The most interesting facts about Andorra, from the heaviest smokers in the world to the highest country and capital city in Europe.
Fast facts
Official name: Principality of Andorra
Population: 85,370
Area: 468 sq km
Capital city: Andorra la Vella
Major languages: Catalan, French, Castilian, Portuguese
Major religions: Christian
Time zone: UTC+1 (Central European Time)
Interesting facts about Andorra
1. Andorra is a landlocked country in Southwestern Europe bordering France and Spain. Landlocked countries are completely surrounded by land and do not have access to the open sea.
2. Andorra is the world’s 28th-smallest sovereign country by area and 11th-smallest by population.
3. Andorra dates back to 803 when Emperor Charlemagne regained the region from the Moors. After Charlemagne’s death, Andorra was given to Spain’s Count of Urgell by Charles II, Charlemagne’s grandson.
4. Andorra is one of just three sovereign principalities in the world. The others are Liechtenstein and Monaco. A principality is a sovereign state ruled by a monarch with the title of prince and/or princess.
5. Andorra is the world’s only co-principality. The co-princes of the French president and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel are Andorra’s heads of state, but the roles are largely ceremonial.
6. Andorra’s flag is vertically striped with the colours blue, yellow and red, with a coat of arms in the centre which features the motto “Virtus unita fortior” (“Strength united is stronger”). The flag is a blend of the Spanish and French national flags.
7. Andorra’s flag is very similar to several other national flags. Chad, Romania and Moldova all have the same colour scheme (although the shades differ slightly) while Moldova’s is identical other than a different coat of arms in the centre.
8. According to the CIA World Factbook, at 83.8 years, Andorra has the world’s eighth-highest life expectancy among sovereign nations (tenth overall).
9. Located at an elevation of 1,023m (3,356ft), Andorra’s capital city, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital in Europe.
10. Andorra is the world’s only country with Catalan as its sole official language. Some countries, such as Spain, have autonomous regions where Catalan is a co-official language.
11. Even though Andorra is not a member of the European Union, the country enjoys a special relationship with the union and uses the Euro as its currency.
12. Andorra does not have its own currency and does not have a central bank. Before introducing the Euro, Andorra used the Spanish Peseta and the French Franc.
13. Andorra has one UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley. Inscribed in 2004, the site is an example of how people have lived in the mountainous high Pyrenees for thousands of years.
14. Even though Andorra is tiny, it is the largest of the six European microstates. It is followed by Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
15. The origin of Andorra’s name is uncertain, though it is thought to derive from the Arabic “ad-darra,” meaning “the forest.” This likely refers to its time as part of the Spanish March, a defensive buffer zone against the invading Moors in the 8th century.
16. Andorra is Europe’s highest country. Its average elevation is 1,996m (6,548ft), which is Europe’s highest and the world’s seventh-highest.
17. Around 9.2 million people visited Andorra in 2023. Tourist attractions include outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking.
18. Today, tourism is the pillar of the Andorran economy, but historically, tobacco was the country’s leading industry.
19. Andorra did not officially participate in either of the world wars of the 20th century although it was reported to be still at war with Germany until 1958 after failing to sign a peace treaty in 1918 after World War I.
20. However, Andorra was occupied by French forces from 1936 to 1939 to protect the country from spillover from the Spanish Civil War.
21. Russian Boris Skossyreff attempted to seize the monarchy of Andorra in 1934, announcing himself as Boris I of Andorra. His coup ultimately failed and he was arrested after declaring war on the Bishop of Urgel and he was transferred to Spain.
22. In 1993, Andorra finally became a parliamentary democracy when it held its first general elections under a new constitution. It joined the United Nations shortly afterwards.
23. For years, Andorra was considered a tax haven. However, in 2016, lawmakers agreed to end banking secrecy in the country as part of a crackdown on tax evasion following the 2008 global financial crisis.
24. Andorra does not have any airports. All travellers visiting Andorra by public transport will arrive by bus.
25. Andorra is one of just 21 countries that do not have an army or regularly military force. Instead, the country’s defence is the responsibility of France and Spain.
26. Andorra is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world to visit. It has been assessed as carrying an ‘insignificant travel security risk’.
27. Smoking is prevalent in Andorra. Andorrans are some of the heaviest smokers in the world, with a 36.3% population smoking rate in 2022.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Andorra. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.