World Factbook
Andorra
Principat d'Andorra
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band, which is slightly wider than the other two; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger) meaning: the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to symbolize Franco-Spanish protection
note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem
Capital
name
Andorra la Vella
etymology
translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 1 31 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
25 years
Constitution
history
drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
amendment process
proposed by the co-princes jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the co-princes
Country name
etymology
the origin of the country's name is obscure; may originate from the Navarrese word andurrial, meaning "shrub-covered land;" alternatively, may derive from the Arabic ad-darra meaning "the forest," a reference to its location; many other theories exist
local long form
Principat d'Andorra
local short form
Andorra
conventional long form
Principality of Andorra
conventional short form
Andorra
Independence
1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
Government type
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates)
subordinate courts
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the co-princes, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the co-princes and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government
chief of state
Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)
election results
2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1% 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7
head of government
Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
most recent election date
2 April 2023
election/appointment process
head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
expected date of next election
April 2027
National holiday
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
Political parties
Concordia or C Democrats for Andorra or DA Forward Andorra or AE Liberals of Andorra or L'A Social Democratic Party or PS Social Democracy and Progress or SDP
Legislative branch
note
note: voters cast two separate ballots -- one for the national election and one for their parish
term in office
4 years
number of seats
28 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
General Council (Consell General)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
4/2/2023
expected date of next election
April 2027
percentage of women in chamber
50%
parties elected and seats per party
Democrats for Andorra (DA) and its allies (17); Concordia (Concòrdia) and its allies (5); Andorra Forward (Andorra Endavant) (3); Social Democrat Party (PS) - Social Democracy and Progress (SDP) (3)
National anthem(s)
title
"El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
history
adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first-person narrative
lyrics/music
Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS
National symbol(s)
red cow (breed unspecified)
Administrative divisions
7 parishes ( parroquies , singular - parroquia ); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 750-6630
chancery
2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 750-8064
chief of mission
Ambassador Joan FORNER ROVIRA (since 13 January 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
email address and website
contact@andorraun.org https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov
International organization participation
CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction