Andorra

Did you know?

Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe and the largest of the European microstates, with an area of 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi) and an estimated population of 90,021 as of July 2026. The Andorran people are a Romance group descended from the Catalans. Andorra is the world's 17th-smallest country by land and 11th-smallest by population. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 feet) above sea level. The sole official language is Catalan, while Spanish, Portuguese and French are also used.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology

The origin of the name Andorra is uncertain. Its earliest known occurrence is in a surviving copy of a lost document from 843. A document from 903 applies the name both to the valley and to a smaller local district within it. Medieval records also contain occasional variants such as Annora, Annorra, Anorra, Endore and Norra. Several explanations of the name have been proposed, but the linguist Joan Coromines concluded that the surviving evidence did not permit a definitive etymology.

One longstanding hypothesis connects the name with the Andosini.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

History

La Balma de la Margineda, found by archaeologists at Sant Julià de Lòria, was settled in 9500 BCE as a passing place between the two sides of the Pyrenees. The seasonal camp was perfectly located for hunting and fishing by the groups of hunter-gatherers from Ariege and Segre.

During the Neolithic, a group of people moved to the Valley of Madriu (the present-day Natural Park located in Escaldes-Engordany declared UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a permanent camp in 6640 BCE. The population of the valley grew cereals, raised domestic livestock, and developed commercial trade with people from Ségre and Occitania.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Geography

Andorra is a small landlocked country in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, between France and Spain. It covers 468 km2 (181 sq mi), has an average elevation of 1,996 m (6,549 ft), and shares borders of 56.6 km (35.2 mi) with France and 63.7 km (39.6 mi) with Spain. Its terrain is predominantly mountainous; its highest point is Coma Pedrosa, at 2,942 m (9,652 ft), and its lowest is at the Riu Runer confluence, at 840 m (2,756 ft).

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Government and politics

Under the 1993 Constitution, Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality in which sovereignty is vested in the Andorran people. The Bishop of Urgell and the president of France serve as the co-princes, who jointly and indivisibly constitute the head of state and have equal constitutional powers. They represent the state and arbitrate and moderate the functioning of its public authorities. Except where the Constitution provides otherwise, their acts require the countersignature of the head of government or the syndic general, and political responsibility rests with the countersigning official.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Economy

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 8 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts.

One of the main sources of income in Andorra is from ski resorts, which total over 175 km (109 mi) of ski grounds. The sport brings in over 7 million visitors annually and an estimated 340 million euros per year, sustaining 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs at present since 2007.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Demographics

The population of Andorra is estimated at 79,034 (2021). The Andorrans are a Romance ethnic group of originally Catalan descent. The population has grown from 5,000 in 1900.

Two-thirds of residents lack Andorran nationality and do not have the right to vote in communal elections. Moreover, they are not allowed to be elected as prime minister or to own more than 33% of the capital stock of a privately held company.

The largest national groups in Andorra are Spanish (34.3%), Andorrans (32.1%), Portuguese (10%), and French (5.6%).

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0

Culture

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 the music of its neighbours, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances such as the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September.

Wikipedia: Andorra – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0