Background: Long isolated and impoverished mountainous Andorra has achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Land boundaries: 125 km total; France 60 km, Spain 65 km

Coastline: none - landlocked

Maritime claims: none - landlocked

Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers

Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 56% meadows and pastures; 22% forest and woodland; 20% other

Geography
Note: landlocked

Population: 49,974 (July 1989), growth rate 2.2% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Andorran(s; adjective - Andorran

Ethnic groups: Catalan stock; 61% Spanish, 30% Andorran, 6% French, 3% other

Languages: Catalan (official; many also speak some French and Castilian

Religions: virtually all Roman Catholic

Birth rate: 10 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 15 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation, overgrazing

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.1 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 100%

Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra

Government 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 la Vella

Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia; Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence: 1278

National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September

Constitution: none; some pareatges and decrees, mostly custom and usage

Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: those 18 or over who are second-generation Andorrans can vote for General Council members

Executive branch: Chiefs of State - French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Louis DEBLE; Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince Mgr. Joan MARTI y Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Batalla; Head of Government - Josep PINTAT Solans (since NA 1984)

Legislative branch: legislative (General Council of the Valleys) consisting of 28 members; executive - syndic (manager) and a deputy subsyndic chosen by General Council; judiciary chosen by Co-Princes who appoint two civil judges, a judge of appeals, and two battles (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

International organization participation: CCC, UNESCO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none - the US has no diplomatic relations with Andorra, but includes it within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District and the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically; Consul General Ruth DAVIS; Consulate General at Via Layetana 33, Barcelona 3, Spain; telephone Õ34å (3) 319-9,550

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flag of Chad which does not have a national coat of arms in the center; also similar to the flag of Romania which has a national coat of arms featuring a mountain landscape below a red five-pointed star and the words REPUBLICA SOCIALISTA ROMANIA at the bottom

Economy overview: The mainstay of Andorra's economy is tourism. An estimated 12 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture.

Agriculture products: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables

Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, smuggling, banking

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $0.017 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: electricity
Partners: France, Spain

Imports: $531 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: NA partners - France, Spain

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 6.2503 (January 1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985; Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 114.69 (January 1989), 116.49 (1988), 123.48 (1987), 140.05 (1986), 170.04 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 35,000 kW capacity; 140 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita (1988)