ANDORRA



Marc Forné Molné
Executive Council President

(pronounced "MARK for-NAY mol-NAY")

"Institutions are the pillars of our community: a democratic parliamentary system that began in 1419, and a culture of peace which has continued uninterrupted since 1278."

The Principality of Andorra, despite its name, has been a constitutional republic since 1993. It is a landlocked state between Spain and France, and its culture, economy, and political life reflect the influence of those two neighboring countries. One of the smallest countries in the world, Andorra has only 468 sq km (181 sq mi) of territory, making it slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C. The capital city is Andorra la Vella. Andorra's population was estimated at 68,403 in July 2002, with a growth rate of approximately 1.1%. Only about 30% of the population are Andorran citizens. More than 60% of its inhabitants are Spaniards and most of the rest are French nationals. Its large foreign population is comprised of migrant laborers seeking employment in its tourist industry and light manufacturing companies, and of wealthy individuals residing in Andorra because of its status as a tax haven. Historically, Andorra used both the Spanish peseta and the French franc as official currencies, but all three nations adopted the euro in 2002. Catalan, spoken primarily in northeastern Spain, is the official language, but most residents speak French and Spanish as well. Ethnically, Andorran citizens are indistinguishable from their French and Spanish neighbors. The population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. There is no state religion in Andorra and the Constitution explicitly permits all faiths. Andorra produces raw tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars, but its economy is built around tourism and a growing banking industry.

ADDRESS

Office of the Cap de Govern
Andorra-la-Vella
Andorra
Web site: http://www.govern.ad

Also read article about Andorra from Wikipedia

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