Andorra is one of the most fascinating and unique places in the world. It is both a microstate and a principality, one of the smallest states in Europe but also one of the most prosperous. In this guide to Andorra, we’ll outline several of the most important facts about Andorra, providing details on facts such as the Andorra language, the Andorra capital, the Andorra life expectancy, the Andorra size, the Andorra currency and much more. So, let’s take a look at this beautiful place.
Andorra on map of Europe: Where is Andorra located? What is the Andorra size?
Let’s start off by talking about where is Andorra located. The microstate of Andorra is located on the Iberian Peninsula, right along the border of Spain and France. People often wonder is Andorra part of Spain or France, but the answer is that it’s part of neither. It stands as its own sovereign nation in between the Spanish-French border, right where the beautiful Pyrenees are located.
People also want to know ‘Is Andorra in EU?’, and the answer to that is no, Andorra is not a member state of the European Union. But, Andorra is a member of the United Nations and it does have special arrangements with the European Union. For example, the Andorra currency is the euro.
The Andorra size is very small, as it’s not a big country, measuring in at 468 square kilometres. Its small area is one of the most widely known facts about Andorra, but the principality packs a lot into that small area, as the Andorra ski resorts are among the best in the world. The Andorra capital is called Andorra la Vella and it too has a lot to see and do.
Language of Andorra: What language do Andorra speak? Is there more than one language in Andorra?
One of the most interesting facts about Andorra is that the Andorra official language is Catalan. In fact, Andorra is the only country in the world that has Catalan as the sole official language, and the reasons for Catalan being the official language of Andorra are historical, with the landlocked nation sitting next to Catalonia.
Most members of Andorra’s population are actually bilingual. So, in terms of what is the most common language in Andorra in modern times, a 2018 report revealed that 55% of Andorra residents mostly speak Catalan outside of the home, followed by those who primarily use Castilian Spanish outside of the home (37%), Portuguese (4%), French (2%) or other (2%).
But, the same study’s results for the most commonly spoken language in Andorra homes showed that 44% actually speak Castilian Spanish first and foremost in their household, with just 40% speaking in Catalan when in private.
Population of Andorra: How many people live in Andorra? What is the Andorra life expectancy?
The current population of Andorra is estimated to be 77,500, making it a very small nation and less populated than most European cities. Those who do live in Andorra enjoy a good quality of life, and the Andorra life expectancy is 80.8 years for males and 85.4 years for female members of the population of Andorra. Plus, the way of living is very tranquil, explaining why is Andorra a safe country.
Andorra flag: What is the flag of Andorra like?
The Andorra flag is a tricolour of blue, yellow, and red going from left to right, with the coat of arms of the principality in the middle on the left column. The current flag of Andorra is believed to have been adopted back in 1866.
Prices in Andorra: Is Andorra expensive to visit? Is Andorra a tax haven?
The cost of living in Andorra is relative cheap compared to other European countries. That’s because there are some tax advantages, but Andorra isn’t actually a tax haven.
The fact that the Andorra currency is the euro makes it very accessible and there are great offers, with a skiing holiday in Andorra often proving cheaper than in other countries, especially with accommodation in Andorra. So, why is Andorra a country worth visiting? Well, as all these facts about Andorra show, this is one of the most unique and interesting countries in the world. There’s certainly nowhere else like it.