Andorra summary

Andorra, officially Principality of Andorra, Parliamentary coprincipality, southwestern Europe. Area: 181 sq mi (468 sq km). Population: (2024 est.) 86,600. Capital: Andorra la Vella. Lying on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, it consists of a cluster of mountain valleys whose streams form the Valira River; it is bounded by Spain and France. Much of the population is Spanish or Andorran. Language: Catalan (official). Religion: Christianity (predominantly Roman Catholic; also other Christians). Currency: euro. Andorra’s independence is traditionally ascribed to Charlemagne, who recovered the region from the Muslims in 803 ce. It was placed under the joint suzerainty of the French counts of Foix and the Spanish bishops of Urgel in 1278, and it was subsequently governed jointly by the Spanish bishop of Urgel and the French head of state. This feudal system of government, the last in Europe, continued until 1993, when a constitution was adopted that transferred most of the coprinces’ powers to the Andorran General Council, which is elected by universal suffrage. Andorra has long had a strong affinity with Catalonia; its institutions are based in Catalonian law, and it is part of the diocese of Urgel (Spain). The traditional economy was based on sheep raising, but tourism grew in importance since the 1950s and became central to Andorra’s economy by the early 21st century.