Andorra's Population Rises 1.9% to 89,484 by April 2026, Fueled by Latin American Inflows

Andorra's resident population stood at 89,484 at the end of April 2026, reflecting a 1.9% increase of 1,642 people compared to April 2025, according to the Statistics Department.

Parish-level gains showed variation. Canillo led with 349 new residents, a 5.7% rise, followed by Escaldes-Engordany at 346 (2.2%), Encamp with 311 (2.3%), La Massana at 260 (2.2%), Ordino with 155 (2.8%), Sant Julià de Lòria at 126 (1.2%), and Andorra la Vella with the smallest gain of 95 (0.4%).

Non-Andorran groups powered most of the growth, particularly "other nationalities," which rose 6.1% by 919 to 15,884. Within this category, Colombians reached 1,713, Peruvians increased by 159 to 999, and Argentines grew to 3,331. Andorran nationals added 436 (1.1%), French 224 (5.6%), and Spaniards 215 (1%). Portuguese numbers declined by 152 (1.8%).

The age profile remained stable, with 73.3% aged 15-64, 10.7% under 15, and 16% aged 65 and over. Municipal census figures climbed 0.6% to 94,044 from 93,512, highlighting the gap between registered and actual residents.

This uptick aligns with first-quarter 2026 nationality approvals under the qualified nationality law, totaling 285. Of these, 155 gained full political rights: 88 by origin (37 Andorra-born, 37 with parents holding over 10 years' residency) and 67 via naturalization after renouncing prior citizenship (35 for over 20 years' residence, plus marriage and other cases). Spaniards accounted for 71.6%, followed by Portuguese (6%), French (4.5%), and Moroccans (3%). Grants skewed toward women at 59.7%, with marriage-based ones split evenly by gender.

The other 130 received provisional status: 100 awaiting renunciation proof, 30 pending age-19 verification. Provisional routes covered compulsory schooling (17), humanities/social sciences diplomas (34), and Nationality Commission tests (44).

Government reforms to the nationality law, announced May 10, relaxed certain long-term residency criteria while introducing new hurdles. Changes mandate B1-level Catalan for those under 70; count all prior residency toward 20 years, with the last five continuous; require 10 years' schooling in Andorra from ages 3-18; impose a five-year residency minimum for marriage cases with cohabitation; and bar those with intentional crime convictions carrying a year's sentence or multiple offenses. Children born abroad qualify if one parent is Andorran with 10 years' residency and a grandparent born in the Principat, or if the parent was born there.

Late 2025 immigration data signaled housing strains and a shift toward border workers. Fourth-quarter work authorizations fell 4.8% to 6,076 year-on-year, residence permits dropped 14.5% to 377, but border worker permits jumped 62.7% to 83, mainly in hospitality and retail. Active permits hit 60,284 by year-end, up 2.4%, including 43,206 residence-and-work, 10,151 residence-only, and 1,943 border worker. Departures rose 18.3% to 272. Sector shifts included drops in hospitality/services/security/retail (5.7% to 2,217), unskilled labor (4%), administration (5.1%), and construction/manufacturing (16.3%), balanced by gains in managers (30%), technical roles (3.8%), and machine operators (8.8%).

Latin American inflows, drawn by digital economy residencies, decree 212/2023 for remote workers and entrepreneurs, tax advantages, and security, continue to reshape demographics amid ongoing housing shortages, rent control proposals, calls for non-EU labor, and union worries over wages and living costs.