2004 Edition

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.

Area

land

28,400 sq km

total

29,800 sq km

water

1,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

lowest point

Debed River 400 m

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

Environment - international agreements

Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

2,870 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

border countries

Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan

total

1,254 km

Land use

arable land

17.55%

other

80.15% (2001)

permanent crops

2.3%

Location

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

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.)

Birth rate

11.43 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Armenian 93%, Azeri 1%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002)

Armenia

note

as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

29.32 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.36 years (2004 est.)

male

67.73 years

total population

71.23 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98% (2003 est.)

male

99.4%

total population

98.6%

Median age

female

32.4 years (2004 est.)

male

27.1 years

total

29.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Armenian

noun

Armenian(s)

Net migration rate

-6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

2,991,360

October 2001 (July 2004 est.)

note

Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in

Population growth rate

-0.32% (2004 est.)

Religions

Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist) 2%

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

at birth

1.18 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Yerevan

Constitution

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Armenia

conventional short form

Armenia

former

Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

local long form

Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

local short form

Hayastan

Diplomatic representation from the US

Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020

527-001, 524-840 FAX: [374](1) 520-800

chief of mission

Ambassador John M. EVANS

embassy

18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019

mailing address

American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020

telephone

[374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661,

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982

chancery

2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSSIAN

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

telephone

[1] (202) 319-1976

Executive branch

2000)

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

vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)

election results

Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

head of government

Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

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

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)

2007)

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

elections

last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of

note

percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Budget

(2003)

expenditures

$460.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$425.9 million

Currency

dram (AMD)

Currency code

AMD

Current account balance

$-210 million (2003)

Debt - external

$905 million (June 2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.4 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $170 million (2000)

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.

Electricity - consumption

5.784 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2001)

Electricity - imports

463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2001)

Electricity - production

6.479 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

drams per US dollar - 578.763 (2002), 555.078 (2001), 539.526 (2000), 535.062 (1999)

Exports

$735 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners

Belgium 18.2%, UK 16.8%, Israel 15.7%, Russia 12.1%, Iran 7.9%, US 6.3%, Germany 5% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.79 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

23.4%

industry

35.1%

services

41.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.9% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

46.2% (1999)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$1.18 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - 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) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $509.4 million (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

15% (2002 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

1.4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (2001 est.)

Internet country code

.am

Internet hosts

2,206 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

9 (2001)

Internet users

150,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

850,000 (1997)

Telephone system

undergoing modernization and expansion

are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)

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)

domestic

the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment

general assessment

system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and

international

country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the

Telephones - main lines in use

562,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

114,400 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)

Televisions

825,000 (1997)

Airports

17 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2003 est.)

over 3,047 m

2

total

11

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2

over 3,047 m

1

total

6

under 914 m

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

15,329 km (includes 7,527 km of expressways)

total

15,918 km

unpaved

589 km (2000)

Pipelines

gas 1,871 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

broad gauge

845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)

note

some lines are out of service (2003)

total

845 km

Military branches

Army, Air Force and Air Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$135 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

6.5% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

812,140 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

649,568 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

31,926 (2004 est.)

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

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 This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Aruba

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)

refugees (country of origin)

236,306 (Azerbaijan)