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 state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, but it was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia, was initially incorporated into the USSR as part of the Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic; in 1936, the republic was separated into its three constituent entities, which were maintained until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. For over three decades, Armenia had a longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which historically had a mixed Armenian and Azerbaijani population, although ethnic Armenians have constituted the majority since the late 19th century. In 1921, Moscow placed Nagorno-Karabakh within Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a second military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020; Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had previously captured, returning the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territories around it to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh; after an armed conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the first period of conflict with Armenia and has since maintained a closed border, leaving Armenia with closed borders both in the west (with Turkey) and east (with Azerbaijan). Armenia and Turkey engaged in intensive diplomacy to normalize relations and open the border in 2009, but the signed agreement was not ratified in either country. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. In 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power, prompting protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution.” After SARGSIAN resigned, the National Assembly elected the leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, as the new prime minister. PASHINYAN’s party has prevailed in subsequent legislative elections, most recently in 2021.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 29,743 km²
Land: 28,203 km²
Water: 1,540 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1,570 km
Border countries (4): (4) Azerbaijan 996 km; Georgia 219 km; Iran 44 km; Turkey 311 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
Highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Lowest point: Debed River 400 m
Mean elevation: 1,792 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 58.6% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Other: 13.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,559 km² (2022)

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
Total: 2,976,765 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,456,415
Female: 1,520,350
Distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country
Growth rate: -0.42% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1.1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Armenian Apostolic Christian 95.2%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.9%, none 0.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 275,589/female 250,630)
15-64 years: 67% (male 991,490/female 1,004,101)
65 years and over: 15.3% (2024 est.) (male 189,336/female 265,619)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 49.2 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.4 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 38.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 37.6 years
Female: 40.3 years

Population growth rate: -0.42% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country

Urbanization
Urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.095 million YEREVAN (capital) (2023)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.4 years
Female: 80.1 years

Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.6% (2016 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 13.4% (2024 est.); 13.3% (2023 est.); 13.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: Yerevan
Geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
Time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: name origin is unclear; it may derive from the name of a local ethnic group, or from the ancient fortress of Erebuni that was built on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C.

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

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)
Head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds, if needed, for a single 7-year term; prime minister indirectly elected by majority vote in two rounds, if needed, by the National Assembly
Most recent election date: 3 March 2022
2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (independent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0
2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN (indpendent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 107 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 6/20/2021
Parties elected and seats per party: Civil Contract Party (71); Armenia Alliance (29); I Have the Honour Alliance (7)
Percentage of women in chamber: 38.3%
Expected date of next election: June 2026
Note 1: additional seats allocated as necessary; the numbers usually change with each parliamentary convocation
Note 2: four mandates are reserved for national minorities; no more than 70% of the top membership of a party list can belong to the same sex; political parties must meet a 5% threshold and alliances a 7% threshold to win seats; at least three parties must be seated in the Parliament

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Mer Hayrenik' (Our Fatherland)
Lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
History: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 5.9% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 12.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5.9% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 12.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 66.5% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 10.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 76.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Industry: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Services: 61.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.51 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 13.4% (2024 est.); 13.3% (2023 est.); 13.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 13.4% (2024 est.); 13.3% (2023 est.); 13.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $5.812 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $6.27 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 22.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

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

Exports: $18.618 billion (2024 est.); $14.338 billion (2023 est.); $10.118 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, diamonds, copper ore, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $19.087 billion (2024 est.); $14.532 billion (2023 est.); $10.265 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, gold, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 4.265 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 7.012 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 194.045 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 530.327 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 43% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 19% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 24 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 317 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Consumption: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.144 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.934 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.162 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 54.689 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 331,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 3.96 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 546,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures: 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.); 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 4.4% of GDP (2021 est.); 5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 11 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 686 km (2017)

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs