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Background

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

Population: 71,822 (2007 est.)

Capital City: Andorra la Vella

Largest City: Andorra la Vella

Official Languages: Catalan

Currency: euro

International Dialling Code: +376

Climate: Andorra's climate is similar to that of its neighbours' temperate climates, but its higher altitude means there is, on average, more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer

Location - The Principality of Andorra is a small landlocked country in western Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. Once isolated, it is currently a prosperous country mainly because of tourism and its status as a tax haven

Geography - Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1,996 metres (6,549 ft) with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2,946 metres (9,665 ft). These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of 870 m/2,854 ft). Andorra's surface area is 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi).

Politics and Government - Andorra's political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993, the year in which it became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Andorra is a co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, Spain as co-princes, in a duumvirate. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, whereby the Prime Minister of Andorra is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system.

Andorra is not a full 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 lacks a currency of its own and uses that of its two surrounding nations.

Education - The University of Andorra is a public institution of higher education created in the year 1997. The university comprises a school of nursing, a school of computer science, and a center for distance studies.

The university is a member of the European University Association and the Institut Joan Lluís Vives.

Society - The people of Andorra are currently listed as having the highest human life expectancies on Earth, at an average of 83.5 years at birth (2007 est).

Economy - Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts.

The banking sector, with its tax haven status, also contributes substantially to the economy.

Demographics - Andorrans are a minority in their own country; Spaniards, Portuguese, Frenchmen, Britons, and Italians resident in Andorra make up 67.7% of the population.

Language - The official and historic language is Catalan. Because of immigration, historical links, and close geographic proximity, other languages such as Spanish and French are also commonly spoken.

Religion - The population of Andorra is predominantly Roman Catholic