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. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR 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.

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: 17.55%
Permanent crops: 2.3%
Other: 80.15% (2001)

Irrigated land: 2,870 km² (1998 est.)

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

Population
Note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in October 2001 (July 2004 est.)
Growth rate: -0.32% (2004 est.)
Below poverty line: 50% (2002 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 Apostolic 94% other Christian 4% Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist) 2%

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 357,094; female 323,396)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 929,719; female 1,065,505)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 128,027; female 187,619) (2004 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.7 years
Male: 27.1 years
Female: 32.4 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.32% (2004 est.)

Birth rate: 11.43 births/1000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2004 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.18 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.1 male/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male/female
Total population: 0.9 male/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 24.16 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 29.32 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 18.06 deaths/1000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.23 years
Male: 67.73 years
Female: 75.36 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98.6%
Male: 99.4%
Female: 98% (2003 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: 11 provinces (marzer singular - marz); 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; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president; 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)
Note: 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 party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party 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 BADALIAN]; 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 [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party National Democratic Party National Democratic Union and the People's Party); National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]

International organization participation: BSEC CE CIS EAPC EBRD FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt (signatory) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU MIGA NAM (observer) OAS (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 Arman KIRAKOSSIAN
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 John M. EVANS
From the us embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375,019
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7,020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20,521-7,020
From the us telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661, 527-001, 524-840
From the us fax: [374](1) 520-800

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 (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 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTrO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation stabilize the local currency (the dram) and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. 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 and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close especially in the energy sector.

Real gdp growth rate: 9.9% (2003 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2003 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 23.4%
Industry: 35.1%
Services: 41.5% (2003 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: 15% (2002 est.)

Labor force: 1.4 million (2001)
By occupation agriculture: 45%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation services: 30% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.3%
Highest 10: 46.2% (1999)

Distribution of family income gini index: 44.4 (1996)

Budget
Revenues: $425.9 million
Expenditures: $460.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.8% (2003 est.)

Current account balance: $-210 million (2003)

Exports: $735 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: diamonds mineral products foodstuffs energy
Partners: Belgium 18.2% UK 16.8% Israel 15.7% Russia 12.1% Iran 7.9% US 6.3% Germany 5% (2003)

Imports: $1.18 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: natural gas petroleum tobacco products foodstuffs diamonds
Partners: Belgium 11.6% Russia 11.6% Israel 11.3% US 9.5% Iran 8.8% Germany 6.7% UAE 5.4% Italy 4.7% Ukraine 4.6% (2003)

Debt external: $905 million (June 2001)

Exchange rates: drams per US dollar - 578.763 (2002) 555.078 (2001) 539.526 (2000) 535.062 (1999)

Electricity
Production: 6.479 billion kWh (2001)
Consumption: 5.784 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2001)
Imports: 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2001)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 1.4 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 1.4 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 562,600 (2003)
Mobile cellular: 114,400 (2003)

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 - 1 Intelsat (2000)

Internet
Country code: .am
Hosts: 2,206 (2004)
Users: 150,000 (2003)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $135 million (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 6.5% (FY01)

Airports: 17 (2003 est.)
With paved runways total: 11
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2003 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 6
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)

Pipelines: gas 1871 km (2004)

Railways
Total: 845 km
Broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
Note: some lines are out of service (2003)

Disputes international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and militarily occupies 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the new Georgian Government

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 236,306 (Azerbaijan)
Idps: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)

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