SafekipediaLanguages of Andorra
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The national language of Andorra is Catalan, a Romance language in the Western Romance group. Over 9 million people speak Catalan in nearby parts of Spain and France. Catalan is the only official language of Andorra, but many people also speak Spanish because it is very common there.
Because Andorra is close to France and has people from many places, French and Portuguese are also spoken by some people. This is mainly because of immigration. Most people in Andorra can speak more than one language. They usually speak Catalan and their own native language, since many were born in other countries.
| Language | At home | Outside home | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2018 | 2022 | 2018 | 2022 | |
| Catalan | 39.5% | 35.7% | 44% | 55.2% | 63.7% |
| Spanish | 43.8% | 43.2% | 40.3% | 37.1% | 48.6% |
| Portuguese | 18.6% | 17.1% | 13.5% | 3.8% | 6.6% |
| French | 9.7% | 8.9% | 10% | 2.2% | 5.7% |
| Others | 9% | 6.8% | 9.8% | 1.5% - 10% | 4.9% |
| Source: Coneixements i Usos Lingüístics de la Població d'Andorra (1995–2022) | |||||
Catalan
Further information: Catalan language
Catalan is the official language of Andorra and is used by the government, TV, radio, and other national media. It is the main language for people born in Andorra, who make up about 44% of the population. The local version of Catalan is called Northwestern Catalan.
The government of Andorra is now encouraging immigrants to learn Catalan. Even though many visitors from Spain speak Spanish, most signs in Andorra are only in Catalan. Andorra is special because Catalan is the only official language in the whole country.
Spanish
Further information: Peninsular Spanish
Spanish is very important in Andorra, just after Catalan. It is mainly spoken by about 70% of people from Spain who live there. Most of these people moved to Andorra between 1955 and 1985.
Because so many people speak Spanish, it has become the second most used language in the country. It is often used when people who speak different languages talk to each other. This has led the government to try to encourage everyone to use Catalan more often.
Portuguese
Further information: European Portuguese
In the past, many people from Portugal moved to live in Andorra. The most Portuguese people living there was in 2008, when 13,794 people, or 16.3% of the country's population, were from Portugal.
French
Further information: Meridional French
See also: Occitan language
Because Andorra shares a border with France, many people from France have moved there. About 7% of the people living in Andorra are from France, especially from places in Francophone Africa. French is widely spoken, especially in the town of Pas de la Casa, which is right on the border with France.
Families can choose to have their children learn in French at school if they prefer, just like they can choose Spanish.
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