Andorra

**Andorra** (), officially the **Principality of Andorra**, is a landlocked sovereign country located in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains of Southern Europe and bordered by Spain and France.

## Overview

There are about 79,000 people living in Andorra. The capital is Andorra la Vella. It is ruled by a Spanish Bishop and the French President, who hold the title of Co-Prince together. Andorra's government is a parliamentary democracy.

Andorra is a rich country mostly because of tourism.  There are about 10.2 million visitors each year. The official language is Catalan, though Spanish and French are also used. The Euro (EUR) is the currency of Andorra, though it is not a member of the European Union (EU).

## History

It is said that emperor Charlemagne gifted the Andorran people their country in the 9th century for fighting against the Moors. Before AD 1095, Andorra was not militarily protected. The Lord of Caboet and the Bishop of Urgell decided to rule Andorra together. Andorra's first legislature was created in AD 1419.

The descendants of the Lord of Caboet eventually became the Kings of France over time. When France became a republic, the French King's position as the Co-Prince was taken up by the President of France.

Andorra declared war on Imperial Germany in World War I, but did not do any fighting. Andorra remained in a state of war against Germany until 1957 as the Andorrans did not sign the Treaty of Versailles.

## Geography

Andorra is situated in the Pyrenees mountain range. The highest mountain is Coma Pedrosa.

### Cities

The largest cities in Andorra are:
|No.|Name|Population|
| --- | --- | --- |
|1|Andorra la Vella|22,440|
|2|Escaldes-Engordany|14,599|
|3|Encamp|11,688|
|4|La Massana|10,174|
|5|Sant Julià de Lòria|9,375|
|6|Ordino|4,942|
|7|Canillo|4,325|

For other locations in Andorra, see List of cities in Andorra.

## Politics

The politics of Andorra are very unique in comparison to the rest of the world. There are two heads of state, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France, who hold the title of Co-Prince. This is because of an ancient treaty which said the Bishop of Urgell and the French leader would be the Co-Princes.

There is also an elected legislature named the General Council. It has between 28 and 42 members. The head of government is a member of the Council who is elected to the position by the Council.

## Defense

Andorra doesn't have an Army. France and Spain help to defend Andorra.  The country has a police force of 295.

## Religion

The population of Andorra is mostly (90%) Roman Catholic. Their patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell.

## Education

Children between the ages of 6 and 16 must have full-time education. Education up to secondary level is paid by the government. The University of Andorra (UdA) is the state public university.  It is the only university in Andorra.

## Related pages

- Vatican
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Liechtenstein
- List of rivers of Andorra
- Constitutional monarchy
- Andorra at the Olympics

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Principality of Andorra
- **common name**: Andorra
- **native name**:

- **image flag**: Flag of Andorra.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
- **symbol type**: Coat of arms
- **national motto**: _Virtus Unita Fortior_
"United virtue is stronger"
- **national anthem**:
"The Great Charlemagne"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;"></div>
- **image map**: Location Andorra Europe.png
- **capital**: Andorra la Vella
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: Catalan language, Catalan<sup>b</sup>
- **ethnic groups year**: 2017
- **religion**: Roman Catholicism
- **demonym**: List of Andorrans, Andorran
- **government type**: Elective monarchy, semi-elective diarchy
- **leader title1**: Co-Princes of Andorra, Co-Princes
- **leader title2**: List of Representatives of the Co-Princes of Andorra, Representatives
- **leader title3**: Head of Government of Andorra, Prime Minister
- **leader name3**: Xavier Espot Zamora
- **leader title4**: List of General Syndics of the General Council, General Syndic
- **leader name4**: Roser Suñé Pascuet
- **legislature**: General Council (Andorra), General Council
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established event1**: from Crown of Aragon, Aragon
- **established date1**: Paréage of Andorra 1278, 8 September 1278
- **established event2**: from the Principality of Catalonia
- **established date2**: 1714
- **established event3**: from the Sègre (department), French Empire
- **established date3**: 1814
- **established event4**: Constitution of Andorra, Constitution
- **established date4**: 2 February 1993
- **area km2**: 467.63
- **area rank**: 178th
- **area sq mi**: 180.55
- **percent water**: 0.26 (121.4 hectares, ha)<sup>c</sup>
- **population estimate**: 77,543
- **population estimate rank**: 203rd
- **population estimate year**: 2020
- **population census year**: 2014
- **population density km2**: 179.8
- **population density sq mi**: 465.7
- **population density rank**: 71st
- **gdp nominal**: $3.237 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2018
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $42,035
- **gini**: 27.21
- **gini year**: 2003
- **gini ref**: <sup>d</sup>
- **hdi**: 0.868
- **hdi year**: 2019
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 36th
- **currency**: Euro (Euro sign, €)<sup>e</sup>
- **currency code**: EUR
- **time zone**: Central European Time, CET
- **utc offset**: +01
- **utc offset dst**: +02
- **time zone dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in Andorra, +376
- **cctld**: .ad<sup>f</sup>
- **footnote a**: [http://www.andorramania.com/constit_gb.htm Constitution of Andorra]. In Spanish: _Principado de Andorra_, in French: _Principauté d'Andorre_.
- **footnote b**: Spanish, Provençal and French are spoken by a significant minority
- **footnote c**: Girard P & Gomez P (2009), [http://www.lacsdespyrenees.com/vallee-Andorre.html Lacs des Pyrénées: Andorre].
- **footnote d**: Informe sobre l'estat de la pobresa i la desigualtat al Principal d'Andorra (2003)
- **footnote e**: Before 1999, the French franc and Spanish peseta; the coins and notes of both currencies, however, remained legal tender until 2002. Small amounts of Andorran diners (divided into 100 centim) were minted after 1982.
- **footnote f**: Also .cat, shared with Països Catalans, Catalan-speaking territories.