:Andorra

The origin of the word Andorra is unknown, although several hypotheses have been proposed. The oldest is one put forward by the Greek historian Polybius (Histories III, 35, 1), who describes the Andosins, an Iberian Pre-Roman tribe, as historically located in the valleys of Andorra and facing the Carthaginian army in its passage through the Pyrenees during the Punic Wars. The word Andosini or Andosins ({{lang|grc|Ἀνδοσίνοι}}) may derive from the Basque {{lang|eu|handia}}, meaning "big" or "giant".Diccionari d'Història de Catalunya; ed. 62; Barcelona; 1998; {{ISBN|84-297-3521-6}}; p. 42; entrada "Andorra" The Andorran toponymy shows evidence of Basque language in the area. Another theory suggests that the word Andorra may derive from the old word Anorra that contains the Basque word {{lang|eu|ur}} ("water").{{cite book|last=Font Rius |first=José María |title=Estudis sobre els drets i institucions locals en la Catalunya medieval |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JQL6rtB8VtQC&q=Anorra+andorra&pg=PA743 |publisher=Edicions Universitat Barcelona |year=1985 |page=743 |isbn=978-84-7528-174-2 }}

Another theory suggests that Andorra may derive from Arabic {{transl|ar|ad-dārra}} ({{lang|ar|الدَّارَة}}), indicating a vast land which is located among mountains or a thickly wooded place{{cite web |url=https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9/ |title=تعريف و معنى دارة في معجم المعاني الجامع – معجم عربي عربي |website=almaany.com |language=ar}} (with {{transl|ar|ad-}} being the definite article). When the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula, the valleys of the High Pyrenees were covered by large tracts of forest. These regions were not administered by Muslims, because of the geographic difficulty of direct rule.{{cite book|last=Gaston|first=L. L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_XpEAQAAMAAJ&q=darra&pg=PA9|title=Andorra, the Hidden Republic: Its Origin and Institutions, and the Record of a Journey Thither|publisher=McBridge, Nast & Co|year=1912|location=New York|page=9}}

Other theories suggest that the term derives from the Navarro-Aragonese "andurrial", which means "land covered with bushes" or "scrubland".{{cite web |title=Online Etymology Dictionary |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Andorra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510112647/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Andorra |archive-date=10 May 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015 |publisher=Etymonline.com}}

The folk etymology holds that Charlemagne had named the region as a reference to the Biblical Canaanite valley of Endor or Andor (where the Midianites had been defeated), a name bestowed by his heir and son Louis the Pious after defeating the Moors in the "wild valleys of Hell".{{cite book |last=Freedman |first=Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/imagesofmedieval0000free |title=Images of the Medieval Peasant |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8047-3373-1 |location=California |page=189 |url-access=registration}}

{{Main|History of Andorra}}

File:Gravats_del_Roc_de_les_Bruixes.JPG (detail)]]

La Balma de la Margineda, found by archaeologists at Sant Julià de Lòria, was settled in 9,500 BCE as a passing place between the two sides of the Pyrenees. The seasonal camp was perfectly located for hunting and fishing by the groups of hunter-gatherers from Ariege and Segre.{{cite web|url=http://www.elcami.cat/principat-andorra/andorra/andorra-vella/margineda|title=La Margineda – El Camí|date=21 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015125705/http://elcami.cat/principat-andorra/andorra/andorra-vella/margineda|archive-date=15 October 2014}}

During the Neolithic, a group of people moved to the Valley of Madriu (the present-day Natural Park located in Escaldes-Engordany declared UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a permanent camp in 6640 BCE. The population of the valley grew cereals, raised domestic livestock, and developed commercial trade with people from Ségre and Occitania.{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 32, 33}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}}

Other archaeological deposits include the Tombs of Segudet (Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), both dated in 4900–4300 BCE as an example of the Urn culture in Andorra.{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 32, 33}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}} The model of small settlements began to evolve to complex urbanism during the Bronze Age. Metallurgical items of iron, ancient coins, and reliquaries can be found in the ancient sanctuaries scattered around the country.

The sanctuary of Roc de les Bruixes (Stone of the Witches) is perhaps the most important archeological complex of this age in Andorra, located in the parish of Canillo, about the rituals of funerals, ancient scripture and engraved stone murals.{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 34, 35, 38, 39}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}}

File:Ann%C3%ADbal,_andosins.png's route (red) during the Second Punic War. The Iberian tribes (green) fought against the Carthaginian army in the Pyrenees]]

The inhabitants of the valleys were traditionally associated with the Iberians and historically located in Andorra as the Iberian tribe Andosins or Andosini ({{lang|grc|Ἀνδοσίνους}}) during the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Influenced by the Celtic, Aquitanian, Basque and Iberian languages, the locals developed some current toponyms. Early writings and documents relating to this group of people goes back to the second century BC by the Greek writer Polybius in his Histories during the Punic Wars.{{cite web|url=http://www15.gencat.net/pres_casa_llengues/mapes/mapes.html?idioma=1&start=cercador|title=Mapes Vius – Linguamon. Casa de les Llengües|date=22 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522044257/http://www15.gencat.net/pres_casa_llengues/mapes/mapes.html?idioma=1&start=cercador|archive-date=22 May 2010}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|p = 43}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 36, 37}}

Some of the most significant remains of this era are the Castle of the Roc d'Enclar (part of the early Marca Hispanica),{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 44, 45, 46, 47}} l'Anxiu in Les Escaldes and Roc de L'Oral in Encamp.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 36, 37}}

The presence of Roman influence is recorded from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. The places with the most Roman presence are in Camp Vermell (Red Field) in Sant Julià de Lòria, and in some places in Encamp and in the Roc d'Enclar. People continued trading, mainly with wine and cereals, with the Roman cities of Urgellet (the present-day La Seu d'Urgell) and across Segre through the via romana Strata Ceretana (also known as Strata Confluetana).{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 44 a 92}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 52, 53}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 44, 45, 46, 47}}

File:Charlemagne_et_Louis_le_Pieux.jpg instructing his son, Louis the Pious]]

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Andorra came under the influence of the Visigoths, the Kingdom of Toledo, and the Diocese of Urgell. The Visigoths remained in the valleys for 200 years, during which time Christianity spread. When the Muslim Empire of Al-Andalus replaced the ruling Visigoths in most of the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra was sheltered from these Arab invaders by the Franks.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009}}

Tradition holds that Charles the Great (Charlemagne) granted a charter to the Andorran people for a contingent of 5,000 soldiers under the command of Marc Almugaver, in return for fighting against the Moors near Porté-Puymorens (Cerdanya).{{cite web|url=http://turisme.andorralavella.ad/llegendes-tradicionals/pas-carlemany|title=El pas de Carlemany – Turisme Andorra la Vella|website=turisme.andorralavella.ad|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803170725/http://turisme.andorralavella.ad/llegendes-tradicionals/pas-carlemany|archive-date=3 August 2017}}

File:Parr%C3%B2quies_andorra.png, as depicted in the Acta de Consagració i Dotació de la Catedral de la Seu d'Urgell (839)]]

Andorra remained part of the Frankish Marca Hispanica, the buffer zone between the Frankish Empire and the Muslim territories, Andorra being part of the territory ruled by the Count of Urgell and eventually the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell. Tradition also holds that it was guaranteed by the son of Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, writing the Carta de Poblament or a local municipal charter {{Circa|805}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/19-cultura/933027-andorra-mira-els-arxius.html|title=Andorra mira els arxius|first=Jaume|last=Vidal|website=Elpuntavui.cat|access-date=3 August 2017}}

In 988, Count Borrell II of Urgell gave the Andorran valleys to the Diocese of Urgell in exchange for land in Cerdanya.{{Cite GREC|title=La formació d'Andorra|andorra-0#anchor_-la-formaci-d-andorra}} Since then, the bishop of Urgell, based in Seu d'Urgell, has been co-prince of Andorra.{{cite web|url=http://www.coprince-fr.ad/catala/elements.htm |title=Elements de la història del Principat d'Andorra |language=ca |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100209181327/http://www.coprince-fr.ad/catala/elements.htm |archive-date= 9 February 2010 }}

The first document that mentions Andorra as a territory is the Acta de Consagració i Dotació de la Catedral de la Seu d'Urgell (Deed of Consecration and Endowment of the Cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell). The document, dated 839, depicts the six old parishes of the Andorran valleys that made up the country's administrative division.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 96 a 146}}

File:Esgl%C3%A9sia_de_Sant_Joan_de_Caselles_-_7.jpg church, dating from the 11th century, part of the Andorran Romanesque heritage]]

Before 1095, Andorra had no military protection, and the bishop of Urgell, who knew that the count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys, asked the Lord of Caboet for help and protection. In 1095, the lord of Caboet and the bishop of Urgell signed under oath a declaration of their co-sovereignty over Andorra. Arnalda de Caboet, daughter of Arnau of Caboet, married the viscount of Castellbò. Their daughter, Ermessenda de Castellbò,{{Cite GREC|title=Ermessenda de Castellbò|ermessenda-de-castellbo}} married the count of Foix, Roger-Bernard II. Roger-Bernard II and Ermessenda shared rule over Andorra with the bishop of Urgell.

In the 13th century, a military dispute arose between the bishop of Urgell and the count of Foix as aftermath of the Cathar Crusade. The conflict was resolved in 1278 with the mediation of the king of Aragon, Peter III, between the bishop and the count, by the signing of the first paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the count of Foix (whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of Urgell, in Catalonia. This gave the principality its territory and political form.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 96 a 146}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009}}

A second paréage was signed in 1288 after a dispute when the count of Foix ordered the construction of a castle in Roc d'Enclar.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 96 a 146}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009}} The document was ratified by the noble notary Jaume Orig of Puigcerdà, and construction of military structures in the country was prohibited.{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 60, 61}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 96 a 146}}

In 1364, the political organisation of the country named the figure of the syndic (now spokesman and president of the parliament) as representative of the Andorrans to their co-princes, making possible the creation of local departments (comuns, quarts and veïnats). After being ratified by Bishop Francesc Tovia and Count John I, the Consell de la Terra or Consell General de les Valls (General Council of the Valleys) was founded in 1419, the second oldest parliament in Europe. The syndic Andreu d'Alàs and the General Council organised the creation of the Justice Courts (La Cort de Justicia) in 1433 with the co-princes and the collection of taxes like foc i lloc (literally "fire and site", a national tax active since then).{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 78, 79, 80, 81, 88, 89}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009}}

File:065_Absis_de_Sant_Miquel_d%27Engolasters.jpg church, painted by Mestre de Santa Coloma during the 12th century{{cite web|url=http://www.museunacional.cat/ca/colleccio/absis-dengolasters/mestre-de-santa-coloma-dandorra/015972-000|title=Absis d'Engolasters – Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|website=Museunacional.cat|date=5 December 2013 |access-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803153242/http://www.museunacional.cat/ca/colleccio/absis-dengolasters/mestre-de-santa-coloma-dandorra/015972-000|archive-date=3 August 2017}}]]

Although there are remains of ecclesiastical works dating before the 9th century (Sant Vicenç d'Enclar or Església de Santa Coloma), Andorra developed exquisite Romanesque Art during the 9th through 14th centuries, particularly in the construction of churches, bridges, religious murals and statues of the Virgin and Child (Our Lady of Meritxell being the most important).{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009}} Nowadays, the Romanesque buildings that form part of Andorra's cultural heritage stand out in a remarkable way, with an emphasis on Església de Sant Esteve, Sant Joan de Caselles, Església de Sant Miquel d'Engolasters, Sant Martí de la Cortinada and the medieval bridges of Margineda and Escalls among many others.{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 48, 49}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 150 a 194}}

The Catalan Pyrenees were embryonic of the Catalan language at the end of the 11th century. Andorra was influenced by this language, which was adopted locally decades before it expanded to the rest of the Crown of Aragon.{{cite web|url=http://webs.racocatala.cat/cat1714/d/histcat.pdf|title=HISTÒRIA DE LA LLENGUA CATALANA|website=Racocatala.cat|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035808/http://webs.racocatala.cat/cat1714/d/histcat.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

The local economy during the Middle Ages was based on livestock, agriculture, furs and weavers. Later, at the end of the 11th century, the first iron foundries began to appear in Northern Parishes like Ordino, much appreciated by the master artisans who developed the art of the forges, an important economic activity in the country from the 15th century.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009}}

File:Tribunal_de_Corts_d%27Andorra.JPG (High Court of Justice) inside Casa de la Vall, the central Judiciary Court of Andorra]]

In 1601 the Tribunal de Corts (High Court of Justice) was created as a result of Huguenot rebellions in France, Inquisition courts coming from Spain and witchcraft-related beliefs native to the area, in the context of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|pp=44, 45, 47, 48, 50}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 108, 109}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 238, 239}}

With the passage of time, the co-title to Andorra passed to the kings of Navarre. After Henry III of Navarre became king of France, he issued an edict in 1607 that established the head of the French state and the bishop of Urgell as Co-Princes of Andorra, a political arrangement that still holds.

During 1617, communal councils form the sometent (popular militia or army) to deal with the rise of bandolerisme (brigandage) and the Consell de la Terra was defined and structured in terms of its composition, organisation and competences current today.{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|pp=44, 45, 47, 48, 50, 53, 54, 56}}

Andorra continued with the same economic system that it had during the 12th–14th centuries with a large production of metallurgy (fargues, a system similar to Farga Catalana) and with the introduction of tobacco circa 1692 and import trade. In 1371 and 1448, the co-princes ratified the fair of Andorra la Vella, the most important annual national festival commercially ever since.{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|p=14}}{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|p=15}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|p = 134}}

File:Building_in_Ordino._Andorra_216.jpg of the Rossell family in Ordino, Casa Rossell, built in 1611. The family also owned the largest ironwork forges in Andorra as Farga Rossell and Farga del Serrat{{cite web|url=http://www.bondia.ad/cultura/390000-euros-rehabilitar-lexterior-i-obrir-els-jardins-de-la-casa-rossell|title=390.000 euros per rehabilitar l'exterior i obrir els jardins de la Casa Rossell – BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|work=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra. |date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809133417/http://www.bondia.ad/cultura/390000-euros-rehabilitar-lexterior-i-obrir-els-jardins-de-la-casa-rossell|archive-date=9 August 2016}}]]

The country had a unique and experienced guild of weavers, Confraria de Paraires i Teixidors, in Escaldes-Engordany. Founded in 1604, it took advantage of the local thermal waters. By this time, the country was characterised by the social system of prohoms (wealthy society) and casalers (rest of the population with smaller economic acquisition), deriving from the tradition of pubilla and hereu.{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|pp=20, 21}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp=106, 107}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp = 105, 106, 107, 140, 141}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp = 263 a 270}}

Three centuries after its foundation, the Consell de la Terra located its headquarters and the Tribunal de Corts in Casa de la Vall in 1702. The manor house built in 1580 served as a noble fortress of the Busquets family. Inside the parliament was placed the Closet of the six keys (Armari de les sis claus), representative of each Andorran parish, where the Andorran constitution and other documents and laws were later kept.{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|p=60}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|p = 82}}

In both the Reapers' War and the War of the Spanish Succession, the Andorran people (while professing to be a neutral country) supported the Catalans who saw their rights reduced in 1716. The reaction was the promotion of Catalan writings in Andorra, with cultural works such as the Book of Privileges (Llibre de Privilegis de 1674), Manual Digest (1748) by Antoni Fiter i Rossell or the Polità andorrà (1763) by Antoni Puig.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|p = 229}}{{sfn|Llop Rovira|1998|pp = 49 a 52, i 57, 58}}

File:Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit (cropped).png led the New Reform of 1866]]

After the French Revolution, Napoleon I reestablished the Co-Principate in 1809 and removed the French medieval title. In 1812–1813, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia during the Peninsular War ({{lang|ca|Guerra Peninsular}}) and divided the region into four départements, with Andorra as a part of the district of Puigcerdà. In 1814, an imperial decree reestablished the independence and economy of Andorra.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|p=172}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|p=172}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=342–343}}

During this period, Andorra's late medieval institutions and rural culture remained largely unchanged. In 1866, the syndic Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit led the reformist group in a Council General of 24 members elected by suffrage limited to heads of families. The Council General replaced the aristocratic oligarchy that previously ruled the state.Page 966, Volume 1, Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, 1910–1911

The New Reform ({{lang|ca|Nova Reforma}}) began after ratification by both Co-Princes and established the basis of the constitution{{cite web|url = https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/49262/150-anys-de-la-nova-reforma|title = Antoni Pol – 150 anys de la (nova) Reforma| work=El Periòdic d'Andorra |language = ca|access-date = 2 February 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122112/https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/49262/150-anys-de-la-nova-reforma|archive-date = 6 May 2019}} and symbols{{snd}}such as the tricolour flag{{snd}}of Andorra. A new service economy arose as a demand of the valley inhabitants and began to build infrastructure such as hotels, spa resorts, roads and telegraph lines.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=192–193}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp=191–193}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=345–347}}

File:Revoluci%C3%B3_de_1881_d%27Andorra.jpg scenery during the Revolution of 1881{{cite book|title = Saqueo de Canillo por las fuerzas del gobierno revolucionario tras el sitio de la aldea|url = https://www.wdl.org/es/item/18266/|language = es|date =1881|publisher = J. J. Dubochet|access-date = 3 August 2017}}]]

The authorities of the Co-Princes banned casinos and betting houses throughout the country. The ban resulted in an economic conflict and the Revolution of 1881, which began when revolutionaries assaulted the house of the syndic on 8 December 1880, and established the Provisional Revolutionary Council led by Joan Pla i Calvo and Pere Baró i Mas. The Provisional Revolutionary Council allowed for the construction of casinos and spas by foreign companies.{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=198–203}} From 7 to 9 June 1881, the loyalists of Canillo and Encamp reconquered the parishes of Ordino and La Massana by establishing contact with the revolutionary forces in Escaldes-Engordany.{{sfn|Peruga Guerrero|1998|pp=59–63}} After a day of combat the Treaty of the Bridge of Escalls was signed on 10 June.{{sfn|Ministeri d'Educació, Joventut i Esports|1996|pp=58–65}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=194–195}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=348–350}} The council was replaced and new elections were held. The economic situation worsened, as the populace was divided over the {{lang|ca|Qüestió d'Andorra}} – the "Andorran Question" in relation to the Eastern Question.{{sfn|Peruga Guerrero|1998|pp=64–68}} The struggles continued between pro-bishops, pro-French, and nationalists based on the troubles of Canillo in 1882 and 1885.{{sfn|Ministeri d'Educació, Joventut i Esports|1996|pp=67–70}}{{sfn|Guillamet Anton|2009|pp=198–203}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=352–353}}

Andorra participated in the cultural movement of the Catalan Renaixença. Between 1882 and 1887, the first academic schools were formed where trilingualism coexisted with the official language, Catalan. Romantic authors from France and Spain reported the awakening of the national consciousness of the country. Jacint Verdaguer lived in Ordino during the 1880s where he wrote and shared works related to the Renaixença with writer and photographer Joaquim de Riba.

In 1848, Fromental Halévy had premiered the opera Le val d'Andorre to great success in Europe, where the national consciousness of the valleys was exposed in the romantic work during the Peninsular War.{{sfn|Peruga Guerrero|1998|pp=78–81}}{{sfn|Ministeri d'Educació, Joventut i Esports|1996|p=74}}{{sfn|Armengol Aleix|2009|pp=354–357}}

File:Skossyreff Writing Constitution.png, briefly self-proclaimed King of Andorra in 1934]]

In 1933 France occupied Andorra following social unrest which occurred before elections due to the Revolution of 1933 and the FHASA strikes (Vagues de FHASA); the revolt led by Joves Andorrans (a labour union group related to the Spanish CNT and FAI) called for political reforms,{{cite web|url=http://www.international-club-andorra.com/andorra-club-intercomm/historical-andorra-articles/rebellion-in-andorra-1933/|title=Rebellion in Andorra 1933 – International Club of Andorra|website=International-club-andorra.com|date=5 March 2017 |access-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122103/https://www.international-club-andorra.com/andorra-club-intercomm/historical-andorra-articles/rebellion-in-andorra-1933/|archive-date=6 May 2019}} the universal suffrage vote of all Andorrans and acted in defence of the rights of local and foreign workers during the construction of FHASA's hydroelectric power station in Encamp.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/1933-la-republica-que-quasi-va-ser|title=1933: la República que quasi va ser|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.}} On 5 April 1933 Joves Andorrans seized the Andorran Parliament.{{cite web |title=Príncipes de Andorra |url=https://www.pressreader.com/spain/la-vanguardia-1%C2%AA-edici%C3%B3n/20170604/282071981866496 |via=PressReader}} These actions were preceded by the arrival of Colonel René-Jules Baulard with 50 gendarmes and the mobilisation of 200 local militias or sometent led by the Síndic Francesc Cairat.{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/quan-vam-treure-lescopeta|title=Quan vam treure l'escopeta|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.}}

On 6 July 1934, adventurer and nobleman Boris Skossyreff, with his promise of freedoms and modernisation of the country and wealth through the establishment of a tax haven and foreign investments, received the support of the members of the General Council to proclaim himself the sovereign of Andorra. On 8 July 1934 Boris issued a proclamation in Urgell, declaring himself Boris I, King of Andorra,{{cite web|url=http://www.andorraantiga.com/boris-i-rei-d-andorra.html|title=Boris I Rei d'Andorra|first=Albert Daina|last=Marsenyach|website=El Coprincipat d'Andorra ara fa molt de temps.|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116043649/http://www.andorraantiga.com/boris-i-rei-d-andorra.html|archive-date=16 January 2020}} simultaneously declaring war on the Bishop of Urgell and approving the King's constitution on 10 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/opinio/la-primera-constitucio|title=La primera Constitució|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122350/https://www.bondia.ad/opinio/la-primera-constitucio|archive-date=6 May 2019}} He was arrested by the Co-Prince and Bishop Justí Guitart i Vilardebó and their authorities on 20 July and ultimately expelled from Spain.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/09/20/archives/-king-boris-of-andorra-is-sent-to-jail-in-spain.html|title='King' Boris of Andorra Is Sent to Jail in Spain|date=20 September 1934|website=The New York Times}} From 1936 until 1940, a French military detachment of Garde Mobile led by well-known Colonel René-Jules Baulard was garrisoned in Andorra to secure the principality against disruption from the Spanish Civil War{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/60166/limpacte-dels-refugiats-durant-la-guerra-civil|title=L'impacte dels refugiats durant la Guerra Civil|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=28 September 2017 |access-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122055/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/60166/limpacte-dels-refugiats-durant-la-guerra-civil|archive-date=6 May 2019}} and Francoist Spain{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/1937-baulard-compta-morts|title=1937: Baulard compta morts|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122102/https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/1937-baulard-compta-morts|archive-date=6 May 2019}} and also face the rise of Republicanism in the aftermath of the 1933 Revolution.{{cite web|url=https://publicacions.iec.cat/Front/repository/pdf/00000258/00000034.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://publicacions.iec.cat/Front/repository/pdf/00000258/00000034.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=La revolución andorrana del 1933|website=Publicacions.iec.cat|access-date=26 March 2019}} During the Spanish Civil War, the inhabitants of Andorra welcomed refugees from both sides, and many of them settled permanently in the country thus contributing to the subsequent economic boom and the entry into the capitalist era of Andorra.{{cite web|url=http://www.editorialgavarres.cat/index.php?option=com_redshop&view=product&pid=65&Itemid=23&lang=ca|title=Franquisme i repressió – Cadí-Pedraforca – Editorial Gavarres|website=Editorialgavarres.cat|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122054/http://www.editorialgavarres.cat/index.php?option=com_redshop&view=product&pid=65&Itemid=23&lang=ca|archive-date=6 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.qucut.com/portfolio/documental-2/|title=Jordi Sasplugas. El Mirador d'Andorra. Documental|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717085844/http://www.qucut.com/portfolio/documental-2/|archive-date=17 July 2019}} Francoist troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/47550/andorra-entre-guerres|title=Andorra entre guerres|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=13 November 2015 |access-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122103/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/47550/andorra-entre-guerres|archive-date=6 May 2019}}

File:22B_andorra_2.jpg (centre). The local comite was led by Francesc Cairat (left), the First General Syndic with the longest regencie, from 1936 to 1960{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/44230/francesc-cairat-i-freixes|title=Antoni Pol – Francesc Cairat i Freixes|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122053/https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/44230/francesc-cairat-i-freixes|archive-date=6 May 2019}}]]

During World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route between Vichy France and Francoist Spain.{{cite web|url=http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/66337/1/TFG%20Esteves%20Lorenzo%2C%20Sergi.pdf|title=Exili i evasions al Principat d'Andorra durant la Guerra Civil Espanyola i la Segona Guerra Mundial 1936–1945|website=Diposit.ub.edu|access-date=26 March 2019}} Many Andorrans criticised the passivity of the General Council for impeding both the entry and expulsion of foreigners and refugees, committing economic crimes,{{Cite web|url=https://blocs.mesvilaweb.cat/txemabofill/entrevista-a-enric-melich-gutierrez-maquis-de-la-resistencia-francesa-passador-de-jueus-i-clandestins-activista-anarquista-llibreter-i-sindicalista/|title=Entrevista a Enric Melich Gutiérrez, maquis de la resistència francesa, passador de jueus i clandestins, activista anarquista, llibreter i sindicalista – En contra|date=21 July 2012|website=Blocs de VilaWeb}} reducing the rights of citizens{{cite web|url=https://www.cossetania.com/la-crulla-andorrana-de-1933-la-revoluci-de-la-modernitat-939|title=La cruïlla andorrana de 1933: la revolució de la modernitat|website=Cossetania.com|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090415/https://www.cossetania.com/la-crulla-andorrana-de-1933-la-revoluci-de-la-modernitat-939|archive-date=27 March 2019}} and sympathy with Francoism.{{cite web|url=http://aquiradioandorra.free.fr/DocumentsInedits/1944-08-15-Lettre.pdf|title=Letter|website=Aquiradioandorra.free.fr|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203150323/http://aquiradioandorra.free.fr/DocumentsInedits/1944-08-15-Lettre.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://publicacions.iec.cat/Front/repository/pdf/00000119/00000079.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://publicacions.iec.cat/Front/repository/pdf/00000119/00000079.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=L'Andorra "fosca " i l'Andorra "generosa " durant la Segona Guerra Mundial Claudi Benet i Mas|website=Publicacions.iec.cat|access-date=26 March 2019}} General Council members justified the council's political and diplomatic actions as necessary for Andorra's survival and the protection of its sovereignty. Andorra was relatively unscathed by the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War.{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/1936-1945-dues-guerres-i-un-miracle|title=1936–1945: dues guerres i un miracle|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122102/https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/1936-1945-dues-guerres-i-un-miracle|archive-date=6 May 2019}} Certain groups formed to help victims of oppression in Nazi-occupied countries, while participating in smuggling to help Andorra survive. Among the most prominent was the Hostal Palanques Evasion Network Command, which, in contact with the British MI6, helped almost 400 fugitives,{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/32684/adu-a-una-estirp-dherois|title=L'últim del Palanques|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=26 August 2013 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122124/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/32684/adu-a-una-estirp-dherois|archive-date=6 May 2019}} among whom were Allied military personnel.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/32410/sigues-britnic|title=¡Sigues britànic!|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=8 August 2013 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122105/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/32410/sigues-britnic|archive-date=6 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/20065/baldrich-heroi-de-novella|title=Baldrich, heroi de novel·la|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=7 January 2012 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122053/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/20065/baldrich-heroi-de-novella|archive-date=6 May 2019}} The Command remained active between 1941 and 1944, although there were struggles with pro-Axis informers and Gestapo agents in Andorra.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/19993/camina-quimet-camina|title=Camina, Quimet, camina|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=3 January 2012 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122055/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/19993/camina-quimet-camina|archive-date=6 May 2019}}

File:23-24.10.67. De Gaulle en Andorre (1967) - 53Fi5569.jpg in the streets of Sant Julià de Lòria in Andorra, October 1967]]

In the capital city there was a smuggling black market of propaganda, culture and cinematic art not favourable to totalitarian regimes, promulgated in such places as the Hotel Mirador or the Casino Hotel,{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/en-terres-dandorra-la-primera-obra-de-teatre-escrita-un-autor-autocton|title='En terres d'Andorra', la primera obra de teatre escrita per un autor autòcton|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122103/https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/en-terres-dandorra-la-primera-obra-de-teatre-escrita-un-autor-autocton|archive-date=6 May 2019}} as a meeting place for Free French forces and a route for escorting crashed Allied pilots out of Europe.{{Cite web |title=Andora |url=https://www.nevingtonwarmuseum.com/andora.html |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Nevington War Museum |language=en}} The network was maintained after the war, when film societies were formed, where movies, music and books censored in Franco's Spain were imported, becoming an anti-censorship attraction for the Catalan or foreign public even within Andorra. Andorran Group (Agrupament Andorrà), an anti-fascist organisation linked to the Occitanie's French Resistance, accused the French representative (veguer) of collaboration with Nazism.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/36296/una-dodis-sarracens-a-la-vegueria|title=Una d'odis sarracens a la vegueria|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=22 March 2014 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122126/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/36296/una-dodis-sarracens-a-la-vegueria|archive-date=6 May 2019}}

The Andorran opening to the capitalist economy resulted in two axes: mass tourism and the country's tax exemption. The first steps towards the capitalist boom date from the 1930s, with the construction of FHASA{{Cite web|url=http://revistes.iec.cat/index.php/TSCG/article/download/37437/37420|title=La transformació econòmica d'Andorra durant el segle XX|accessdate=24 February 2025}} and the creation of professional banking{{cite web|url=http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/66337/1/TFG%20Esteves%20Lorenzo%2C%20Sergi.pdf|title=Exili i evasions al Principat d'Andorra durant la Guerra Civil Espanyola i la Segona Guerra Mundial 1936–1945|first=Sergi Esteves|last=Lorenzo|publisher=University of Barcelona|access-date=1 July 2019}} with Banc Agrícol (1930) and Crèdit Andorrà (1949), later with Banca Mora (1952), Banca Cassany (1958) and SOBANCA (1960). Shortly after, activities such as skiing and shopping become a tourist attraction, with the inauguration of ski resorts and cultural entities in the late 1930s.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/19718/petita-cronica-de-la-gran-passio-blanca|title=Petita crònica de la gran passió blanca|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=19 December 2011 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122055/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/19718/petita-cronica-de-la-gran-passio-blanca|archive-date=6 May 2019}} All in all, a renovated hotel industry has developed. In April 1968 a social health insurance system was created (CASS).{{cite web|url=https://andorraguides.com/healthcare/system/|title=Andorra's Healthcare System|last=Andorra Guides|date=30 April 2018|website=Andorra Guides|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122053/https://andorraguides.com/healthcare/system/|archive-date=6 May 2019}}

File:Andorra - panoramio (2).jpg{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1989/12/18/economia/629938809_850215.html|title=La CE concluye un acuerdo de unión aduanera con Andorra|date=18 December 1989|newspaper=El País}}{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1986/09/27/internacional/528156020_850215.html|title=François Mitterrand alienta las reformas en Andorras|date=27 September 1986|newspaper=El País}}|alt=]]

File:Gilbert Saboya Sebastian Kurz (13927283877).jpg meeting Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2014]]

The Andorran government necessarily involved planning, projection and forecasts for the future: with the official visit of the French co-prince Charles de Gaulle in 1967 and 1969, it was given approval for the economic boom and national demands within the framework of human rights and international openness.{{cite web|url=http://www.coprince-fr.ad/ca/charles-de-gaulle |date=October 23, 1967 |title=S.E. Charles de Gaulle|website=Representació del S.E. Copríncep Francès al Principat d'Andorra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207155141/https://www.coprince-fr.ad/ca/charles-de-gaulle |archive-date= Feb 7, 2023 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/61705/el-coprincep-de-gaulle|author1=Antoni Pol |title= El copríncep De Gaulle |date=January 3, 2018 |website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122054/https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/61705/el-coprincep-de-gaulle|archive-date=6 May 2019}}

Andorra experienced an era commonly known as the "Andorran dream"{{cite web|url=http://www.andorradifusio.ad/noticies/els-anys-50-linici-del-somni-andorra|title=Els anys 50, l'inici del somni andorrà |website=Andorra Difusió |date=December 29, 2017 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122105/https://www.andorradifusio.ad/noticies/els-anys-50-linici-del-somni-andorra|archive-date=6 May 2019}} (similar to the American Dream) along with the Trente Glorieuses: the mass culture rooted the country experiencing radical changes in the economy and culture. Proof of this was Ràdio Andorra, the top musical radio station in Europe in this period,{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/67199/sintonitzant-la-sobirania|title=Sintonitzant la sobirania|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra |author1=Mireia Aguilar |date=October 10, 2018 |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122102/https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/67199/sintonitzant-la-sobirania|archive-date=6 May 2019}} with guests and speakers of great importance promoting musical hits of chanson française, swing, rhythm & blues, jazz, rock and roll and American country music.{{cite web|url=http://diariomnipresente.com/aqui-radio-andorra-la-radio-que-divertia-a-los-europeos/|title=Aquí Radio Andorra, la radio que divertía a los europeos|first=Javi|last=Ruiz-Medrano|date=24 February 2015 |website=DiariOmnipresente |access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123071812/http://diariomnipresente.com/aqui-radio-andorra-la-radio-que-divertia-a-los-europeos/|archive-date=23 January 2019}} During this period Andorra achieved a GDP per capita and a life expectancy higher than the most standard countries of the current economy.{{cite web|url=http://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/opinio/2016/09/26/la_reinvencio_andorra_encert_estrategic_107124_1129.html|title=La reinvenció d'Andorra: un encert estratègic|first=Gonzalo|last=Bernardos|date=26 September 2016|website=Diari d'Andorra|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123121306/https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/opinio/2016/09/26/la_reinvencio_andorra_encert_estrategic_107124_1129.html|archive-date=23 January 2019}}

Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France, Spain and Portugal. But in recent times its thriving tourist industry, along with developments in transport and communications, have removed the country from its isolation. Since 1976 the country has seen the need to reform Andorran institutions due to anachronisms in sovereignty, human rights and the balance of powers as well as the need to adapt legislation to modern demands. In 1982 a first separation of powers took place when instituting the Govern d'Andorra, under the name of the executive board (Consell Executiu), chaired by the first prime minister Òscar Ribas Reig with the co-princes' approval.{{cite web|url=https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/efemerides/marc-pons-andorra-primer-cap-govern_227061_102.html|title=Andorra tria el primer cap de govern de la seva història|website=ElNacional.cat |author1= Marc Pons |date=2018 |access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122057/https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/efemerides/marc-pons-andorra-primer-cap-govern_227061_102.html|archive-date=6 May 2019}} In 1989 the Principality signed an agreement with the European Economic Community to regularise trade relations.{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:21990A1231(02)|id= 21990A1231(02) |title=Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra - Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra - Joint Declarations |language=EN |website=EUR-Lex |date=28 June 1990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219041223/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A21990A1231(02) |archive-date= Dec 19, 2023 }}

Its political system was modernised in 1993 after the Andorran constitutional referendum, when the constitution was drafted by the co-princes and the General Council and approved on 14 MarchNohlen, D. & Stöver, P. (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p. 160 {{ISBN|978-3-8329-5609-7}} by 74.2% of voters, with a 76% turnout.Nohlen & Stöver, p. 162 The first elections under the new constitution were held later in the year. The same year, Andorra became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.{{cite web|url=https://www.exteriors.ad/es/asuntos-multilaterales-y-cooperaciin/andorra-y-los-organismos-internacionales|title=Andorra y los organismos internacionales|website=Exteriors.ad}}

Andorra formalised diplomatic relations with the United States in 1996, participating in the 51st UN General Assembly. First General Syndic Marc Forné took part in a speech in Catalan in the General Assembly to defend the reform of the organisation, and after three days he took part in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to defend Andorra's linguistic rights and economy.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1996/07/26/internacional/838332014_850215.html|title=Entrevista – 'Andorra no quiere ser un lugar donde se recoja dinero negro'|date=26 July 1996|newspaper=El País}} In 2006 a monetary agreement with the European Union was formalised that allows Andorra to use the euro officially, as well as minting its own euro coins.{{cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32004D0548&from=EN|title=DECISIÓN DEL CONSEJO de 11 de mayo de 2004 relativa a la posición que debe adoptar la Comunidad en relación con un acuerdo sobre las relaciones monetarias con el Principado de Andorra|website=Eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:369:0001:0013:ES:PDF|title=COMUNICACIONES PROCEDENTES DE LAS INSTITUCIONES, ÓRGANOS Y ORGANISMOS DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA COMISIÓN EUROPEA|website=Eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=26 March 2019}}

{{Main|Politics of Andorra}}

{{Main|Co-princes of Andorra}}{{Multiple image

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Bishop of Urgell
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President of France
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Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality with the bishop of Urgell and the president of France as co-princes.{{Cite book |last=Timothy |first=Dallen J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYMIEAAAQBAJ |title=Tourism in European Microstates and Dependencies: Geoploitics, Scale and Resource Limitations |date=2020-11-06 |publisher=CABI |isbn=978-1-78924-310-9 |page=25 |language=en}} This peculiarity makes the president of France, in his capacity as prince of Andorra, an elected monarch, although he is not elected by a popular vote of the Andorran people. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy with a unicameral legislature, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The prime minister is the chief executive.

The current prime minister is Xavier Espot Zamora of the Democrats for Andorra (DA). Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both government and parliament.

The Parliament of Andorra is known as the General Council. The General Council consists of between 28 and 42 councillors. The councillors serve for four-year terms, and elections are held between the 30th and 40th days following the dissolution of the previous Council.

Half are elected in equal numbers by each of the seven administrative parishes, and the other half of the councillors are elected in a single national constituency. Voters vote for parties, not candidates; a voter votes for a party for the parish councillors and a party for the at-large councilors, and the winners come from party lists. Fifteen days after the election, the councillors hold their inauguration. During this session, the General Syndic, who is the head of the General Council, and the Subsyndic General, his assistant, are elected. Eight days later, the Council convenes once more. During this session, the prime minister is chosen from among the councillors.

File:Casa de la Vall - 18.jpg

Candidates can be proposed by a minimum of one-fifth of the councillors. The Council then elects the candidate with the absolute majority of votes to be prime minister. The Syndic General then notifies the co-princes, who in turn appoint the elected candidate as the prime minister of Andorra. The General Council is also responsible for proposing and passing laws. Bills may be presented to the council as Private Members' Bills by three of the local Parish Councils jointly or by at least one tenth of the citizens of Andorra.

File:Casa de la Vall, Andorra la Vieja, Andorra, 2013-12-30, DD 03.JPG, headquarters of the General Council since 2011, next to Casa de la Vall]]

The council also approves the annual budget of the principality. The government must submit the proposed budget for parliamentary approval at least two months before the previous budget expires. If the budget is not approved by the first day of the next year, the previous budget is extended until a new one is approved. Once any bill is approved, the Syndic General is responsible for presenting it to the co-princes so that they may sign and enact it.

File:Els 7 poetes, Casa de la Vall, Consell General.JPG]]

If the prime minister is not satisfied with the council, he may request that the co-princes dissolve the council and order new elections. In turn, the councillors have the power to remove the prime minister from office. After a motion of censure is approved by at least one-fifth of the councillors, the council will vote and if it receives the absolute majority of votes, the prime minister is removed.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

{{Main|Law of Andorra}}

The judiciary is composed of the Magistrates Court, the Criminal Law Court, the High Court of Andorra, and the Constitutional Court. The High Court of Justice is composed of five judges: one appointed by the prime minister, one each by the co-princes, one by the Syndic General, and one by the judges and magistrates. It is presided over by the member appointed by the Syndic General and the judges hold office for six-year terms.{{cite web |title=The Constitution of the Principality of Andorra |url=https://www.apda.ad/assets/pdf/constitucio_en.pdf |website=Andorran Data Protection Agency |access-date=15 May 2024}}

The magistrates and judges are appointed by the High Court, as is the president of the Criminal Law Court. The High Court also appoints members of the Office of the Attorney General. The Constitutional Court is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and reviewing all appeals of unconstitutionality against laws and treaties. It is composed of four judges, one appointed by each of the co-princes and two by the General Council. They serve eight-year terms. The Court is presided over by one of the judges on a two-year rotation so that each judge at one point will preside over the Court.

{{Main|Foreign relations of Andorra}}

File:Bruxelles rue de la Montagne 10.jpg]]

Andorra does not have its own armed forces, although there is a small ceremonial army. Responsibility for defending the nation rests primarily with France and Spain.{{cite web|url=http://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1993-16868 |title=Documento BOE-A-1993-16868 |publisher=BOE.es |date=30 June 1993 |pages=19876–19877 |access-date=26 August 2012}} However, in case of emergencies or natural disasters, the Sometent (an alarm) is called and all able-bodied men between 21 and 60 of Andorran nationality must serve.{{cite web|url=http://turisme.andorralavella.ad/?q=en/node/281 |title=El Sometent | Tourism |publisher=Turisme.andorralavella.ad |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=26 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://recarrega.net/arxius/Decret%20veguers%20Sometent,%20del%2023%20d%27octubre%20de%201984.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://recarrega.net/arxius/Decret%20veguers%20Sometent,%20del%2023%20d%27octubre%20de%201984.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Decret veguers Sometent, del 23 d'octubre de 1984 |access-date=26 August 2012}} This is why all Andorrans, and especially the head of each house (usually the eldest able-bodied man of a house) should, by law, keep a rifle, even though the law also states that the police will offer a firearm in case of need. Andorra is a full member of the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and has a special agreement with the European Union (EU). After the constitution was ratified, Andorra would later establish diplomatic relations with their major allies aside from neighbours France and Spain such as the United Kingdom in 1994 and the United States in 1995. It also has observer status at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).{{cite web |url=https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S009-DP.aspx?language=E&CatalogueIdList=23616,10196&CurrentCatalogueIdIndex=1&FullTextHash=&HasEnglishRecord=True&HasFrenchRecord=True&HasSpanishRecord=True |title=Accession of the Principality of Andorra |website=WTO |date=15 September 1999 }} On 16 October 2020, Andorra became the 190th member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/10/16/pr20315-andorra-principality-of-andorra-becomes-imfs-190th-member |title=Principality of Andorra becomes IMF's 190th Member |website=IMF |date=16 October 2020 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/imf-worldbank-andorra-idUSL1N2H722E |title=Andorra becomes IMF's 190th member as coronavirus pandemic hits tourist entries |website=Reuters |date=16 October 2020 }}

Andorra has a small army, which has historically been raised or reconstituted at various dates, but has never in modern times amounted to a standing army. The basic principle of Andorran defence is that all able-bodied men are available to fight if called upon by the summoning of the Sometent (a civil defence organisation of Andorra, made up of the heads of households). The Sometent was used sparingly against French "Lutheran" raids during the late 16th century. Being a landlocked country, Andorra has no navy.

Before World War I, Andorra maintained an armed militia force of about 600 part-time militiamen under the supervision of a Captain (Capità or Cap de Sometent) and a Lieutenant (Desener or Lloctinent del Capità). This body was not liable for service outside the principality and was commanded by two officials (veguers) appointed by France and the Bishop of Urgell.{{cite web|url=http://www.policia.ad/historia.html|title=Cos de Policia – Història i identitat|website=Policia.ad|access-date=26 March 2019}}

In the modern era, the army has consisted of a very small body of volunteers willing to undertake ceremonial duties. Uniforms and weaponry were handed down from generation to generation within families and communities.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/49867/el-sometent-es-lliura-de-registrar-larma|title=El Sometent es lliura de registrar l'arma|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=23 February 2016 |access-date=26 March 2019}}

The army's role in internal security was largely taken over by the formation of the Police Corps of Andorra in 1931. Brief civil disorder associated with the elections of 1933 led to assistance being sought from the French National Gendarmerie,{{cite web|url=https://ad.vlex.com/vid/policia-285260|title=De la policia|website=vLex|access-date=26 March 2019}} with a detachment resident in Andorra for two months under the command of René-Jules Baulard.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The Andorran Police was reformed in the following year, with eleven soldiers appointed to supervisory roles.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1157484 |title=Andorra's 'ARMY' – Eleven Permanent Troops! |work=The Times |publisher=The Courier-Mail |via=Trove |date=5 January 1934 |access-date=26 August 2012}} The force consisted of six corporals, one for each parish (although there are currently seven parishes, there were only six until 1978), plus four junior staff officers to co-ordinate action, and a commander with the rank of major. It was the responsibility of the six corporals, each in his own parish, to be able to raise a fighting force from among the able-bodied men of the parish.

The only permanent section of the present-day Sometent is a twelve-man ceremonial unit. However, all able-bodied men are technically available for military service,{{cite web|url=https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/dmg/recordes_quan/2018/10/21/els_anhels_andorra_136998_1196.html|title=Els anhels d'Andorra|first1=Elisenda |last1=Pallarés |first2=Andorra la|last2=Vella|date=21 October 2018|website=Diari d'Andorra|access-date=26 March 2019}} with a requirement for each family to have access to a firearm. An area weapon, such as a shotgun per household, is unregulated; however, ranged weapons, such as pistols and rifles, require a licence. The army has not fought for more than 700 years, and its main responsibility is to present the flag of Andorra at official ceremonial functions.{{cite web|url=http://www.aire.ad/documents/10200707_BOP14073Reglament_atm.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.aire.ad/documents/10200707_BOP14073Reglament_atm.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Bop14073 |access-date=26 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.andorramania.com/histoire_gb.htm |title=History of the Principality of Andorra |publisher=Andorramania.com |date=11 December 1997 |access-date=26 August 2012}} According to Marc Forné Molné, Andorra's military budget is strictly from voluntary donations, and the availability of full-time volunteers.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/webcast/ga/58/statements/andoeng030925.htm |title=Andorra |publisher=Un.org |date=25 September 2003 |access-date=26 August 2012}}

The only more recent general emergency call to the Sometent was given during the floods of 1982 in the Catalan Pyrenees (when 12 Andorran citizens perished),{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/27735/82-aiguats|title=La Tribuna – 82 aiguats|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=23 November 2012|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122101/https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/27735/82-aiguats|url-status=dead}} to help the population and establish a public order along with the local police units.{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/27039/la-nit-mes-llarga-en-molts-anys|title=La nit més llarga en molts anys|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=29 October 2012 |access-date=26 March 2019}}

Andorra is one of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, having joined on 10 November 1994. Through its membership in the Council of Europe, Andorra is or has been involved in the following areas:

• Prevention of torture: Inspections by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture in detention facilities such as juvenile centres, immigration detention sites, police stations, and psychiatric hospitals.
• Fight against racism: Monitoring and advice provided by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.
• Protection of social rights: Oversight by the European Committee of Social Rights under the European Social Charter, which guarantees social and economic human rights.
• Protection of minorities: Although the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities sets up a monitoring system, Andorra has not signed this convention.
• Anti-corruption: Evaluations by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) to improve national capacities against corruption.
• Countering money laundering and terrorism financing: Reviews by the MONEYVAL Committee and monitoring by COP198.
• Democracy through law: Advisory support from the Venice Commission, which assists in aligning constitutional frameworks with European democratic standards.
• Combating human trafficking: Monitoring by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) through regular evaluation reports.
• Enhancing the justice system: Assessments by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) to improve judicial efficiency.
• Cultural contributions: In 1994, Andorra donated “Incles Valley, Andorra” (oil on canvas by Francesc Galobardes) as part of the council's art collection, symbolising its commitment to human rights and cultural heritage.

Andorra's representation in the Council includes:

• Committee of Ministers: Represented by Imma Tor Faus (Minister for Foreign Affairs) and Andreu Jordi (Ambassador and Permanent Representative).
• Parliamentary Assembly: A delegation of 2 representatives and 2 substitutes.
• Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: A delegation of 2 representatives and 2 substitutes.
• European Court of Human Rights: Represented by Judge Pere Pastor Vilanova, with 14 applications allocated to a decision body in 2024.
• Commissioner for Human Rights: Conducts visits to monitor the human rights situation and engage in dialogue with national authorities and civil society.
• Council of Europe Treaties: Andorra has ratified and signed several treaties that reinforce its commitment to the council's principles.

For 2025, the Council of Europe's budget is €655.7 million, with Andorra contributing €368,842.{{cite web |title=Andorra // 46 States, one Europe |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/andorra |website=Council of Europe |access-date=22 February 2025}}

File:Skoda Policia - Andorra (2022).jpg patrolling the central area of the capital city]]

{{Main|Police Corps of Andorra}}

Andorra maintains a small but modern and well-equipped internal police force, with around 240 police officers supported by civilian assistants. The principal services supplied by the corps are uniformed community policing, criminal detection, border control, and traffic policing. There are also small specialist units including police dogs, mountain rescue, and a bomb disposal team.{{cite web|author=Carles Iglesias Carril |url=http://www.policia.ad/ |title=Andorran Police Service website |publisher=Policia.ad |access-date=26 August 2012}}

The {{lang|ca|Grup d'Intervenció Policia d'Andorra}}' (GIPA) is a small special forces squad trained in counter-terrorism, and hostage recovery tasks. Although it is the closest in style to an active military force, it is part of the Police Corps, and not the army. As terrorist and hostage situations are a rare threat to the country, the GIPA is commonly assigned to prisoner escort duties, and at other times to routine policing.{{cite web |first=Carles Iglesias |last=Carril |url=http://www.policia.ad/estructura.html |title=Cos de Policia – Estructura organitzativa |language=ca |publisher=Policia.ad |access-date=14 May 2015}}

The Andorran Fire Brigade, with headquarters at Santa Coloma, operates from four modern fire stations, and has a staff of around 120 firefighters. The service is equipped with 16 heavy appliances (fire tenders, turntable ladders, and specialist four-wheel drive vehicles), four light support vehicles (cars and vans) and four ambulances.{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=64 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722172143/http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=64 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Vehicle details with extensive photo gallery here |publisher=Bombers.ad |access-date=26 August 2012 }}

Historically, the families of the six ancient parishes of Andorra maintained local arrangements to assist each other in fighting fires. The first fire pump purchased by the government was acquired in 1943. Serious fires which lasted for two days in December 1959 led to calls for a permanent fire service, and the Andorran Fire Brigade was formed on 21 April 1961.{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=44 |title=Fire Brigade history here (in Catalan) |publisher=Bombers.ad |access-date=26 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801135702/http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=44 |archive-date=1 August 2012}}

The fire service maintains full-time cover with five fire crews on duty at any time: two at the brigade's headquarters in Santa Coloma, and one crew at each of the other three fire stations.{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad |title=Andorran Fire Service site |publisher=Bombers.ad |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=26 August 2012}}

File:Andorramap.png

File:Andorra topographic map-en.svg

{{Main|Geography of Andorra|Geology of Andorra}}

{{Main|Parishes of Andorra}}

Andorra consists of seven parishes:

• File:Former_Coat_of_Arms_of_Andorra_la_Vella.svg Andorra la Vella
• File:Emblem of Canillo.svg Canillo
• File:Escut d'Encamp.svg Encamp
• File:Escut d'Escaldes-Engordany.svg Escaldes-Engordany
• File:Coat of Arms of La Massana.svg La Massana
• File:Emblem of Ordino.svg Ordino
• File:Coat of Arms of Sant Julià de Lòria.svg Sant Julià de Lòria

Due to its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains, the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at {{convert|2946|m|ft|0}}, and the average elevation of Andorra is {{convert|1996|m|ft|0}}.Atlas of Andorra (1991), Andorran Government. {{oclc|801960401}}. {{in lang|ca}} These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the Gran Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of {{convert|840|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}). Andorra's land area is {{convert|468|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}.

Phytogeographically, Andorra belongs to the Atlantic European province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Andorra belongs to the ecoregion of Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests.{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}} Andorra had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.45/10, ranking it 127th globally out of 172 countries.{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}} In Andorra forest cover is around 34% of the total land area, equivalent to 16,000 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 16,000 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 0% of the forest area was found within protected areas.{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Andorra |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/AND/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}

The whole country has been recognised as a single Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, because it is important for forest and mountain birds and supports populations of red-billed choughs, citril finches and rock buntings.{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pirineo-de-andorra-iba-andorra|title= Pirineo de Andorra|author= |date=2021|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 25 February 2021}}

Andorra has alpine, continental and oceanic climates, depending on altitude. Its higher elevation means there is, on average, more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer. The diversity of landmarks, the different orientation of the valleys and the irregularity relief typical of the Mediterranean climates make the country have a great diversity of microclimates that hinder the general dominance of the high mountain climate. The great differences of altitude in the minimum and maximum points, together with the influence of a Mediterranean climate, develop the climate of the Andorran Pyrenees.

When in precipitation, a global model characterised by convective and abundant rains can be defined during spring and summer, which can last until autumn (May, June and August are usually the rainiest months). In winter, however, it is less rainy, except in the highlands, subject to the influence of fronts from the Atlantic, which explains the great amount of snowfall in the Andorran mountains. The temperature regime is characterised, broadly, by a temperate summer and a long and cold winter, in accordance with the mountainous condition of the Principality.{{cite web|url=https://es.weatherspark.com/y/46004/Clima-promedio-en-Andorra-la-Vella-Andorra-durante-todo-el-a%C3%B1o|title=Clima promedio en Andorra la Vella, Andorra, durante todo el año – Weather Spark|website=es.weatherspark.com|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122054/https://es.weatherspark.com/y/46004/Clima-promedio-en-Andorra-la-Vella-Andorra-durante-todo-el-a%C3%B1o}}

{{Weather box

| location = Andorra La Vella (Roc de Sant Pere), elevation: 1,075m (1971–2000, extremes 1934–present)

| collapsed =

| metric first = y

| single line = y

| Jan record high C = 18.0

| Feb record high C = 20.0

| Mar record high C = 24.8

| Apr record high C = 29.0

| May record high C = 29.2

| Jun record high C = 37.4

| Jul record high C = 39.0

| Aug record high C = 35.9

| Sep record high C = 32.0

| Oct record high C = 31.0

| Nov record high C = 21.2

| Dec record high C = 19.0

| year record high C = 39.0

| Jan high C = 6.9

| Feb high C = 8.9

| Mar high C = 11.7

| Apr high C = 13.3

| May high C = 17.6

| Jun high C = 21.9

| Jul high C = 26.2

| Aug high C = 25.4

| Sep high C = 21.4

| Oct high C = 16.0

| Nov high C = 10.7

| Dec high C = 7.5

| year high C = 15.6

| Jan mean C = 2.2

| Feb mean C = 3.5

| Mar mean C = 5.8

| Apr mean C = 7.5

| May mean C = 11.5

| Jun mean C = 15.4

| Jul mean C = 18.8

| Aug mean C = 18.5

| Sep mean C = 14.9

| Oct mean C = 10.3

| Nov mean C = 5.7

| Dec mean C = 3.0

| year mean C = 9.8

| Jan low C = -2.5

| Feb low C = -1.8

| Mar low C = -0.2

| Apr low C = 1.7

| May low C = 5.3

| Jun low C = 8.8

| Jul low C = 11.4

| Aug low C = 11.4

| Sep low C = 8.5

| Oct low C = 4.7

| Nov low C = 0.6

| Dec low C = -1.4

| year low C = 3.9

| Jan record low C = −15.0

| Feb record low C = −16.0

| Mar record low C = −11.0

| Apr record low C = −7.0

| May record low C = −2.0

| Jun record low C = 0.0

| Jul record low C = 3.0

| Aug record low C = 2.0

| Sep record low C = 0.0

| Oct record low C = −6.0

| Nov record low C = −10.5

| Dec record low C = −13.0

| year record low C = −16.0

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 53.1

| Feb precipitation mm = 37.9

| Mar precipitation mm = 40.5

| Apr precipitation mm = 71.2

| May precipitation mm = 89.8

| Jun precipitation mm = 84.2

| Jul precipitation mm = 60.7

| Aug precipitation mm = 85.6

| Sep precipitation mm = 80.9

| Oct precipitation mm = 72.4

| Nov precipitation mm = 68.4

| Dec precipitation mm = 67.9

| year precipitation mm = 812.3

| source 1 = ACDA{{cite web

|url=http://opengis.uab.cat/wms/ACDA/index.htm

|title=Andorra La Vella 1971–2000 averages

|publisher=ACDA

|access-date=3 January 2016

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114053905/http://opengis.uab.cat/wms/ACDA/index.htm

|archive-date=14 January 2016

}}

| source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)

{{cite web

| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=308

| title = Station Andorra la Vella

| publisher = Meteo Climat

|language = fr

| access-date = 14 October 2016}}

| date = July 2021

| source =

}}As a small mountainous country, Andorra is highly vulnerable to climate change. Temperatures in its high-altitude regions have risen by about 0.17 °C per decade, while annual rainfall has decreased by 49 mm. These shifts are impacting water resources and snow cover, which are key elements for Andorra's tourism-driven economy.{{Cite web |title=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/andorra |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}} The number of days with enough snow for skiing is declining, and the snow line is retreating to higher altitudes.{{Cite journal |last=International Monetary Fund African Dept. |date=6 March 2024 |title=Climate Change in Small open Economies: The Case of Andorra |url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2024/058/article-A003-en.xml |journal=IMF Staff Country Reports |language=en |volume=2024 |issue=58 |doi=10.5089/9798400268205.002.A003 |doi-broken-date= 13 March 2025|isbn=9798400268205}}

Although its national greenhouse gas emissions are one of the lowest in the world (534 thousand tonnes emitted in 2023),{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Matthew W. |last2=Peters |first2=Glen P. |last3=Gasser |first3=Thomas |last4=Andrew |first4=Robbie M. |last5=Schwingshackl |first5=Clemens |last6=Gütschow |first6=Johannes |last7=Houghton |first7=Richard A. |last8=Friedlingstein |first8=Pierre |last9=Pongratz |first9=Julia |last10=Le Quéré |first10=Corinne |date=2023-03-29 |title=National contributions to climate change due to historical emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide since 1850 |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02041-1 |journal=Scientific Data |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=155 |doi=10.1038/s41597-023-02041-1 |pmid=36991071 |issn=2052-4463|pmc=10060593 |bibcode=2023NatSD..10..155J }} Andorra has a strong climate change mitigation strategy, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. In its Nationally Determined Contribution, Andorra has committed to reducing its emissions by 55% by 2030, and to carbon neutrality by 2050.{{Cite web |title=Andorra Climate Change Data {{!}} Emissions and Policies |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/AND?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}} However, the adaptation part of the strategy is still in early stages and may be difficult and costly to implement. Given the country's reliance on tourism, speeding up adaptation is essential for building a more resilient economy.

{{Main|Economy of Andorra}}

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 8 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts.

One of the main sources of income in Andorra is from ski resorts, which total over {{convert|175|km|0|abbr=on}} of ski grounds. The sport brings in over 7 million visitors annually and an estimated 340 million euros per year, sustaining 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs at present since 2007.{{cite web|url=http://offshorelicense-regulatory.com/about-andorra/|title=About Andorra – Valsen Fiduciaries|website=Offshorelicense-regulatory.com|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122108/https://www.offshorelicense-regulatory.com/about-andorra/}}

The banking sector, with its tax haven status, also contributes substantially to the economy with revenues raised exclusively through import tariffs (the financial and insurance sector accounts for approximately 19% of GDP{{cite web|url=http://www.aba.ad/pub/publicaciones/financial_system_2013.pdf|title=Andorra and its financial system 2013|publisher=Aba.ad|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214121805/http://www.aba.ad/pub/publicaciones/financial_system_2013.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2015}}). However, during the European sovereign-debt crisis of the 21st century, the tourist industry suffered a decline, partly caused by a drop in the prices of goods in Spain, undercutting duty-free shopping and increasing unemployment. On 1 January 2012, a business tax of 10% was introduced,{{cite web|title=Andorra gets a taste of taxation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/27/andorra-financial-crisis-tax|work=The guardian|access-date=30 March 2013|date=27 December 2011}} followed by a sales tax of 2% a year later, which raised just over 14 million euros in its first quarter.{{cite news|title=Andorra Unveils First Indirect Tax Revenue Figures|url=http://www.tax-news.com/news/Andorra_Unveils_First_Indirect_Tax_Revenue_Figures____60703.html|newspaper=Tax News|date=9 May 2013|access-date=2 June 2013|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205013920/https://www.tax-news.com/news/Andorra_Unveils_First_Indirect_Tax_Revenue_Figures____60703.html}}

Agricultural production is limited; only 1.7%{{Cite web|title=Andorra Arable land as a share of land area, 1960-2020 - knoema.com|url=https://knoema.com//atlas/Andorra/topics/Land-Use/Area/Arable-land-as-a-share-of-land-area|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Knoema|language=en-US}} of the land is arable, and most food has to be imported. Some tobacco is grown locally. The principal livestock activity is domestic sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra's natural resources include hydroelectric power, mineral water, timber, iron ore, and lead.{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Andorra|access-date=26 August 2012}}

Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacked a currency of its own and used both the French franc and the Spanish peseta in banking transactions until 31 December 1999, when both currencies were replaced by the EU's single currency, the euro. Coins and notes of both the franc and the peseta remained legal tender in Andorra until 31 December 2002. Andorra negotiated to issue its own euro coins, beginning in 2014.

Andorra has historically had one of the world's lowest unemployment rates. In 2023 it stood at 1.5%.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title=Is there unemployment in Andorra? All about employment and unemployment [2023] |url=https://andorrainsiders.com/en/there-is-unemployment-in-andorra-everything-about-employment-and-unemployment/#:~:text=With%20an%20employment%20rate%20of%2083.0%25%20in%20the,and%20sustain%20a%20healthy%20and%20dynamic%20labor%20market. |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=andorrainsiders.com |language=en-US}}

On 31 May 2013, it was announced that Andorra intended to legislate for the introduction of an income tax by the end of June, against a background of increasing dissatisfaction with the existence of tax havens among EU members.{{cite news|title=Andorra to introduce income tax for first time|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22745895|newspaper=BBC News|date=2 June 2013}} The announcement was made following a meeting in Paris between the Prime Minister Antoni Martí and the French President and Prince of Andorra François Hollande. Hollande welcomed the move as part of a process of Andorra "bringing its taxation in line with international standards".{{cite news|url=http://www.notretemps.com/argent/andorre-aligne-progressivement-sa,i29431|title=Andorre aligne progressivement sa fiscalité sur les standards internationaux (Elysée)|newspaper=Notre Temps|date=31 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616031601/http://www.notretemps.com/argent/andorre-aligne-progressivement-sa,i29431|archive-date=16 June 2013}}

By the mid-2010s, the financial system comprised five banking groups,{{cite web|url=http://thebanks.eu/banks-by-country/Andorra |title=List of Banks in Andorra |publisher=Thebanks.eu |access-date=14 May 2015}} one specialised credit entity, eight investment undertaking management entities, three asset management companies, and 29 insurance companies, 14 of which are branches of foreign insurance companies authorised to operate in the principality. The last mergers between banks took place in 2022, bringing the Andorran financial sector to currently have 3 active banking groups.{{Cite web |title=Banks in Andorra – Open a bank account in Andorra |url=https://www.andorra-solutions.com/banks-in-andorra/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Andorra Solutions |language=en-US}}

File:Els Cortals d'Encamp - 1.jpg, as seen from the Vall dels Cortals]]

{{Main|Demographics of Andorra}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical populations

|align = right

|shading = off

|percentages = pagr

|source = Departament d'Estadística d'Andorra{{cite web|url=http://www.estadistica.ad/serveiestudis/web/banc_dades4.asp?tipus_grafic=&check=0&bGrafic=&formules=inici&any1=01/01/1947&any2=01/01/2015&codi_divisio=8&lang=1&codi_subtemes=8&codi_tema=2&chkseries=|title=Departament d'Estadística|website=Estadistica.ad|access-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115063522/http://www.estadistica.ad/serveiestudis/web/banc_dades4.asp?tipus_grafic=&check=0&bGrafic=&formules=inici&any1=01%2F01%2F1947&any2=01%2F01%2F2015&codi_divisio=8&lang=1&codi_subtemes=8&codi_tema=2&chkseries=|archive-date=15 January 2017}}

|1950|6176

|1960|8392

|1970|19545

|1980|35460

|1990|54507

|2000|65844

|2010|85015

|2015|78067

}}

The population of Andorra is estimated at {{UN_Population|Andorra}} ({{UN_Population|Year}}).{{UN_Population|ref}} The Andorrans are a Romance ethnic group of originally Catalan descent. The population has grown from 5,000 in 1900.

Two-thirds of residents lack Andorran nationality and do not have the right to vote in communal elections. Moreover, they are not allowed to be elected as prime minister{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/160178.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/160178.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Andorra |publisher=U.S. Department of State |access-date=11 November 2017}} or to own more than 33% of the capital stock of a privately held company.{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/ANDORRA/Parlamento/andorrano/facilita/hijos/residentes/adquisicion/nacionalidad/elpepiint/19850801elpepiint_23/Tes/ |title=El Parlamento andorrano facilita a los hijos de los residentes la adquisición de la nacionalidad | Edición impresa |date= August 1985|access-date=14 May 2015|newspaper=El País }}{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/ANDORRA/examen/ser/andorrano/elpepiint/19851027elpepiint_18/Tes/ |title=Un examen para ser andorrano | Edición impresa | EL PAÍS |publisher=Elpais.com |date=27 October 1985 |access-date=14 May 2015|newspaper=El País }}{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/RIBAS/_oSCAR/MARTi_ALANiS/_JOAN_/ARZOBISPO_DE_URGELL/ANDORRA/Constitucion/Andorra/seguira/limitando/derechos/poblacion/elpepiint/19920509elpepiint_5/Tes/ |title=La Constitución de Andorra seguirá limitando los derechos del 70% de la población | Edición impresa | EL PAÍS |publisher=Elpais.com |date=9 May 1992 |access-date=14 May 2015|newspaper=El País }}{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Andorra/solo/inmigrantes/sanos/elpporint/20060714elpepisoc_8/Tes/ |title=Andorra, sólo inmigrantes sanos | Edición impresa | EL PAÍS |publisher=Elpais.com |date=14 July 2006 |access-date=14 May 2015|newspaper=El País }}

The largest national groups in Andorra are Spanish (34.3%), Andorrans (32.1%), Portuguese (10%), and French (5.6%). The remaining 18% of the population includes British, Dutch, Germans, Italians and other Europeans, as well as Argentinians, Chileans, Indians, Moroccans and Uruguayans.

{{Main|Languages of Andorra}}

{{Bar chart

|thumb = right

|title = Mother tongue speakers in Andorra 2022 (including multilingual speakers).Source: Knowledge and Linguistic Use of the Population of Andorra (1995–2022). {{Cite web|title= Coneixements i usos lingüístics de la població d'Andorra. Situació actual i evolució (1995-2022)|url=https://www.cultura.ad/images/stories/Llengua/Documents/CU_22_web-Indicador_dusos_ling%C3%BC%C3%ADstics_compressed.pdf|access-date=2024-10-15|website=www.cultura.ad}}

|label_type = Language

|data_type = Speakers

|label1 = Catalan

|data1 = 44.1

|label2 = Spanish

|data2 = 40.3

|label3 =Portuguese

|data3 = 13.5

|label4 = French

|data4 = 10.0

|label5 = Other

|data5 = 9.8

}}

The historic and official language is Catalan, a Romance language. The Andorran government encourages the use of Catalan. It funds a Commission for Catalan Toponymy in Andorra (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Comissió de Toponímia d'Andorra}}), and provides free Catalan classes to assist immigrants. Andorran television and radio stations use Catalan.

Because of immigration, historical links, and close geographic proximity, Spanish, Portuguese and French are commonly spoken. Most Andorran residents can speak one or more of these, in addition to Catalan. English is less commonly spoken among the general population, though it is understood to varying degrees in the major tourist resorts.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Andorra is one of only four European countries (together with France, Monaco, and Turkey){{cite web|url=http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/default_en.asp |title=Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM): National Minorities, Council of Europe, 14 September 2010 |publisher=Coe.int |access-date=26 August 2012}} that have never signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.{{cite web|url=http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=157&CM=&DF=&CL=ENG|title=Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities CETS No. 157|publisher=Conventions.coe.int|access-date=25 November 2012|archive-date=7 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707021551/http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=157&CM=&DF=&CL=ENG|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Religion in Andorra}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religion of Andorra

| label1 = Catholic

| value1 = 89.5

| color1 = red

| label2 = other

| value2 = 8.8

| color2 = orange

| value3 = 1.7

| label3 = unaffiliated

| color3 = blue

}}

Few official statistics are available on religion; estimates of the Catholic population in 2020 range from 89.5%{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/religions/|title=Religions – The World Factbook|website=www.cia.gov}} to 99.21%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/andorra|title=Andorra | Catholics & Cultures|website=www.catholicsandcultures.org}} The patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell. There are also members of various Protestant denominations and small numbers of Hindus, and Bahá'ís.{{Cite web|url=https://thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=6c&u=23r|title=National Profiles | World Religion|website=thearda.com}}{{Cite encyclopedia | title = Andorra: population, capital, cities, GDP, map, flag, currency, languages, ... | encyclopedia = Wolfram Alpha | volume = Online | publisher = Wolfram – Alpha (curated data) | date = 13 March 2010 | url =http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/countries/andorra/xy/p0/k6/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120308145150/http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/countries/andorra/xy/p0/k6/| archive-date =8 March 2012}} In 2022 there were approximately 2000 Muslims and roughly 100 Jews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/andorra/|title=Andorra|accessdate=24 February 2025}}{{cite web|title=Andorra facts|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/spain-portugal-italy-greece-and-balkans/spanish-and-portuguese-political-geography/andorra|website=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=22 November 2016}}

{{main|List of cities in Andorra}}

{{Largest cities

| country = Andorra

| stat_ref = [http://www.citypopulation.de/Andorra.html CityPopulation.de]

| list_by_pop = List of cities in Andorra

| div_name = Parish

| div_link = Parishes of Andorra

|city_1 = Andorra la Vella

|div_1 = Andorra la Vella

|pop_1 = 20,719

|img_1 = Andorra la Vella 3.JPG

|city_2 = Escaldes-Engordany

|div_2 = Escaldes-Engordany

|pop_2 = 15,506

|img_2 = Edificios en Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra 94.jpg

|city_4 = Sant Julià de Lòria

|div_4 = Sant Julià de Lòria

|pop_4 = 7,962

|img_4 = Sant Julia de Loria 2012.jpg

|city_3 = Encamp

|div_3 = Encamp

|pop_3 = 8,326

|img_3 = Vista d'Encamp - Andorra.jpg

|city_5 = La Massana

|div_5 = La Massana

|pop_5 = 5,979

|city_6 = Santa Coloma d'Andorra{{!}}Santa Coloma

|div_6 = Andorra la Vella

|pop_6 = 3,323

|city_7 = Ordino

|div_7 = Ordino

|pop_7 = 3,217

|city_9 = El Pas de la Casa

|div_9 = Encamp

|pop_9 = 2,156

|city_8 = Canillo

|div_8 = Canillo

|pop_8 = 2,550

|city_10 = Arinsal

|div_10 = La Massana

|pop_10 = 2,127

}}

The Qualified Education Law (llei qualificada d'educació) of Andorra was passed in 1993. It guarantees free, public education from age four until the end of compulsory schooling.{{Cite book |last1=Hörner |first1=Wolfgang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FI5hZqm2_0MC |title=The Education Systems of Europe |last2=Döbert |first2=Hans |last3=Kopp |first3=Botho von |last4=Mitter |first4=Wolfgang |date=2007-05-03 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4020-4874-6 |pages=32–34 |language=en}}

Children between the ages of 6 and 16 are required by law to have full-time education. Education up to secondary level is provided free of charge by the government.

There are three systems of school, Andorran, French and Spanish, which use Catalan, French and Spanish languages respectively, as the main language of instruction. Parents may choose which system their children attend. All schools are built and maintained by Andorran authorities, but teachers in the French and Spanish schools are paid for the most part by France and Spain. 39% of Andorran children attend Andorran schools, 33% attend French schools, and 28% Spanish schools.

The Universitat d'Andorra (UdA) is the state public university and is the only university in Andorra. It was established in 1997. The university provides first-level degrees in nursing, computer science, business administration, and educational sciences, in addition to higher professional education courses. The only two graduate schools in Andorra are the Nursing School and the School of Computer Science, the latter having a PhD programme.

The geographical complexity of the country as well as the small number of students prevents the University of Andorra from developing a full academic programme, and it serves principally as a centre for virtual studies, connected to Spanish and French universities. The Virtual Studies Centre (Centre d'Estudis Virtuals) at the university runs approximately 20 different academic degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in fields including tourism, law, Catalan philology, humanities, psychology, political sciences, audiovisual communication, telecommunications engineering, and East Asia studies. The centre also runs various postgraduate programmes and continuing-education courses for professionals.

{{Main|Transport in Andorra}}

{{See also|Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport}}

File:Pirineus - la Seu d'Urgell airport.jpg, located {{convert|12|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away from Andorra, in Montferrer i Castellbò (Catalonia, Eastern Spain)]]

Until the 20th century, Andorra had very limited transport links to the outside world, and development of the country was affected by its physical isolation. Even now, the nearest major airports at Toulouse and Barcelona are both three hours' drive from Andorra.

Andorra has a road network of {{convert|279|km|0|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|76|km|0|abbr=on}} is unpaved. The two main roads out of Andorra la Vella are the CG-1 to the Spanish border near Sant Julià de Lòria, and the CG-2 to the French border via the Envalira Tunnel near El Pas de la Casa.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilitat.ad/CA/default.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206123122/http://www.mobilitat.ad/CA/default.asp|archive-date=6 December 2007|title=Agència de Mobilitat, Govern d'Andorra |publisher=Mobilitat.ad}} Bus services cover all metropolitan areas and many rural communities, with services on most major routes running half-hourly or more frequently during peak travel times. There are frequent long-distance bus services from Andorra to Barcelona and Toulouse, plus a daily tour from the former city. Bus services mostly are run by private companies, but some local ones are operated by the government.

File:AGC Z 27500.jpg (La Tor de Querol), one of the two stations serving Andorra. Andorra has no railways, although the line connecting Latour-de-Carol and Toulouse, which in turn connects to France's TGVs at Toulouse, runs within {{convert|2|km|spell=on|abbr=on}} of the Andorran border]]

There are no airports for fixed-wing aircraft within Andorra's borders but there are, however, heliports in La Massana (Camí Heliport), Arinsal and Escaldes–Engordany with commercial helicopter services{{cite web|url=http://www.heliand.com/ |title=Inici – Heliand – Helicopters a Andorra |publisher=Heliand |access-date=14 May 2015}}{{cite web |title=Company |url=http://www.helitrans.ad/Company.htm |website=helitrans.ad |access-date=20 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715061939/http://www.helitrans.ad/Company.htm |archive-date=15 July 2009}} and an airport located in the neighbouring Spanish comarca of Alt Urgell, {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} south of the Andorran–Spanish border.{{cite web|url=http://web.gencat.cat/en/actualitat/detall/Aeroport-public-i-comercial-dAndorra-la-Seu-dUrgell-00002|title=Public and regional airport of Andorra-la Seu d'Urgell|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328143700/http://web.gencat.cat/en/actualitat/detall/Aeroport-public-i-comercial-dAndorra-la-Seu-dUrgell-00002|archive-date=28 March 2016}} Since July 2015, Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport has operated commercial flights to Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, and is the main hub for Andorra Airlines.

Nearby airports located in Spain and France provide access to international flights for the principality. The nearest airports are at Perpignan, France ({{convert|156|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Andorra) and Lleida, Spain ({{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Andorra). The largest nearby airports are at Toulouse, France ({{convert|165|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Andorra and Barcelona, Spain ({{convert|215|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Andorra). There are hourly bus services from both Barcelona and Toulouse airports to Andorra.

The nearest railway station is Andorre-L'Hospitalet station {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=on}} east of Andorra which is on the {{track gauge|1435mm}}-gauge line from Latour-de-Carol ({{convert|25|km|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) southeast of Andorra, to Toulouse and on to Paris by the French high-speed trains. This line is operated by the SNCF. Latour-de-Carol has a scenic {{track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} trainline to Villefranche-de-Conflent, as well as the SNCF's {{track gauge|1435mm|disp=1}}-gauge line connecting to Perpignan, and the Renfe's {{track gauge|1668mm}} -gauge line to Barcelona.{{cite web|url=http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/french-network/french-network.gif|title=Sncf Map |language=de |publisher=Bueker.net |access-date=26 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.maplandia.com/france/languedoc-roussillon/pyrenees-orientales/prades/latour-de-carol/ |title=Google map |publisher=Maplandia.com |access-date=26 August 2012}} There are also direct Intercités de nuit trains between L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre and Paris on certain dates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seat61.com/Andorra.htm|title=How to travel by train from London to Andorra|website=www.seat61.com}}

{{Main|Telecommunications in Andorra}}

{{See also|Andorra Telecom}}

File:RTVA logotip.png, the public service television and radio broadcaster in Andorra]]

File:Andorra Telecom 2019 logo.svg, the national telecom company in Andorra]]

In Andorra, mobile and fixed telephone and internet services are operated exclusively by the Andorran national telecommunications company, SOM, also known as Andorra Telecom (STA). The same company also manages the technical infrastructure for national broadcasting of digital television and radio.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=558958875|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126165840/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=558958875|title=Company Overview of Andorra Telecom, SAU|archive-date=26 January 2019}} In 2010 Andorra became the first country to provide a direct optical fiber link to all homes (FTTH) and businesses.{{cite web|url=https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-distribution/prysmian-verticasa-cable-leads-way-ftth-andorra|title=Prysmian VertiCasa Cable Leads the Way with FTTH in Andorra|date=1 January 2009|website=Transmission & Distribution World|access-date=26 March 2019}}

The first commercial radio station to broadcast was Radio Andorra, which was active from 1939 to 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3727499/20100512/aqui-radio-andorra.html|title=Aquí Ràdio Andorra|website=VilaWeb.cat|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126220704/https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3727499/20100512/aqui-radio-andorra.html|archive-date=26 January 2019}}{{cite news | title=Desaparece la histórica Radio Andorra | newspaper=El País | date=4 April 1981 | url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/04/04/ultima/355183203_850215.html | language=es | access-date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://f5nsl.free.fr/andorre/histoireg.html|title=Radio Andorra: a brief history|website=f5nsl.free.fr|access-date=26 March 2019}} On 12 October 1989, the General Council established radio and television as essential public services creating and managing the entity ORTA, becoming on 13 April 2000, in the public company Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra (RTVA).{{cite web|url=https://www.andorradifusio.ad/programes/programes/memories-darxiu/els-25-anys-de-lorta-a-la-radio-lepoca-daurada-25-anys-orta-lepoca-daurada|title=25 anys ORTA: l'època daurada|website=Andorradifusio.ad|access-date=26 March 2019}} In 1990, the public radio was founded on the Radio Nacional d'Andorra. As an autochthonous television channel, there is only the national public television network Andorra Televisió, created in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://forum.ad/andorra-televisio-estrena-memories-darxiu-per-commemorar-els-25-anys/|title=Andorra Televisió estrena "Memòries d'arxiu" per commemorar els 25 anys|date=10 February 2016|website=Forum.ad|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025164531/https://forum.ad/andorra-televisio-estrena-memories-darxiu-per-commemorar-els-25-anys/}} Additional TV and radio stations from Spain and France are available via digital terrestrial television and IPTV.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/tecnologia/20070924/53396909042/andorra-se-convertira-el-martes-en-uno-de-los-primeros-paises-europeos-en-implantar-la-tdt.html|title=Andorra se convertirá el martes en uno de los primeros países europeos en implantar la TDT|website=La Vanguardia|date=24 September 2007|access-date=26 March 2019}}

There are three national newspapers, Diari d'Andorra, El Periòdic d'Andorra, and Bondia as well as several local newspapers.{{cite web|url=http://www.prensaescrita.com/newspapers/andorra.php|title=Andorra Newspapers|website=Prensaescrita.com|access-date=26 March 2019}} The history of the Andorran press begins in the period between 1917 and 1937 with the appearance of several periodicals papers such as Les Valls d'Andorra (1917), Nova Andorra (1932) and Andorra Agrícola (1933).{{cite web|url=https://www.bondia.ad/cultura/pere-moles-recopila-la-publicitat-grafica-en-la-premsa-del-periode-1917-1969|title=Pere Moles recopila la publicitat gràfica en la premsa del període 1917–1969|website=BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.|access-date=26 March 2019}} In 1974, the Poble Andorrà became the first regular newspaper in Andorra.{{cite web|url=https://www.enciclopedia.cat/EC-GEC-0051631.xml|title=El Poble Andorrà |website=Enciclopedia.cat|access-date=26 March 2019}} There is also an amateur radio society[http://www.ura.ad/ Unió de Radioaficionats Andorra]. Ura.ad. Retrieved on 30 December 2015. and news agency ANA with independent management.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsalliance.org/members/details/9|title=Agència de Notícies Andorrana – European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA)|website=Newsalliance.org|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126164453/http://www.newsalliance.org/members/details/9|archive-date=26 January 2019}}

{{Main|Culture of Andorra}}

{{See also|Music of Andorra}}

Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music of its neighbours, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances such as the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September.

Among the more important festivals and traditions are the Canólich Gathering in May, the Roser d'Ordino in July, the Meritxell Day (National Day of Andorra), the Andorra la Vella Fair, the Sant Jordi Day, the Santa Llúcia Fair, the Festivity from La Candelera to Canillo, the Carnival of Encamp, the sung of caramelles, the Festivity of Sant Esteve and the Festa del Poble.{{cite web |url=http://www.andorra.ad/en-us/about_andorra/pages/culture_and_traditions.aspx |title=About Andorra – Culture and traditions |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629004406/http://www.andorra.ad/en-us/about_andorra/pages/culture_and_traditions.aspx |archive-date=29 June 2012 }}

Andorra participated regularly in the Eurovision Song Contest between 2004 and 2009, being the only participating country presenting songs in Catalan.

In popular folklore, the best-known Andorran legends are the legend of Charlemagne, according to which this Frankish King would have founded the country, the White Lady of Auvinyà, the Buner d'Ordino, the legend of Engolasters Lake and the legend of Our Lady of Meritxell.

Andorran gastronomy is mainly Catalan, although it has also adopted other elements of French and Italian cuisines. The cuisine of the country has similar characteristics with the neighbours of Cerdanya and Alt Urgell, with whom it has strong cultural ties. Andorra's cuisine is marked by its nature as mountain valleys. Typical dishes of the country are quince all-i-oli, duck with winter pear, roast lamb with nuts, pork civet, massegada cake, escarole with pears, duck confit and mushrooms, escudella, spinach with raisins and pine nuts, jelly marmalade, stuffed murgues (mushrooms) with pork, dandelion salad, and Andorran river trout. To drink, mulled wine and beer are also popular.{{cite web|url=https://www.turisandorra.com/comer-en-andorra|title=Comer en Andorra|website=Turisandorra.com|access-date=26 March 2019}} Some of the dishes are very common in the mountainous regions of Catalonia, such as trinxat, embotits, cooked snails, rice with mushrooms, mountain rice and mató.{{cite web|url=https://www.hoteldeltarter.com/ca/cuina-tradicional-andorra/|title=Cuina tradicional Andorra – Menjar bé i a bon preu|website=Hoteldeltarter.com|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021160801/https://www.hoteldeltarter.com/ca/cuina-tradicional-andorra/}}

Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque art are one of the most important artistic manifestations and characteristics of the Principality. The Romanesque one allows to know the formation of the parochial communities, the relations of (social and political) power and the national culture. There are a total of forty Romanesque churches that stand out as being small austere ornamentation constructions, as well as bridges, fortresses and manor houses of the same period.{{cite web|url=https://visitandorra.com/ca/cultura/art-romanic|title=Art Romànic|website=Andorra Turisme|access-date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.catala.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=25 |title=Itineraris Culturals |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103210900/http://www.catala.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=25 |archive-date=3 January 2012 }}

Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees was included as UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists|title=UNESCO – Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees|website=ich.unesco.org|access-date=26 March 2019}} Also the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley became Andorra's first, and to date its only, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, with a small extension in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2183|title=Vall de Madriu-Perafita-Claror – Ramsar Sites Information Service|website=rsis.ramsar.org|access-date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1160/|title=Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=26 March 2019}}

File:HPIM0309.JPG|Andorran flag on a balcony, Ordino

File:Halévy - Le val d'Andorre - M.elle Lavoye, rôle de Georgette, 2.e acte - Alexandre Lacauchie, 1848.png|Women's Folk costume (Le val d'Andorre)

File:Halévy - Le val d'Andorre - Audran, rôle de Stéphan, 1.er acte - Alexandre Lacauchie, 1848.png|Men's Folk costume (Le val d'Andorre)

File:Narcisa 0012.JPG|Grandalla flower, the national symbol

File:Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror - 68.jpg|View of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

File:(Barcelona) Altar de Sant Romà de Vila - Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.jpg|Altar of Sant Romà de Vila

File:Església de Santa Coloma - 10.jpg|Santa Coloma d'Andorra

Andorra is famous for its winter sports. Andorra has the largest territory of ski slopes in the Pyrenees (3100 hectares and about 350 km of slopes) and two ski resorts. Grandvalira is the largest and most popular resort. Other popular sports played in Andorra include football, rugby union, basketball, and roller hockey.

For roller hockey, Andorra usually plays in the CERH Euro Cup and FIRS Roller Hockey World Cup. In 2011, Andorra was the host country to the 2011 European League Final Eight.

The country is represented in association football by the Andorra national football team. The team gained its first competitive win in a European Championship qualifier on 11 October 2019, against Moldova.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50019311|title=Andorra end 21-year wait for Euro win|publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation|date= 11 October 2019| access-date=12 October 2019}} Football is governed in Andorra by the Andorran Football Federation – founded in 1994, it organises the national competitions of association football (Primera Divisió, Copa Constitució and Supercopa) and futsal. Andorra was admitted to UEFA and FIFA in the same year, 1996. FC Andorra, a club based in Andorra la Vella founded in 1942, compete in the Spanish football league system.

Rugby is a traditional sport in Andorra, mainly influenced by its popularity in southern France. The Andorra national rugby union team, nicknamed Els Isards, plays on the international stage in rugby union and rugby sevens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/rankings/sportid=1/news/newsid=2070876.html#usa+andorra+improve+rating+rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522033240/http://www.irb.com/rankings/sportid%3D1/news/newsid%3D2070876.html|title=USA and Andorra improve rating in rankings|archive-date=22 May 2014}} VPC Andorra XV is a rugby team based in Andorra la Vella, which actually plays in the French championship.

Basketball's popularity has increased in the country since the 1990s, when the Andorran team BC Andorra played in the top league of Spain (Liga ACB).{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/11/13/baloncesto/basketfeb/1352828175.html |title=El BC Andorra quiere volver a la Liga más bella |publisher=MARCA.com |access-date=14 May 2015}} After 18 years the club returned to the top league in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2014/03/22/532e12b2e2704e1a3d8b457f.html |title=El River Andorra regresa a la ACB 18 años después | Baloncesto | El Mundo |publisher=Elmundo.es |date=22 March 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015}}

Other sports practised in Andorra include cycling, volleyball, judo, Australian Rules football, handball, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, and motorsports. In 2012, Andorra raised its first national cricket team and played a home match against the Dutch Fellowship of Fairly Odd Places Cricket Club, the first match played in the history of Andorra at an altitude of {{convert|1300|m}}.{{cite web|title=Netherlands Based FFOP CC Beats Andorra National Team|url=http://www.cricketworld.com/netherlands-based-ffop-cc-beats-andorra-xi/32216.htm|work=Cricket World|access-date=18 December 2012|date=3 September 2012}}

Andorra first participated at the Olympic Games in 1976. The country has appeared in every Winter Olympic Games since 1976. Andorra competes in the Games of the Small States of Europe, being twice the host country, in 1991 and 2005.

As one of the Catalan Countries, Andorra is home to a team of castellers, or Catalan human tower builders. The {{Interlanguage link|Castellers d'Andorra|ca}}, based in the town of Santa Coloma d'Andorra, are recognised by the {{Interlanguage link|Coordinadora de Colles Castelleres de Catalunya|ca}}, the governing body of castells.

File:2010 Opening Ceremony - Andorra entering.jpg|The athletes from Andorra at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics

File:Laure Soulie 3.jpg|Laure Soulié, Olympic biathlete

File:Laurent Recouderc Serve.jpg|Laurent Recouderc serving at the 2010 French Open

File:Irina KALENTYEVA.JPG|2015 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Vallnord, La Massana

File:Cycling in Andorra.jpg|Volta als Ports d'Andorra, the national road cycling tour

File:Estadi Comunal Vella.jpg|Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella

{{Main|Tourism in Andorra}}

Skiing, hiking, cross-country running, and cycling are all popular sports tourism activities in Andorra.{{Cite web|url=https://visitandorra.com/en/visitor-information/the-country/essential-andorra/|title=Essential facts and figures regarding Andorra | Visitandorra|website=Andorra Tourism|accessdate=24 February 2025}} Andorra's economy is heavily built on tourism.

Andorra generally enjoys a ski season from late November to early April, depending on weather conditions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ordinoarcalis.com/en/resort/opening-times|title=Dates, timetables and season calendar | Ordino Arcalís|website=www.ordinoarcalis.com|accessdate=24 February 2025}} Outside of the ski season, some of the ski lift facilities continue to operate at lower capacity, facilitating access to popular view points such as the Tristaina solar viewpoint, a viewpoint–sundial located on the peak of Peyreguils at an altitude of 2,701 metres and a few metres from the geographical border between Andorra and France. This peak is part of the Tristaina cirque, along with the Costa Rodona, Tristaina, Creussans, and Cabanyó peaks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ordinoarcalis.com/en/experiences/sundial-lookout|title=Tristaina Solar Viewpoint | Ordino Arcalís|website=www.ordinoarcalis.com|accessdate=24 February 2025}}

{{Portal|Andorra}}

• Index of Andorra-related articles
• Outline of Andorra
• Bibliography of Andorra

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last = Armengol Aleix

|first = E.

|title = Andorra: un profund i llarg viatge

|language = ca

|date = 2009

|publisher = Government of Andorra

|location = Andorra

|isbn = 978-99920-0-549-1

}}

• {{cite book

|last = Guillamet Anton

|first = J.

|title = Andorra: nova aproximació a la història d'Andorra

|language = ca

|date = 2009

|publisher = Revista Altaïr

|location = Andorra

|isbn = 978-84-936220-4-6

}}

• {{cite encyclopedia

|last = Llop Rovira

|first = Marta

|title = L'Edat Moderna a Andorra (S. XVII al XVIII)

|encyclopedia = Història, Geografia i Institucions d'Andorra

|date = 1998

|publisher = Government of Andorra

|isbn = 99920-0-185-2

}}

• {{cite encyclopedia

|author = Ministeri d'Educació, Joventut i Esports

|title = L'Edat Antiga i Mitjana a Andorra

|encyclopedia = Història, Geografia i Institucions d'Andorra

|date = 1996

|publisher = Government of Andorra

}}

• {{cite book

|last = Peruga Guerrero

|first = J.

|title = La crisi de la societat tradicional (S. XIX)

|language = ca

|date = 1998

|publisher = Segona Ensenyança

|location = Andorra

|isbn = 978-99920-0-186-8

}}

• Berthet, Elie, The Valley of Andorra. Bristol, UK: J. W. Arrowsmith, 1886.
• Butler, Michael, Frisch: Andorra.
• Carrick, Noel, Let's Visit Andorra. London: Macmillan, 1988.
• {{cite EB1911|wstitle= Andorra |volume= 1 | pages = 965–966 }}
• Deane, Shirley, The Road to Andorra. London: John Murray, 1960.
• Duursma, John C., Fragmentation and the International Relations of Micro-States. Cambridge University Press, 1996.
• Jenner, Paul; Christine Smith, Landscapes of the Pyrenees. London: Sunflower Books, 1990.
• Johnson, Virginia W., Two Quaint Republics: Andorra and San Marino.
• Leary, Lewis Gaston, Andorra the Hidden Republic. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1912.
• Mackintosh, May, Assignment in Andorra. London: Pan, 1976.
• Murray, James Erskine, A Summer in the Pyrenees. London: John Macrone, 1837.
• Newman, Bernard, Round About Andorra. London: George Allen; Unwin, 1928.
• Piesold, Werner, Andorra.
• Reichert, Thomas, Andorra: A Country Survey. Nuremberg, 1986.
• Spender, Harold; H. Llewellyn Smith, Through the High Pyrenees. London: A. D. Innes, 1898.
• Vila, Linda Armengol, Approach to the History of Andorra. Perpignan: Institut d'Estudis Andorrans, 1989.
• Vilajoana, Ricard Fiter; M. Marti Rebols, All Andorra. Barcelona: Escudo de Oro, 1979.
• Waagenaar, Sam, The Little Five. London: Andre Deutsch, 1960.

{{Wikibooks|Wikijunior:Countries A-Z|voy=Andorra|Andorra}}

{{Wikisource|Portal:Andorra|Andorra Portal}}

{{Sister project links|voy=Andorra|d=Q228}}

• [https://www.govern.ad/ Govern d'Andorra] – Official governmental site {{in lang|ca}}
• [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/andorra/ Andorra]. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
• [https://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/andorra/andorra.html Portals to the World] from the United States Library of Congress
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090227101123/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/andorra.htm Andorra] from UCB Libraries GovPubs
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17028050 Andorra] from the BBC News
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141018002545/http://bloggordo.com/andorra-guia-turismo-y-de-viajes/ Andorra – Guía, turismo y de viajes]
• [http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Andorra:_Primary_Documents History of Andorra: Primary Documents] from EuroDocs
• [https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/08/27/business/global/28andorra-slideshow.html A New Path for Andorra] – slideshow by The New York Times
• {{osmrelation-inline|9407|bullet=no}}
• {{Wikiatlas|Andorra}}

{{Andorra topics}}

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