Here's a quick guide to everything you need to know about our small country, Andorra.
Geography
Andorra is located in southwestern Europe, in the heart of the Eastern Pyrenees. The country is bordered by the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain and the department of Ariège in France.
Area
With an area of 468 km2, only 8% is urbanised land; the remaining 92% is forest, making the country a paradise for nature lovers.
Territorial division
The territory is divided into seven administrative and territorial divisions called “parishes”: Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, La Massana, Andorra la Vella, Sant Julià de Lòria and Escaldes-Engordany. The capital of the Principality is Andorra la Vella.
Time zone
Just like Spain and France, we are in the Central European Time (CET) time zone (GMT +1).
Climate
We enjoy a high mountain climate with Mediterranean influences, a warm summer and a cold winter with relatively heavy snowfall. The average minimum temperature is −2°C, and the maximum is 24°C. Snowfall is frequent, and rains are concentrated mainly between May and October.
Language
Our official language is Catalan, although the diversity of nationalities of the entire resident population means other languages such as Spanish, French and Portuguese are very present.
Currency
The euro was the successor to the Spanish peseta and the French franc, which coexisted until the introduction of the European currency in 2001.
Religion
Catholicism is the main religion, having the greatest number of practitioners, although the Constitution of Andorra, approved in 1993, establishes religious freedom.
Political system
Andorra has been a parliamentary co-principality since the Middle Ages. There are two heads of state—the Bishop of Urgell and the President of the French Republic—who represent the people jointly and indivisibly. The General Council is our Parliament, composed of 28 members elected by universal suffrage every 4 years.
Population
The country has a population of 85,101, and the average age is 42 (2023 census).
Economy
The Andorran economy is mainly based on trade and tourism, which account for 60% of the overall economy. The third biggest sector in the country is finance.