Andorra at a glance: the country, its population and institutions

What is the co-principality of Andorra?

According to its Constitution, Andorra is “an independent, democratic and social State governed by the rule of law”. Its official name is Principat d’Andorra (Principality of Andorra) and its political system is a parliamentary co-principality.

This Constitution is recent. Adopted by the Consell General on 2 February 1993, it was approved by referendum on 14 March 1993, then promulgated by the two co-princes on 28 April 1993. The country then acquired, for the first time in its history, a written Constitution.

The head of state is not one person but a two-headed institution: the co-princes. Their origins go back to the Paréages, two thirteenth-century arbitral awards that settled the disputes between the Count of Foix and the Bishop of Urgell.

The co-princes are “the symbol and guarantee” of the permanence and independence of Andorra; they “arbitrate and moderate” the functioning of the public authorities (Article 44). Political power, on the other hand, belongs to the Parliament and the government.

Who governs Andorra?

Four institutions shape public life. Their role is laid down by the Constitution.

Source: Constitution, Articles 43 to 80.

One point matters for a future resident: only Andorrans vote in general elections. The Constitution reserves the right to vote and to stand for election to “Andorrans in full possession of their political rights” (Article 51). As more than half of the inhabitants are foreign nationals, a large share of the population does not take part in these elections.

The comuns enjoy administrative and financial autonomy. Each sets its own taxes within the limits of the law: the foc i lloc, property tax, the comú share of property transfer tax. The details are in our guide Where to live in Andorra: the seven parishes.

Population of Andorra in 2026: how many inhabitants?

According to the Departament d’Estadística (the Govern’s statistics office), Andorra had 90,021 inhabitants at 31 July 2026, i.e. 1.9% more than a year earlier (+1,715 people).

Estimated inhabitantsat 31 July 2026

90,021

Registered in the parish censuseson the same date

94,596

Residents of foreign nationality

55.4%

Source: Departament d’Estadística, bulletin A001 for July 2026, published on 13 August 2026.

The population is mostly of working age: 73.3% of inhabitants are aged between 15 and 64, 10.6% are under 15 and 16.1% are 65 or over. The breakdown of the population by parish is in our guide to the parishes.

Area and terrain: a mountain country

Andorra covers 468 km² in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ country profile. It is made up of seven parishes (parròquies): Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, La Massana, Andorra la Vella, Sant Julià de Lòria and Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra la Vella is its capital (Constitution, Article 2).

The terrain is mountainous throughout. The highest point, the Alt de Comapedrosa, reaches 2,942 m, and the capital itself lies at an altitude of more than 1,000 m. Settlement is concentrated on the valley floors: Andorra la Vella (24,884 inhabitants) and Escaldes-Engordany (16,350) between them account for almost half of residents (indicative calculation: 41,234 inhabitants out of 90,021, i.e. 45.8%).

The character of each parish, its taxes and its services are compared in our guide to the 7 parishes of Andorra.

Catalan, the only official language

Catalan is the only official language of the State (Constitution, Article 2), and Llei 6/2024 on Andorra’s own and official language strengthens its use. French and Spanish remain very present: a French school system and a Spanish one coexist with the Andorran system, and almost a quarter of residents are of Spanish nationality.

For a newcomer, Catalan becomes a gradual obligation: level A1 then A2 at the renewals of a residence and work permit. To find out what language is spoken in Andorra in everyday life, backed by official figures, see our guide to languages.

Is Andorra part of the European Union?

No. Andorra is a member neither of the European Union, nor of the European Economic Area, nor of the Schengen area. Its relations with the Union rest on a customs union limited to industrial products, stemming from a 1990 agreement, and on sectoral agreements, including the one on the automatic exchange of financial information. On the other hand, it has been a member of the United Nations since 28 July 1993.

The euro, but not the euro area

Andorra uses the euro as its official currency under a monetary agreement with the European Union, signed on 30 June 2011 and in force since 1 April 2012. It has the right to mint, in limited quantities, euro coins with a national side, but not to issue banknotes. The European Commission places it, together with Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City, among the countries that have adopted the euro by agreement without belonging either to the European Union or to the euro area.

Neither the EU nor Schengen: what this changes at the border

The Schengen area has 29 countries, four of them outside the Union: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Andorra is not part of it: according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entry into its territory is through a border post, with a valid passport or national identity card, including for minors. The documents accepted are detailed on our page on entry formalities for Andorra.

To settle there, a French or Spanish citizen needs, like any foreign national, a residence permit to live in Andorra and a work permit to work there. The association agreement will only take effect after its ratification: until then, nothing changes. See our news item on the association agreement between Andorra and the European Union.

The economy: what does Andorra live on?

Services, first and foremost. According to the advance estimate of the Departament d’Estadística, published on 30 March 2026, Andorra’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached €3,983.2 million in 2025, up 3.9% in volume. Relative to the population, GDP per capita stood at €44,726 in nominal terms, 4.3% more than in 2024.

Andorra’s GDP2025, advance estimate

€3,983.2 million

Real growth2025

+3.9%

GDP per capita2025, nominal value

€44,726

Source: Departament d’Estadística, note A092 and A093 of 30 March 2026. Industry accounts for the remainder, i.e. about 4.7% (indicative calculation).

The labour market reflects this structure: in June 2026, the largest employers were real estate activities and business services, construction, hotels and restaurants, public administration and retail trade. Unemployment is very low, at 1.3% of the labour force in 2025 according to the official labour force survey. Salaries and the sectors that are recruiting are presented in our guide to working in Andorra.

Is Andorra a safe country?

The official figures show a decline: the Andorran police recorded 4,009 criminal offences in 2025, 2.5% fewer than in 2024 (4,110), comprising 2,255 offences and 1,754 petty offences. Offences against property account for the largest share (1,085 offences, including 691 simple thefts), ahead of assaults (328, down 4.1%).

Offences are concentrated in Andorra la Vella (41.7%), Escaldes-Engordany (9.9%) and at the border with Spain (9.8%), in other words where shops and people passing through are also concentrated.

Living in Andorra: where to start?

The strengths and constraints of everyday life are summarised on our page living in Andorra: pros and cons. Settling in always starts with a residence permit, whose type depends on your plans: employee, self-employed, passive residency or other. Then comes housing, often the hardest step, followed by registration with the comú, healthcare and the children’s schooling.

• Choose the status suited to your plans: Types of residency;
• Find housing: renting a home in Andorra;
• Estimate your budget: cost of living in Andorra;
• Understand taxes in Andorra.

On the tax side, Andorra appears neither on the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (update of 9 October 2026) nor on France’s list of non-cooperative states and territories. It has exchanged information on financial accounts automatically with France since 2018. Further reading: Is Andorra a tax haven?