1995 Edition

Area

total area: 29,800 sq km land area: 28,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

International disputes

supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Irrigated land

3,050 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries

total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Land use

arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60%

Location

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States - European States

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

Natural resources

small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

Note

landlocked

Terrain

high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998) 15-64 years: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226) 65 years and over: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate

22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia

Infant mortality rate

26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.578 million by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)

Languages

Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.36 years male: 68.94 years female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98%

Nationality

noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Net migration rate

-6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (1995 est.)

Religions

Armenian Orthodox 94%

Total fertility rate

3.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Administrative divisions

37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan) and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, Akhuryani Shrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan, Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*, Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan, Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*, Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan, Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan, Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, Kapani Shrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, Masisi Shrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan, Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan, Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan, Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'i Shrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*

Capital

Yerevan

Constitution

adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 5 July 1995

Digraph

AM

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766

Executive branch

chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October 1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 628-5769

[7] (8852) 151-138

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold

Independence

28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Names

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

National holiday

Referendum Day, 21 September

Political parties and leaders

Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized; Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Supreme Soviet

elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5 July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12, NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13

Type

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661

Agriculture

only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)

Economic aid

recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from US and EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble credit almost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamor nuclear power plant

Electricity

capacity: 4,620,000 kW production: 5.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)

Exports

$43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

Illicit drugs

illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Imports

$120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU

Industrial production

growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of GDP

Industries

traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

27% per month average (1994 est.)

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

National product per capita

$2,290 (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate

-2% (1994 est.)

Overview

Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with chronic energy shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.

Unemployment rate

6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)

Radio

broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA

Telephone system

about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000 persons; progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement local: NA intercity: NA international: international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link

Television

broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs televisions: NA

Airports

total: 11 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1

Highways

total: 11,300 km paved: 10,500 km unpaved: earth 800 km (1990)

Inland waterways

NA km

Pipelines

natural gas 900 km (1991)

Ports

none

Railroads

total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Defense expenditures

250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results ________________________________________________________________________ ARUBA (part of the Dutch realm)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for military service 699,167; males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995 est.)