Andorra's Judicial Staff Hits 5-Year Low of 36 Amid Male Declines

Andorra's judicial staff reached a five-year low of 36 members at the end of 2025, down five from 2024 and six below the 2023 peak of 42.

The Statistics Department released the figures this week, showing the workforce consisted of 13 magistrates, 15 batlles and eight prosecutors. Women accounted for 21 roles (around 60%), with men holding 15 (40%). This female majority has held steady over the five-year period reviewed, from 2021 onward.

Magistrates experienced the largest drop, from 15 to 13, driven by male numbers falling from eight to five while females rose from seven to eight. Batlles remained at 15, with nine women and six men. Prosecutors stayed at eight, evenly split at four each.

At the institutional level, the Superior Court of Justice held nine magistrates, unchanged over four years. The Court of Courts declined from six to four members, accounting for much of the overall reduction. The Batllia kept its 15 professionals, who handle most first-instance civil and criminal cases, while the Prosecutor's Office remained at eight.

The cuts affected men more sharply, dropping from 18 to 15, compared to women from 23 to 21. Prior years saw 39 staff in 2021 and 40 in 2022. Reductions centred on higher courts, leaving the Batllia's operations intact.

In other Statistics Department updates this week, import prices held steady in March 2026 compared to the previous year but rose 4.1% from February. Export prices increased 2.8% annually and 52.8% monthly.

Public spending on environmental protection hit €44.4 million in 2025, a 18.1% rise from 2024. This equalled 3.6% of total public administration liquidations (excluding financial assets, liabilities and certain transfers), or 1.1% of GDP, with per capita outlay at €499 versus €432 the year before. The growth reflected efforts in waste management and pollution control.

Meanwhile, the Court of Accounts flagged control lapses at the Andorran Women's Institute (IAD) for 2024. It paid €9,400 in per diems to executive commission members without approval agreements, calculations or justifications, despite a budgeted €9,600 allocation. The report noted duplicate payments for expenses and services, inadequate internal controls, and staff advances reimbursed via receipts. It urged better documentation, payment circuits to prevent duplicates, and justified travel summaries.

The IAD also failed to track budget execution phases as required by the General Public Finance Law, showed financial statement errors—including understated treasury balances of €75,699 versus reported €26,616 and unrecorded €8,494 in fixed assets—and breached joint authorisation rules for sub-€6,000 operations.

In its 2024 overview, the Court of Accounts called for public administrations to align investment forecasts with execution capacity. The seven parishes and Government completed just 55.24% of planned investments, liquidating €107.17 million against €194.01 million budgeted.

Escaldes-Engordany led at 68.59% (€17.59 million of €25.64 million), followed by La Massana (65.5%, €10.45 million of €15.95 million) and the Government (54.38%, €54.31 million of €94.35 million). Ordino trailed at 26.98% (€1.92 million of €7.10 million) and Sant Julià de Lòria at 39.68% (€4.85 million of €12.23 million), though accounts there went unaudited. Andorra la Vella reached 56.31%, Encamp 59.79% and Canillo 47.18%.

The review also highlighted year-end budget amendments to cover prior shortfalls, totalling €4.23 million at the Government level, plus smaller sums at the Andorran Health Care Service, Social Security Fund and State Agency for Bank Resolution Entities.