Background:
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| 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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Location:
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| Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
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Geographic coordinates:
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42 30 N, 1 30 E
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 468 sq km
country comparison to the world: 202
land:
468 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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total: 120.3 km
border countries:
France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
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Terrain:
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rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point:
Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.13%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
97.87% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Natural hazards:
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avalanches
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees |
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Population:
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| 83,888 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.5% (male 6,710/female 6,305)
15-64 years:
72.2% (male 31,604/female 28,925)
65 years and over:
12.3% (male 5,113/female 5,231) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 39.4 years
male:
39.7 years
female:
39.1 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.135% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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Birth rate:
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10.35 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
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Death rate:
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5.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
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Net migration rate:
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6.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
-0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.98 male(s)/female
total population:
1.07 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 212
male:
3.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
3.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 82.51 years
country comparison to the world: 2
male:
80.33 years
female:
84.84 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Andorran(s)
adjective:
Andorran
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Ethnic groups:
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Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic (predominant)
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Languages:
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Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 11 years
male:
11 years
female:
11 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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2.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 162
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