The World Factbook (1982)/Andorra

by the Central Intelligence Agency

ANDORRA

(See reference map V)

LAND

466 km²

Land boundaries: 105 km

PEOPLE

Population: 36,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 4.1%

Nationality: noun—Andorran(s); adjective—Andorran

Ethnic divisions: Catalan stock; 61% Spanish, 30% Andorrans, 6% French, 3% other

Religion: virtually all Roman Catholic

Language: Catalan; many also speak some French and Castilian

Labor force: unorganized; largely shepherds and farmers

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Principality of Andorra

Type: unique coprincipality under formal sovereignty of President of France and Spanish Bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called verguers

Capital: Andorra

Political subdivisions: 7 districts

Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; Plan of Reform adopted 1866 serves as constitution; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Branches: legislature (General Council) consisting of 28 members with one-half elected every two years for four-year term; executive—syndic (manager) and a deputy subsyndic chosen by General Council for three-year terms; judiciary chosen by coprinces who appoint two civil judges, a judge of appeals, and two Batles (court prosecutors); final appeal to the Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan, France, or to the Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain Suffrage: males of 21 or over who are third generation Andorrans vote for General Council members; same right granted to women in April 1970

Elections: half of General Council chosen every two years, last election December 1979 Political parties and leaders: political parties not yet legally recognized; traditionally no political parties but only partisans for particular independent candidates for the General Council, on the basis of competence, personality, and orientation toward Spain or France; various small pressure groups developed in 1972; first formal political party—Andorran Democratic Association—formed in November 1976; as of March 1980, newly formed Partit Democrata Andorra, which had applied for legal status, must await final approval of a new law covering associations

Communists: negligible

Member of: UNESCO

ECONOMY

Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables (less than 4% of land is arable)

Major industries: tourism, sheep, timber, tobacco, and smuggling

Electric power: 25,000 kW capacity (1981); 100 million kWh produced (1981), 3,450 kWh per capita; power is mainly exported to Spain and France

Major trade partners: Spain, France

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: about 96 km

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airfields: none

Telecommunications: international landline circuits to Spain and France; 2 AM stations, 1 FM station, and 1 TV station; about 11,720 telephones (39.0 per 100 popl.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Andorra has no defense forces; Spain and France are responsible for protection as needed