Background: An Orthodox Christian country Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh a primarily Armenian-populated exclave assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the exclave 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.

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N 45 00 E

Map reference: Commonwealth of Independent States

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 Lerr 4,095 m

Natural resources: small deposits of gold copper molybdenum zinc alumina

Land use
Arable land: 17%
Permanent crops: 3%
Permanent pastures: 24%
Forests and woodland: 15%
Other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,870 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Geography
Note: landlocked

Population: 3,336,100 (July 2001 est.)
Growth rate: -0.21% (2001 est.)
Below poverty line: 45% (1999 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Armenian
Adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups
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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.23% (male 394,194; female 380,911)
15-64 years: 67.04% (male 1,094,646; female 1,141,760)
65 years and over: 9.73% (male 135,477; female 189,112) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.21% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 11.47 births/1000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 9.74 deaths/1000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.87 migrant(s)/1000 population (2001 est.)

Environment
Current 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, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male/female
Total population: 0.95 male/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 41.27 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.49 years
Male: 62.12 years
Female: 71.08 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: less than 500 (1999 est.)
Deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1989 est.)

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: 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*

Independence: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 21 September (1991)

Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
Head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000)
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 to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Armenia Party [Myasnik ALKHASYAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ('Dashnak' Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN chairman]; Free Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN chairman]; Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN chairman]; Mission Party [Artush PAPOIAN chairman]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State Party [Samvel SHAGINIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Vano SIRADEGHYAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Gayane SARUKHYAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Ernst SOGOMONYAN]; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN chairman]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's Party of Armenia)

International organization participation: BSEC CCC CE 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 (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN
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 C. LEMMON
From the us embassy: 18 Marshal 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) 52-16-11
From the us fax: [374] (2) 151-550

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

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 (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 1995-2000. 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. Armenia's severe trade imbalance importing three times its exports has been offset somewhat by international aid domestic restructuring of the economy and foreign direct investment.

Real gdp growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 40%
Industry: 25%
Services: 35% (1999 est.)

Agriculture products: fruit (especially grapes) vegetables; livestock

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 1.5 million (1999)
By occupation agriculture: 55%
By occupation services: 25%
By occupation industry: 20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate
Note: official rate is 9.3% for 1998

Population below poverty line: 45% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $360 million
Expenditures: $566 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1% (1999 est.)

Exports: $284 million (f.o.b. 2000 est.)
Commodities: diamonds scrap metal machinery and equipment brandy copper ore
Partners: Belgium 36% Iran 15% Russia 14% US 7% Turkmenistan Georgia (1999)

Imports: $913 million (f.o.b. 2000 est.)
Commodities: natural gas petroleum tobacco products foodstuffs diamonds
Partners: Russia 17% US 11% Belgium 11% Iran 10% UK Turkey (1999)

Debt external: $836 million (January 2001)

Exchange rates: drams per US dollar - 554.29 (1 February 2001) 539.53 (2000) 535.06 (1999) 504.92 (1998) 490.85 (1997) 414.04 (1996)

Electricity
Production: 6.668 billion kWh (1999)
Production by source fossil fuel: 45.56%
Production by source hydro: 23.25%
Production by source nuclear: 31.19%
Production by source other: 0% (1999)
Consumption: 6.201 billion kWh (1999)
Exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 568,000 (1997)
Mobile cellular: 6,220 (1997)

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: 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 - 1 Intelsat

Internet
Country code: .am
Service providers isps: 1 (1999)
Users: 30,000 (2000)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $75 million (FY99)
Percent of gdp: 4% (FY99)

Airports: 7 (2000 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 7
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)

Railways
Total: 852 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
Broad gauge: 852 km 1.520-m gauge (779 km electrified) (2001)

Waterways: NA km

Disputes international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided