of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
Geography————
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 450 sq km
land area: 450 sq km
comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 125 km border countries: France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore,
lead
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 56%
forest and woodland: 22%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
contributes to soil erosion
natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked
People———
Population: 72,766 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 16% (male 5,829; female 5,851)
15–64 years: 73% (male 28,724; female 24,757)
65 years and over: 11% (male 3,718; female 3,887) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.96% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 2.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 22.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.11 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 90.94 years male: 86.47 years female: 95.2 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran
Ethnic divisions: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Literacy: NA
Government—————
Name of country:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra
Data code: AN
Type of government: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence: 1,278
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chiefs of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since
31 January 1971); each coprince is represented by a veguer (current
names NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994) was elected by the General Council and
formally appointed by the coprinces
cabinet: Executive Council was designated by the executive council
president
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) AND 8, UL 5, ND 5, CNA 2, IDN 2, other 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the co-princes alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases; Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases, presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council
Political
