signed to share health services, emergencies and medical records to coordinate the referral of patients from Alto Urgell to the Principality and patients from Andorra to Catalonia. In addition, the agreement also allows Andorrans to access the European health card and the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia.

Health care in Andorra is fully covered by the citizens, although the State guarantees a 75% refund of the amount if they have health coverage. The rest must be paid by the person affected or by contracted health insurance. The cost of these is around 60 euros per month.

Economy

Andorra is not a full member of the European Union but, since 1990, it enjoys a special relationship and is treated as if it were part of it for trade in manufactured goods (tax-exempt) and as a non-member of the EU for agricultural products.

Andorra has traditionally been an agricultural and livestock country, although since the 1950s the primary sector has been losing importance. Agricultural production is limited, since only 2% of the land is arable, tobacco is planted in almost all of its fields, and the main livestock activity is cattle and horse breeding, based on an extensive exploitation system. In the secondary sector, transformation industries (cigarettes, cigars and furniture) and primary industries predominate. Currently, the tertiary sector represents, according to estimates, 80% of Andorran GDP, with tourism being the mainstay of the Andorran economy. Nine million people visit it annually, attracted by its status as a tax haven, its ski resorts and the price differential in trade compared to neighboring countries, although the latter has recently eroded as the French and Spanish economies have opened up., providing a wider availability of goods and lower rates. In 2005, the country received 11,049,490 visitors, of which 2,418,409 were tourists and 8,631,081 hikers. Of the total number of visitors, 57.2% were Spanish, 39.8% French and only 3.0% came from other countries.

Currently, the country's financial sector has three banking entities belonging to the Association of Andorran Banks —in turn a member of the Banking Federation of the European Union—, which in the past contributed substantially to the economy due to the banking secrecy that encouraged large offshore banking accounts (and that until recently had five banking entities). At the end of the 2010s, various information exchange treaties came into force, which fostered economic openness and transparency of the Andorran banks, causing, on the other hand, that the extraterritorial monetary positions of the Pyrenean country were reducing considerably. This change of heart was initially due to pressure exerted by the then President of France Nicolas Sarkozy (who even threatened to resign as Andorran head of state). As a consequence, the Andorran government signed the Declaration in April 2009 of Paris at the London G-20 summit, in order to stop being considered a tax haven by the OECD. By 2020, Andorra had signed tax information exchange treaties with 95 countries and organizations, including the Global Forum on Transparency and Tax Information Exchange (sponsored by the so-called G-5 and endorsed by the OECD).

All banks in Andorra are national and locally owned banks, whose main activities are private banking, consumer banking (for local activities) and commercial banking. With the automatic data exchange CRS in force, the Foreign capital existing in the country is subject to compliance with international requirements.

The social agents are:

• Trade union organizations. In December 2008, the number of employees was 40 694.
  • SAT
  • USdA
• Business organizations
  • CEA
  • SMEs

Currency

Andorra has historically lacked an official currency. Until the introduction of the euro in Spain and France, the Spanish peseta and the French franc were de facto the currencies used there. As of 2002, the euro became, also de facto, the Andorran currency.

In 2011 a currency agreement was signed that would allow Andorra to use the euro officially as well as mint its own euro coins from July 1, 2013. This agreement was dependent on Andorran ratification, which happened on April 2012, when it entered into force. In October 2012, the Andorran authorities postponed the issuance of euro coins until 2014, the year in which the first series was finally issued.

Traditionally, Andorra issued coins called “Diners” that were not legal tender but were for collecting purposes. These coins may continue to be issued.

The supervision of Andorran banks and other financial entities corresponds to the Andorran Financial Authority, created in 1989.

Schengen Area

Andorra is not part of the Schengen agreement signed by 26 countries. This implies that to access the principality, a series of requirements must be met to pass border controls. If the origin of the visitor is from outside the European Union, they must request a visa to be able to enter the country. The person who is interested in entering Andorra must apply for a multiple entry visa to European territory. This is because if you visit Andorran territory you will be leaving the European Union, and you will need another entry visa to Spain or France to leave the country; since Andorra does not have direct flights and the entry must be made from one of the neighboring countries. It should be noted that most of the border activity is related to the control of goods entering European territory.

People belonging to territories adhering to the Schengen agreement who wish to enter Andorra will not need any type of visa. It will only be necessary when the person makes long stays in the Principality of Andorra, normally over 90 days.

Taxation

The Principality of Andorra ceased to be considered a tax haven with the introduction of taxes in its country such as the Indirect General Tax (IGI), the Corporation Tax (IS) and the Personal Income Tax (personal income tax).

The General Indirect Tax (IGI) was established in Andorra in 2013 and the general rate applied is 4.5%.

The Corporate Tax (IS) taxes the profits obtained by Andorran companies at a maximum rate of 10%. One of the most interesting points is that the distribution of dividends is totally exempt from taxes.

Finally, the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) taxes the profits obtained worldwide by individuals residing in Andorra. The first €24,000 obtained is fully exempt and the maximum tax rate of this tax is set at 10%.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Andorra communicates with the outside world through land routes. It does not have a railway (although there is a project for a Barcelona-Andorra railway line, connecting Seo de Urgell with Puigcerdá, in addition to the Andorra-l'Hospitalet station in French territory), metro or airports (dismissing support for the airport de Seo de Urgel for the benefit of the Lleida airport), but it has a road infrastructure extensive enough to cover most of the country.

A number of road infrastructure works are currently underway, such as the expansion of lanes on main roads, the removal of black spots on the road network and the construction of various tunnels, of which work has begun on the Dos Valiras Tunnel.

It is also possible to access the Principality with the regular bus lines, which connect Andorra with practically any point in Europe or through the heliports in Andorra la Vella and La Massana. Obviously it does not have access by sea, nor any navigable river.

Telecommunications

The first commercial radio station to broadcast from Andorra was Ràdio Andorra, which was active from 1939 to 1981. On October 12, 1989, the Consell General established radio and television as services essential publics by creating the managing entity ORTA becoming, on April 13, 2000, the public company Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra, S.A. In 1990 the public radio station Radio Nacional de Andorra was founded. In 1998, 15 FM stations were operating and the number of radio sets in 1997 was 16,000. As an autochthonous television channel, there is only the national public channel Andorra Televisión, created in 1995, although the Government promotes the broadcasting of international channels within the Principality. The first analog television broadcasts were with the Spanish channels TVE-1, TVE-2 and TV3 and the French TF1, France 2 and France 3, although in later years, and still broadcasting in analog, the Catalan channel Canal 33, the Antena 3 chain and the French M6. With the arrival of DTT, on September 25, 2007, the television offer was expanded with Spanish channels such as Cuatro, Telecinco, La Sexta, channel 3/24, the French channel NRJ 12, the Portuguese RTP, the American CNN International, the British BBC World and the Franco-German ARTE. Currently free of charge, only DTT is broadcast with Andorran, French, Spanish, international and some regional channels such as TV3. However, numerous packages are offered with an immense variety of channels, including the Movistar Plus+ packages.

The provider of landline, mobile, Internet and subscription television is Andorra Telecom. The telephone network is made up of radio link connections with microwaves between exchanges for local connections, and terrestrial circuits to Spain and France for international communications. Andorra Telecom currently has three international links, one to France with Orange and two to Spain with Telefónica Global Solutions and GTT Communications. Since 2014, an FTTH network covers 100% of Andorran homes, offering up to 1 Gbps symmetric. In 2014, ADSL was completely disconnected in the territory and in 2016 the old copper network was uninstalled, no longer used after being replaced by the fiber optic network. Internet access is considered a "universal right" since 2011.

Andorra is not included in free European roaming. In the case of Spanish users, simply sending a video via WhatsApp can cost 30 euros. The cost of a single MB can reach 12 euros in some operators, Movistar being the cheapest, with 3 GB for 9 euros per day. The savings alternatives can be to purchase prepaid SIM cards from Andorra Telecom or specific or international SIM cards.

The postal service is served by the Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos (Spain) since 1928, and La Poste (France) since 1931.

In 2004, the postal codes were introduced according to the protocol order of the parishes:

• Canillo: AD100.
• Encamp: AD200.
• Ordino: AD300.
• La Massana: AD400.
• Andorra la Vieja: AD500.
• San Julián de Loria: AD600.
• Steps-Engordany: AD700.

Culture

The National Library and the National Archives were created in 1974 and 1975 respectively, and are located in the capital.

There are also several museums: Casa Rull in Sispony, the Farga Rossell in La Massana, and the Romanesque Andorra Interpretation Center in Pal, the Viladomat museum, the Museum of Romanesque Art Models and the Perfume museum in Escaldes-Engordany, the Nicolaï Siadristy miniature museum, the Casa de Areny-Plandolit and the Andorra postal museum in Ordino, the National Automobile Museum in Encamp, the Casa de la Vall, with a section dedicated to philately and numismatics, in Andorra La Vieja and the Tobacco Museum in San Julián de Loria.

Education

In Andorra there are three educational systems with primary, secondary and Vocational Training centers:

• Andorran. Dependant on the Ministry of Education, Culture and Youth.
• Spanish. Dependant on the Spanish Ministry of Education.
• French. Dependant on the French Ministry of National Education.

In addition to the public offer, we must add the existence of two congregational centers that are governed by the Spanish system, although they mostly teach classes in Catalan, also promoting the use of French and Spanish. For the 2005-2006 school year, 3,636 students were enrolled in the French system, 3,612 in Andorra, and 3,541 in Spanish.

In 1997 the University of Andorra was founded, of a public nature and which has signed collaboration agreements with various Spanish and French universities. This university is made up of three centers:

• School of Nursing. The career of Nursing is taught.
• Computer and Management School. The careers of Business Administration, Education and Computer Sciences are taught.
• Center for Virtual Studies. Virtual subjects, First or Second Cycle studies, postgraduate courses and refresher courses are taught.
• Aixovall Vocational Education Centre, located in San Julián de Loria.

During the summer months, it organizes the Summer University, whose current honorary president is Juan Goytisolo, taking over, in 2006, from José Luis Sampedro.

Architecture

Romanesque Church of Santa Coloma.

Andorra has a large number of Romanesque monuments. The church of Santa Coloma, built between the 9th and 10th centuries AD. C. is one of the few Romanesque churches in the world with a cylindrical bell tower, dating from the 12th century.

Literature

Andorran literature has its origins in the 18th century. Antoni Fiter i Rossell wrote a book on the history, government and customs of Andorra called Manual Digest de las Valls neustras de Andorra in 1748. This work also contains the documents of Charlemagne and Ludovico Pío. The original is currently kept in the Fiter-Riba house, in Ordino, although there is a copy in the Armario de las siete llaves of the Casa de la Vall and another in the archives of the Bishopric of La Seo de urgent. Later, in[1763], the parish priest Antoni Puig wrote the Politar andorrà, a work that describes the privileges of the Principality and the powers of the authorities. The poet Jacinto Verdaguer was inspired, in part, by the Seturia valley for his work Canigó, published in 1886.

As authors of contemporary literature, we can cite Antoni Morell i Mora, Albert Salvadó i Miras, Teresa Colom i Pich and Albert Villaró i Boix, some of these writers participating in the 2007 edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Likewise, the Andorran Government, together with Catalan publishers, annually convenes the Charlemagne Prize and, since 2007, the Ramon Llull Prize.

Music

Public source representing the dance of the counterpart.

The most important event in Andorran cultural life is the Escaldes-Engordany International Jazz Festival, held during the month of July, where performers such as Miles Davis, Fats Domino and B.B. King have participated. In the National Auditorium of Andorra, located in Ordino, the Narciso Yepes International Festival is held, dedicated to classical music and jazz. In the capital, on Thursday nights in July and August, the Dijous de Rock is also held, where local groups and, occasionally, Spanish groups, offer concerts to the audience. Since 1999, the Center de la Cultura Catalana association has organized the Carles Sabater Award, choosing the best song in Catalan of the year.

The National Chamber Orchestra of Andorra, directed and founded in 1992 by the violinist Gerard Claret, celebrates an internationally renowned singing competition, endorsed by Montserrat Caballé, as well as having offered concerts in Spain, France and Belgium and participating regularly in the cycles of the Palace of Catalan Music.

Traditional Andorran music, related to that of other Pyrenean regions, has characteristic dances such as the Marratxa, compiled by the folklorist Palmira Jaquetti i Isant.

In 1968 Andorra participated, for the first time, in the Festival Internacional da Canção, represented by Romuald, with the song "Le Bruit des Vagues". In 1969 he returned to represent said artist to the country, with the song & # 34; Tous les printemps du monde & # 34;. In 1970 the singer Rosa Morena did it with the song "Como un pájaro" (Like a bird), which won the Rio de Janeiro Critics Award.

In 2004, Andorra participated, for the first time, in the Eurovision Song Contest represented by Marta Roure. This event attracted the attention of the Catalan media, since it was the first song sung in Catalan. The song was eliminated in the semi-final, as were compositions from 2005 (performed by Marian van de Wal), 2006 (performed by Jenny), 2007 (performed by Anonymous), 2008 (performed by Gisela) and 2009 (performed by singer Danish Susanne Georgi).

Official holidays

Holidays are mandatory, paid and non-recoverable for industries in general, offices, banking establishments, hairdressers, transport and distribution of goods and services not directly related to tourism.

Since 2009, when March 14 coincides with Saturday, the Andorran government allows companies dedicated to commerce to open, which causes protests by unions, associations or, in the case of 2009, the Common of Andorra the Old.

Sports

Games of the Small States of Europe

Andorra hosted, in 1991 and 2005, the Games of the Small States of Europe, a competition organized under the IOC for European countries with less than 1 million inhabitants.

Basketball

In the 1991-92 season, the Andorra Basketball Club was promoted to the ACB League, led by coach Edu Torres. The team was relegated from the top flight in 1996. In the 2014-15 season, the Básquet Club Andorra once again achieved promotion to the ACB League. Andorra has reached the quarterfinals in the 1994-95, 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns.

The best Andorran basketball player in history is the point guard Quino Colom.

Winter Sports

Shooting dogs.

Grandvalira in the parish of Encamp.

Telesilla in Grandvalira.

The national sport is skiing. The capital, Andorra la Vella, tried to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, but failed to qualify for the final. A joint candidacy with Zaragoza for the 2018 games was also studied. The Principality also hosted stages of Pirena, a mushing competition that began in 1990.

Andorra has two skiable domains formed by the union of several ski resorts, and a complex for leisure where you can practice cross-country skiing:

• Grandvalira. Surged from the merger of Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig and Soldeu-El Tarter. The Avet track, located in the village of Soldeu hosts international skiing tests such as the Alpine Ski World Cup.
• Grandvalira Resorts. Surged from the alliance between the ski resorts of Grandvalira, Pal, Arinsal and Ordino-Arcalís.
• Naturlandia. Located in the area of La Rabassa, with a maximum height of 2160 m n. m. and a minimum height of 1960 m n. m. It has 15 km of marked tracks, distributed in 5 tracks of different difficulty.

Football

The Andorran Football Federation organizes the football league in the Principality with First and Second division, as well as the Copa Constitució and the Super Cup, where the League and Cup champions face each other. Primera winner plays the previous round of the UEFA Champions League. The matches are played at the Campo Comunal de Andorra la Vella.

The soccer team participates in official competitions, although it has never been in any World Cup or Euro Cup. It was always considered one of the worst teams in Europe and the world, however in recent years it has made remarkable progress.

Fútbol Club Andorra plays in the Second Division of the Spanish Soccer League as it is registered with the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation.

Football

The Andorran futsal league is divided into 2 categories, and the First Division champion plays the preliminary phase of the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Fútbol Club Andorra has a futsal section, whose team is Butagaz Andorra, which plays in the Spanish Silver Division.

Cycling

In 1993, the Festina cycling team changed its registered office to the Principality and until 2001, the year it disappeared, it participated in various editions of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Cycling Tour of Spain.

Melcior Mauri promoted the Andorra-Grandvalira team.

Roller Hockey

Andorra has a roller hockey team, which has competed since 1990. In general, it competes in the B World Championship (it played the A World Championship 6 times), after the generation of two divisions of the men's roller hockey world championship. He obtained the B World Roller Hockey Championship in 2002, played in Montevideo, Uruguay and in 1992 as a local. A third place in the championship played in Macau (2004) and a fourth place in 1998 (Macau) and 1996 (Mexico City).

Other sports

You could say that all sports are practiced in Andorra. Apart from cycling, football and basketball, rugby is also very popular with the Andorra rugby team; handball with the Concordia Club Handball, swimming, judo, gymnastics, volleyball and many more.

Engine

Within motor sports, one of those practiced are rallies. The most emblematic event is the Andorra Rally, which has been held since the 1970s. Within this discipline, the most outstanding drivers are: Gerard De La Casa, Ferrán Font, Joan Carchat, Ferrán Urteru, Carles Santacreu, Joan Vinyes and Albert Llovera.

See also

• Portal:Andorra. Content related to Andorra.
• Selection of rugby from Andorra
• Andorran passport
• United Nations Security Council resolution 848

References

Bibliography

• Parrilla García, José Antonio (1983). Breu història d'Andorra. Barcelona: NONO-ART, S.A. ISBN 84-85620-07-0.
• Geography and història d'Andorra. Andorra: Ministeri d'Educació, Cultura i Joventut. 1993.
• Viadiu i Vendrell, Francesc (2000). Andorra, between the torb and the Gestapo. Barcelona: Rafael Dalmau Editor. ISBN 978-84-232-0618-6.
• Institut d'Estudis Andorrans (2005). Anàlisi de la situació laboral a Andorra. Lérida: Pagès Editors. ISBN 978-99920-2-028-9.
• Valls Oliva, Àlvar (2006). Dictioni Enciclopèdic d'Andorra. Andorra la Vieja: Fundació Crèdit Andorrà. ISBN 978-99920-1-629-9.
• Andorra. Guide 2008. Andorra: Foment de la comunicació i la imatge. 2008. ISBN 978-99920-1-677-0.

External links

Wikipedia in Catalan is a version of Wikipedia in a language spoken in this country. You can visit and contribute.

Wikipedia in French is a version of Wikipedia in a language spoken in this country. You can visit and contribute.

Wikipedia in Portuguese is a version of Wikipedia in a language spoken in this country. You can visit and contribute.

• Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia gallery on Andorra.
• Wikis hosts travel guides or over Andorra.
• Wikinoticias has news related to Andorra.
• Wikcionario has definitions and other information about Andorra.
• Wikimedia Atlas: Andorra
• Official portal of the Principality of Andorra

Policy

• Government of Andorra (in Catalan)
• Consell General (in Catalan)
• Web of the French Copríncipe (in Catalan and French)

Tourism

• General information (in Spanish)

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