Without a doubt, Andorra is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Officially a microstate, with its population of just 77,500, Andorra is one of the planet’s smallest countries, yet it also attracts some eight million tourists every year. All of this combines to create some peculiar scenarios and so many of the most interesting facts about Andorra stem from this relationship between locals and visitors.
In this blog post, we’re going to break down 10 facts about Andorra that you might not have known before today. There is a mix of practical facts Andorra visitors should know and also some Andorra fun facts that should pique your interest. So, let’s get started and move on to the first of our facts about Andorra!
Catalan is the official language of Andorra
The first of these 10 facts about Andorra is that the official language is Catalan. In fact, Andorra is the only country in the world where the sole official language is Catalan. Even though it is spoken elsewhere, such as in Spain’s Catalonia region, the only country where this is the sole official language is this microstate in the Pyrenees.
There is no airport in Andorra
One of the facts Andorra visitors are often surprised to learn is that there is no airport inside Andorra’s borders. Given its tiny size of only 468 square kilometres, and given all the mountainous terrain, Andorra lacks the space to accommodate an airport. Andorra’s nearest airport, called Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport, is located just across the border in Spain. It lies 18 kilometres from Andorra's capital, Andorra la Vella, in a straight line, or 27 kilometres by road. In terms of how to get to Andorra, most people fly in to slightly further afield airports, such as the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, and make the short journey to Andorra from there.
Two-thirds of the population aren’t Andorran nationals
Looking at the Andorran population, which is approximately 77,500, only about one third of these residents hold Andorran nationality. Census data shows that nearly two-thirds are of foreign nationalities, including significant communities of Spanish, French, and Portuguese citizens. Among these, the largest group is Spanish nationals, who account for over 40 percent of the population.
Andorra has no standing army
You might be interested to know that Andorra does not have a standing army, making it one of the few countries in the world without military forces. As a result, and to guarantee its security and protection, the country has established treaties with Spain and France, who agree to provide assistance if required.
The president of France is co-prince of Andorra
Speaking of neighbouring France, the president of the French republic is actually one of the two co-princes of Andorra. Given that the microstate is also a parliamentary co-principality, Andorra has two princes and these are always the Bishop of Urgell and the president of France. At the time of writing, the Bishop of Urgell is Joan Enric Vives and the president of France is Emmanuel Macron. That’s certainly one of the little-known Andorra fun facts you can share with friends and family.
Andorra uses the Euro despite being non-EU
Andorra is not a member of the European Union. However, it does have several agreements in place with the EU, such as freedom of movement. Another decision taken by Andorra was to adopt the Euro currency, with the principality signing a monetary agreement with the EU in 2011, despite not being an EU member or having any plans to join.
Andorra didn’t join the United Nations until 1993
Although it isn’t part of the European Union, Andorra is a member of the United Nations and has been since 1993. That makes Andorra one of the more recent countries to become a United Nations member, as only 10 member states have been admitted since then.
There are over 300km of ski slopes in Andorra
One of the facts Andorra’s ski community is extra proud of is just how much skiable terrain there is in this territory. There are more than 300 kilometres of ski slopes just within Grandvalira Resorts Andorra, which is made up of the Pal Arinsal, Grandvalira and Ordino Arcalís ski resorts. You can even purchase an Andorra season ski pass to explore all three of these resorts.
Andorra boasts the second-most museums per capita
When it comes to museums, Andorra ranks second in the world for the number of museums per capita. With a population so small, its 25 museums translate to an impressive 324.7 museums per million inhabitants. This places Andorra behind only the island nation of Niue in terms of how many museums there are per person. If you’re visiting, it’s definitely worth checking a few of them out.
Europe’s highest golf course is in Andorra
The last of our 10 facts about Andorra is that Europe’s highest golf course, in terms of altitude, is located in Andorra. This is the Soldeu Golf Course, which is situated at an altitude of 2,250 meters above sea level. It is only a nine-hole course, but it was designed by the renowned British architect Jeremy Pern and has been selected among the best in the world by the Peugeot Golf Guide. As such, it’s definitely one of the top 10 things to do in Andorra. Adding to its uniqueness, golfers can reach the course via a dedicated cable car. Andorra really is a land of fun and mystery!