Andorra
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Principality of Andorra
Country name - conventional short form : Andorra
Country name - local long form : Principat d'Andorra
Country name - local short form : Andorra
Government type : parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives
Capital - name : Andorra la Vella
Capital - time difference : UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Population : 82,627 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Andorran(s)
Nationality - adjective : Andorran
Languages : Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Currency (code) : euro (EUR)
Currency code : EUR
Andorra is located Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain. The climate is temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers. The terrain is rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
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