Andorra

The origin of the name Andorra is uncertain. Its earliest known occurrence is in a surviving copy of a lost document from 843. A document from 903 applies the name both to the valley and to a smaller local district within it. Medieval records also contain occasional variants such as Annora, Annorra, Anorra, Endore and Norra. Several explanations of the name have been proposed, but the linguist Joan Coromines concluded that the surviving evidence did not permit a definitive etymology. One longstanding hypothesis connects the name with the Andosini. The Greek historian Polybius mentions them in his Histories (3.35.2), listing them among the peoples subdued by Hannibal between the Ebro and the Pyrenees in 218 BC. They have traditionally been associated with the Andorran valleys because of the similarity between the names and their presumed position along Hannibal's route. …

La Balma de la Margineda, found by archaeologists at Sant Julià de Lòria, was settled in 9500 BC as a passing place between the two sides of the Pyrenees. The seasonal camp was perfectly located for hunting and fishing by the groups of hunter-gatherers from Ariege and Segre. During the Neolithic, a group of people moved to the Valley of Madriu (the present-day Natural Park located in Escaldes-Engordany declared UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a permanent camp in 6640 BC. The population of the valley grew cereals, raised domestic livestock, and developed commercial trade with people from Ségre and Occitania. Other archaeological deposits include the Tombs of Segudet (Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), both dated in 4900–4300 BC as an example of the Urn culture in Andorra. The model of small settlements began to evolve to complex urbanism during the Bronze Age. …

Andorra is a small landlocked country in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, between France and Spain. It covers 468 km2 (181 sq mi), has an average elevation of 1,996 m (6,549 ft), and shares borders of 56.6 km (35.2 mi) with France and 63.7 km (39.6 mi) with Spain. Its terrain is predominantly mountainous; its highest point is Coma Pedrosa, at 2,942 m (9,652 ft), and its lowest is at the Riu Runer confluence, at 840 m (2,756 ft). The rivers Valira del Nord in the west and Valira d'Orient in the east flow through the country's two principal valleys and converge in Escaldes-Engordany to form the Gran Valira, Andorra's principal river. The population is concentrated mainly along the valley floors. At an elevation of 1,023 m (3,356 ft), Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe. …

Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music of its neighbours, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances such as the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September. Among the more important festivals and traditions are the Canólich Gathering in May, the Roser d'Ordino in July, Meritxell Day (National Day of Andorra), the Andorra la Vella Fair, Sant Jordi Day, the Santa Llúcia Fair, the Festivity from La Candelera to Canillo, the Carnival of Encamp, the singing of caramelles, the Festivity of Sant Esteve and the Festa del Poble. …

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 8 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. One of the main sources of income in Andorra is from ski resorts, which total over 175 km (109 mi) of ski grounds. The sport brings in over 7 million visitors annually and an estimated 340 million euros per year, sustaining 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs at present since 2007. The banking sector, with its tax haven status, also contributes substantially to the economy with revenues raised exclusively through import tariffs (the financial and insurance sector accounts for approximately 19% of GDP). …

The population of Andorra is estimated at 79,034 (2021). The Andorrans are a Romance ethnic group of originally Catalan descent. The population has grown from 5,000 in 1900. Two-thirds of residents lack Andorran nationality and do not have the right to vote in communal elections. Moreover, they are not allowed to be elected as prime minister or to own more than 33% of the capital stock of a privately held company. The largest national groups in Andorra are Spanish (34.3%), Andorrans (32.1%), Portuguese (10%), and French (5.6%). The remaining 18% of the population includes British, Dutch, Germans, Italians, and other Europeans, as well as Argentinians, Chileans, Indians, Moroccans, and Uruguayans. Population growth in Andorra in mainly due to young workers finding jobs in the tourism, hospitality and services sectors. …