Andorra

The National Plan for Andorran Youth (PNJA) was published in 2008, but it has not been renewed nor updated since. The status and term of the PNJA is unknown.

Published on October 25, 2023
Updated on February 20, 2024

Definition of youth

According to an article by El Periòdic (2022), the National Forum of Andorran Youth (FNJA) has changed the definition of youth from persons aged between 16 and 29 years old, to persons aged between 15 and 35 years old. However, the 2008 National Plan for Andorran Youth (PNJA) still defines youth as persons aged between 16 and 29 years old.

Definition 1
15 - 35 years
Definition 2
16 - 29 years

Voting Rights

Majority age
18 years
Voting age
18 years
Criminal responsibility
15 years

Candidacy age

Lower House
18 years
Upper House
--- (unicameral)
President
--- (tbc)

Marriage & Gender

Without parental consent
Female
16 years
Male
16 years
With parental consent
Female
14 years
Male
14 years

Source: UNSD, UNDESA, ILGA

Is same-sex marriage legalized?
Female
Yes
Male
Yes

Source: UNSD, UNDESA, ILGA

Are other genders recognised?
No

Policy & Legislation

Is there a national youth policy?
Unclear

The National Plan for Andorran Youth (PNJA) was published in 2008, but it has not been renewed nor updated since. The status and term of the PNJA is unknown.

However, according to an article by the Council of Europe, a youth policy advisory mission took place from 9-10 June 2022. The mission aimed to improve the country's national youth policies and the article explains how:

"The visit allowed the delegation to acquire precious information about the plans to draft a national youth strategy and possible areas of improvement in the youth sector. A report containing concrete and practical recommendations in the immediate and medium terms is being drafted for the authorities and will be later on discussed with them."

Public Institutions

Is there a governmental authority that is primarily responsible for youth?
Yes

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is the primary government authority responsible for youth in Andorra. Decree 300/2023 states that "the ministry in charge of youth and volunteering is organically structured through the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports". The Secretary is further delimited by the Area for the Promotion of Youth and Volunteering and the Centre for Educational and Professional Orientation (COEP), both of which operate functionally under the Secretary. This structure is very recent, and may not be reflected in the government website, which still shows an organisational chart that is in line with Decree 171/2021.

According to Decree 300/2023, the following functions correspond to the Area for the Promotion of Youth and Volunteering:

  1. To lead youth policies at the national and international level;
  2. Coordinate preparation of draft budget proposals;
  3. Promote the study and research of youth policies;
  4. Coordinate youth services and programmes.

The work of the Educational and Professional Orientation Centre can be organised into three main themes:

  1. Individual attention services;
  2. Training and skills development;
  3. Projects and activities.

Additionally, the Ministry established the Youth Board through Decree 98/2022 to promote youth participation in decision-making bodies and implementation of public policies. The main objective of the Youth Board is "to coordinate and guarantee the coordination and cooperation in matters of youth of the institutions authorized to develop this competence, and to enable a space for reflection and the making of agreements." While the Ministry does not have its own website, there is an active Facebook account.

Youth & Representation

Does the country have a national youth organization or association?
Yes

The National Forum of the Andorran Youth (FNJA) was established by Law 11/2007 on 17 May 2007. On 09 June 2022, a reform of the FNJA was made official by Law 23/2022, in which the main objectives of the FNJA include:

  1. To promote equal opportunities for youth to participate in political, social, economic and cultural life;
  2. Promote research on issues related to youth;
  3. Liaise between public institutions and youth;
  4. Foster relationships between international youth organisations;
  5. Advance the vision of Andorran youth in local, national and international public institutions.

As described in the Country Sheet on Youth Policy Andorra (2009), its main purpose is to create a space where youth can openly express their opinions and views. The FNJA consists of the Assembly of the Youth, the Council of Associations, the Permanent Board and different working commissions.

Youth work

Is youth work a formally recognised profession?
Unclear

It was not possible to locate information on youth work at the time of writing. If you have this information, please contact us at factsheets@youthpolicy.org – thank you!

Budget & Spending

Does the national youth policy have a dedicated budget?
No

The State Budget for 2023, adopted on 31 January 2023, asserts that the Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth, and Equality will be allocated EUR 39 million (USD 40.5 million). Under this budget, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, Youth, and Equality is allocated EUR 1.4 million(USD 1.45 million), the Department of Social Affairs is allocated EUR 31 million (USD 32 million), and the Department of Children, Adolescents, and Youth is granted approximately EUR 6.5 million (USD 6.74 million). Additionally, the National Youth Forum of Andorra (FNJA) will be receiving EUR 89,518 (USD 92,880) for the financial year of 2023. There is no mention of a national youth policy budget.

As the Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth and Equality has since been re-organised into the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, it is unclear if the budget for 2023 remains the same.

Contextual Figures

Liberal Democracy Index
---
Youth Progress Index
---

Economic Indicators

GDP per capita
$42072.34
Human Development Index
0.858
Gini coefficient
---

Additional background

The Government of Andorra is initiating and implementing various projects for Andorran youth. These projects include the Youth Bus, the Youth Emancipation Programme, the Trampoline Project, and the Student Business Forum. One can learn more about these projects on the government website.

According to Decree 98/2022, the Youth Board is an "inter-institutional coordination body, assigned to the ministry responsible for youth." Functions of the Youth Board are to:

  1. Establish interrelationship mechanisms between administrations and entities competent in youth and encourage debate and the exchange of experiences between administrations and young people.

  2. Establish national priorities in youth policies.

  3. Facilitate information and access to training for youth professionals attached to the administrations or entities competent in youth.

  4. Foster coordination and cooperation in order to achieve effective and efficient management of the resources needed to provide youth policies.

  5. Other functions that are specifically assigned by the institutions that make up the Youth Board.

  6. Other functions expressly attributed by this Decree or by the rest of the legal system.

A 2021 article by the Council of Europe details efforts by the Andorran Commission for Children and Adolescents to establish a National Action Plan:

"The National Action Plan is being developed to support the implementation of the Qualified Law 14/2019 on the rights of children and adolescents over the period of 4 years. It will have three main axes: 1) Recognising the full citizenship of children and adolescents and ensuring the exercise of their rights, 2) Facilitating opportunities for personal growth and development of children and adolescents, and 3) Protecting children and adolescents against all types of neglect, risk, and abuse."

Sources

See all sources (15)

Updates

  • Update 20.02.2024: Corrected small formatting errors