Statistical information Armenia 1999

Armenia in the World
top of pageBackground: Armenia was one of the 15 successor republics to the USSR in December 1991. Its leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. In January 1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head. With the prime minister, defense minister, and security minister arrayed against him, an isolated TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the presidency on 3 February 1998. Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN was elected president in March 1998. Concerns about Armenia's economic performance have continued since 1997 with a slowdown in growth and the serious impact of the 1998 financial crisis in Russia.
top of pageLocation: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map reference:
Commonwealth of Independent StatesAreaTotal: 29,800 km²
Land: 28,400 km²
Water: 1,400 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 1,254 km
Border countries: (5) Azerbaijan-proper 566 km;
, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km;
, Georgia 164 km;
, Iran 35 km;
, Turkey 268 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Debed River 400 m
Extremes highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land useArable land: 17%
Permanent crops: 3%
Permanent pastures: 24%
Forests and woodland: 15%
Other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,870 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 3,409,234 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: -0.38% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 50% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Armenian(s)
Adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
Note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 25% (male 442,117; female 425,561)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,100,334; female 1,148,595)
65 years and over: 9% (male 122,170; female 170,457) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: -0.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.53 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.03 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.26 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 41.12 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 66.56 years
Male: 62.21 years
Female: 71.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1989 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Armenia
Conventional short form: Armenia
Local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
Local short form: Hayastan
Former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular_marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular_k'aghak'; Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan*
Dependent areasIndependence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian Republic; 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
Head of government: Prime Minister Armen DARBINYAN (since 10 April 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next election to be held March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote_Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held in the spring of 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6, Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF 1, other 4, vacant 2; note_seats by party change frequently
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben R. SHUGARIAN
In the us chancery: 2,225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 319-2,982
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON
From the us embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-7,020
From the us telephone: [374] (2) 151-551
From the us FAX: [374] (2) 151-550
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet area. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-98. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. The Russian financial crisis generated concerns about Armenia's economic performance in 1998. Although inflation dropped to 10% and GDP grew about 6%, the industrial sector remained moribund. Much of Armenia's population remains heavily dependent on remittances from relatives abroad, and remittances from Russia fell off sharply in 1998.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $2,700 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 35%
Industry: 30%
Services: 35% (1998 est.)
Agriculture products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries: much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 1.6 million (1997)
By occupation and construction: 25%
By occupation agriculture: 38%
By occupation services: 37%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 50% (1998 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $322 million
Expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal
Partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
Partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $820 million (of which $75 million to Russia) (1997 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: dram per US$1_535.62 (January 1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 46.05%
Production by source hydro: 26.32%
Production by source nuclear: 27.63%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 730,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications oversees the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; the national operator is Armentel; the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will provide a $60 million eight-year loan; Armenia has about 4,000 Internet users on one satellite channel
Domestic: local_350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan; a fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's customers; GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging; intercity_the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000 numbers mostly governmental
International: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; 1 INTELSAT earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $72.1 million (1999)
Percent of gdp: 4% (1999)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 11 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 6
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
RailwaysTotal: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
Broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
RoadwaysWaterways: NA km
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsArmenia - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs_mostly opium and hashish_to Western Europe and the US via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia