Andorra Travellers Guide
The Principality of Andorra is a land of narrow valleys and mountainous landscapes situated in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France and Spain. The principality is a popular destination for skiing and mountain walking or climbing.
Total Area:468 sq km Land Borders: France, Spain
Population: 71,201
Life Expectancy: 83 years HIV % Total Poulation:n/a
Ethnic Groups: Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6%
Languages:Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
President:Jacques CHIRAC GDP - Per Capita: $24,000
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra 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.