Principality of Andorra

Countries

NAME OF THE COUNTRY:

Conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
Conventional short form:Andorra
Local long form: Principat d'Andorra
Local short form: Andorra

ETYMOLOGY of ANDORRA:

The origin of the name "Andorra" is not completely known.
It is believed to be derived from al-Darra, the Arabic word for forest.

HISTORY of ANDORRA:

French Count of Foix is said to have inherited the land of Andorra by marrying into a Spanish Lord’s family.
Andorra came under dispute in the eleventh century.
An agreement signed in 1278 divided the sovereignty of the land between the count of Foix and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell, in Catalonia, Spain.
King Henry IV of France issued an edict in 1607 that established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra.
During 1812–13, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it into four départements.
In the annexure, Andorra was assigned to the district of Puigcerda.
Until 1957, Andorra remained in an official state of belligerency as it was not included in the Versailles Peace Treaty.
In 1933 France occupied Andorra after a period of social unrest.
On July 12, 1934, Boris Skossyreff declared war on the bishop of Urgell.
He was arrested and expelled from Spain.
From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra.
During World War II, Andorra remained neutral.
The country served as a smuggling route between Vichy France and Spain.
Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993.
It became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe in 1993.

DEMOGRAPHICS of ANDORRA:

Andorrans are a minority in their own country.
Majority of the population comprises of Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Britons and Italians .
Andorrans have the world's longest life expectancy, cited at 83.5 years.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS of ANDORRA:

Andorra has been run by a parliamentary democracy since March 1993.
The two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain.
They are represented locally by co-princes' representatives.
The administrative divisions comprise of seven parishes namely- Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991 and made effective on 28 April 1993.
The legal system is based on French and Spanish civil codes.
There is no judicial review of legislative acts and the country has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY is the chief-of-state and is represented by Philippe MASSONI.
Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA is represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE.
Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA is the head of the government since 27 May 2005.
Executive Council president is elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the co-princes for a four-year term.
The members of the unicameral General Council of the Valleys are elected by direct popular vote for a total of 28 seats.
Andorra does not have a military base of its own.
The responsibility of the country’s security rests with France and Spain.
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.

CULTURE of ANDORRA:

The population of Andorra is predominantly Roman Catholic.
Their patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell.
The official and historic language is Catalan.
Spanish and French are also widely spoken.
Andorran culture is rich in folktales and folklore.
Andorran culture has contributed to the conglomerate of Catalan culture.
Folk dances like the contrapas, marratxa and Saint Anne's dance are popular in some parishes.
Andorran music has French and Spanish influences.
Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day which is observed on September 8.

ECONOMY of ANDORRA:

The tourism industry makes for more than 80% of the GDP.
The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy.
Since agriculture is limited, most food items have to be imported.
Most of the livestock comprises of sheep.
Manufactured products include cigarettes, cigars and furniture.
Andorra is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
The GDP (purchasing power parity) as calculated in 2005 was $ 2.77 billion.
The small agricultural produce comprises of rye, wheat, barley, oats and vegetables.
The main industries are tourism (skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco and furniture.
Consumer goods and electricity are imported.

INFRASTRUCTURE of ANDORRA:

Andorra has a wide network of roadways in the Pyrenees.
Telephone and cellular services are well established.
One channel is broadcast on the radio.
Internet facilities are readily available.

EDUCATION of ANDORRA:

Education is compulsory for children until the age of 16.
Education is provided by both French and Spanish language schools.
The French government partially subsidizes education in Andorra's French-language schools.
Schools in the southern section are supported by the church.
The Roman Catholic Church has introduced the local language Catalan in the schools.
About 50% of Andorran children attend French primary schools.
The rest attend Spanish or Andorran school.
The rest attend Spanish or Andorran school.
The University of Andorra was established in July 1997.
It mostly offers long-distance courses through universities in Spain and France.
The majority of secondary graduates continue their education in France or Spain.
Virtually the entire adult population is literate.
Andorra also has a nursing school and a school of computer science.

NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES of ANDORRA:

Andorra is surrounded by:

France
Spain
- Andorra is located in Southwestern Europe between France and Spain
- Its Geographic coordinates are 42 30 N, 1 30 E
- The country spans over a total area of 468 sq km.
- It is a landlocked country.
- The climate is temperate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers.
- The terrain is mostly mountainous.
- Coma Pedrosa is the highest peak standing at 2,946 meters.
- Only 2.13% of the total land is arable.
- Natural resources include hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore and lead.
- Avalanches are a common occurrence.
- Deforestation and pollution are major environmental concerns.
- Andorra was made a free country in 1278 under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel.
- Michele Gazier (Writer)
- Ramon Villero Castella (Writer)
- Antoni Fiter i Rossell (Author of the Manual Digest)
- Jacques Tremoulet (Creator of Radio Andorra)
- Alex Antor (Alpine skier, Olympics)
- Marc Bernaus (Footballer)
- Juli Fernandez ( Footballer)
- Melissandre Fuentes ( Figure skater)
- Hocine Haciane (Swimmer at the 2004 Summer Olympics)
- Ildefons Lima (Footballer)
- Antoni Morell (writer and lawyer)
- Oscar Sonejee (Footballer)
- Anonymous (Andorran band)
- Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra.
- It is also the largest city in the country.
- Euro is the official currency of Andorra.
- Andorra is a booming tourist destination owing to its summer and winter resorts.
- Shopping is duty-free.
- According to a 2008 census, the population of Andorra was estimated to be 72,413.
- The annual population growth rate was calculated to be 0.797%.
- Birth rate: 8.23 births/1,000 population (2008 EST.)
- Death rate: 6.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 EST.)
- Density: 154/km²
- Antoni Bernado secured 49th place in the Men's marathon
- Silvia Felipo participated in the Women's 1500 m
- Joan Tomas finished 39th in the Men's trap
- Santiago Deu secured 51st place in the Men’s 200 m freestyle
- Meritxell Sabate secured 35th place in the Women’s 200 m individual medley
- Silvia Felipo came 42nd in the Women's 1500 meters
- Antoni Bernado secured 57th place in the Men's marathon
- Toni Besoli participated in Judo- Men's 90 kg but was defeated in the round of 32.
- Francesc Repiso Romero finished 35th in the Men's Trap.
- Carolina Cerqueda finished 48th in the Women's 100 m freestyle.
- Hocine Haciane secured 36th place in the Men's 200 m Individual Medley.

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS of ANDORRA:

FREEDOM for ANDORRA:

EMINENT PERSONALITIES of ANDORRA:

CAPITAL CITY of ANDORRA:

CURRENCY of ANDORRA:

ANDORRA FAMOUS FOR:

TOTAL POPULATION of ANDORRA:

PREVIOUS RECORDS AND MEDALS WON by ANDORRA:

In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Andorra participated in Athletics, Shooting and Swimming events.

In 2004 Athens Olympics, Andorra participated in Athletics, Judo, Shooting and Swimming events.

The country has not won any medals till date.