Map of Armenia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman Byzantine Arab Persian and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918 but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh a primarily Armenian-populated region assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994 when a cease-fire took hold Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.


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Location: Southwestern Asia east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N 45 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 29,800 km²
Land: 28,400 km²
Water: 1,400 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1,254 km
Border countries: (5) Azerbaijan-proper 566 km; , Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km; , Georgia 164 km; , Iran 35 km; , Turkey 268 km

Coastline: 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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Debed River 400 m
Extremes highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Natural resources: small deposits of gold copper molybdenum zinc alumina

Land use
Arable land: 16.78%
Permanent crops: 2.01%
Other: 81.21% (2005)

Irrigated land: 2,860 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Geography
Note: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range


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Population: 2,976,372 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: -0.19% (2006 est.)
Below poverty line: 43% (2003 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Armenian
Adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9% Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3% Russian 0.5% other 0.3% (2001 census)

Languages: Armenian 97.7% Yezidi 1% Russian 0.9% other 0.4% (2001 census)

Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94.7% other Christian 4% Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369) (2006 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 30.4 years
Male: 27.8 years
Female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.19% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 12.07 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 8.23 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.72 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s 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 in spite of its location in a seismically active zone
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.17 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.12 male/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male/female
Total population: 0.9 male/female (2006 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 22.47 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 27.59 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 16.51 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.84 years
Male: 68.25 years
Female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.33 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 2,600 (2003 est.)
Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98.6%
Male: 99.4%
Female: 98% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional 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
Name: Yerevan
Geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
Time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 11 provinces (marzer singular - marz); Aragatsotn Ararat Armavir Geghark'unik' Kotayk' Lorri Shirak Syunik' Tavush Vayots' Dzor Yerevan

Dependent areas

Independence: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 21 September (1991)

Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

Legal system: based on civil law system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
Head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May 2000)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed with the majority support of the National Assembly; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
Election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by faction - Republican Party 39, Rule of Law 20, Justice Bloc 14, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 7, United Labor 6, People's Deputy Group 16, independent (not in faction or group) 18; note - as of 10 March 2006; voting blocs in the legislature are more properly termed factions and can be composed of members of several parties; seats by faction change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Political parties and leaders: Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALYAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ('Dashnak' Party) or ARF [Levon MKRTCHYAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party National Democratic Party National Democratic Union the People's Party and the Republic Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert BAZEYAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN chairman]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARGARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Samvel BALASANYAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]

International organization participation: ACCT (observer) AsDB BSEC CE CIS EAPC EBRD FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt (signatory) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITU MIGA NAM (observer) OAS (observer) OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE PFP UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony F. GODFREY
From the us embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375,082
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State, 7,020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20,521-7,020
From the us telephone: [374](10) 464-700
From the us fax: [374](10) 464-742

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top) blue and orange

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy 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 era. 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 (copper 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 liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2005. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation stabilize its currency and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate however remains high despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid remittances from Armenians working abroad and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close especially in the energy sector. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005 but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. Investment in the construction and industrial sectors is expected to continue in 2006 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP growth of about 13.9%.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $14.45 billion (2005 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 13.9% (2005 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $4,800 (2005 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 23.9%
Industry: 34.3%
Services: 41.8% (2005 est.)

Agriculture products: fruit (especially grapes) vegetables; livestock

Industries: diamond-processing metal-cutting machine tools forging-pressing machines electric motors tires knitted wear hosiery shoes silk fabric chemicals trucks instruments microelectronics jewelry manufacturing software development food processing brandy

Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 1.2 million (2005)
By occupation agriculture: 45%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation services: 30% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: 31.6% (2004 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 43% (2003 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.6%
Highest 10: 41.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income gini index: 41.3 (2004)

Budget
Revenues: $786.1 million
Expenditures: $930.7 million; including capital expenditures of $N/A (2005 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.6% (2005 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $-118 million (2005 est.)

Exports: $800 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: diamonds mineral products foodstuffs energy
Partners: Germany 15.6% Netherlands 13.7% Belgium 12.8% Russia 12.2% Israel 11.5% US 11.2% Georgia 4.8% (2005)

Imports: $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: natural gas petroleum tobacco products foodstuffs diamonds
Partners: Russia 13.5% Belgium 8% Germany 7.9% Ukraine 7% Turkmenistan 6.3% US 6.2% Israel 5.8% Iran 5% Romania 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $754.9 million (2005 est.)

Debt external: $1.819 billion (20 September 2005)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: drams per US dollar - 457.69 (2005) 533.45 (2004) 578.76 (2003) 573.35 (2002) 555.08 (2001)


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Electricity
Production: 6.317 billion kWh (2005)
Consumption: 4.374 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 650 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2003)
Imports: 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2003)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 1.685 billion m³ (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Imports: 1.685 billion m³ (2005 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 582,500 (2004)
Mobile cellular: 320,000 (2005)

Telephone system
General assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion
Domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)
International: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .am
Hosts: 8,163 (2006)
Users: 150,000 (2005)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 6.5% (FY01)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 13 (2006)
With paved runways total: 11
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2006)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 2002 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 845 km
Broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
Note: some lines are out of service (2005)

Roadways
Total: 7,633 km
Paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate primarily to Russia to seek employment

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 235,101 (Azerbaijan)
Idps: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2005)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe