2009 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. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with 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, ethnic 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 closed the common border with Armenia because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Area

total: 29,743 sq km country comparison to the world: 142 land: 28,203 sq km water: 1,540 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 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

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%) per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)

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

2,860 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Land use

arable land: 16.78% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.21% (2005)

Location

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

10.5 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.2% (male 289,119/female 252,150) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 986,764/female 1,123,708) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 122,996/female 192,267) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

12.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Death rate

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2001) country comparison to the world: 139

Ethnic groups

Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.21 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 106 male: 24.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.68 years country comparison to the world: 116 male: 69.06 years female: 76.81 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 31.5 years male: 28.8 years female: 34.4 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Net migration rate

-4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Population

2,967,004 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Religions

Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.36 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Urbanization

urban population: 64% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Yerevan geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082 mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone: [374](10) 464-700

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976

Executive branch

chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

[374](10) 464-742

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the workers who farm it

Government type

republic

Independence

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - HHK 33.9%, Prosperous Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party 6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF (Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Armenian National Congress or ANC [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]; Armenian People's Party [Tigran KARAPETIAN]; Armenian Ramkavar Azadagan Party Alliance or HRAK (includes former Dashink Party, National Revival Party, and Ramkavar Liberal Party); Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]; Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISIAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN]; Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSAROUKIAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISIAN]; Republican Party of Armenia or HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURIAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Aylentrank (Impeachment) [Nikol PASHINIAN]; Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Budget

revenues: $2.481 billion expenditures: $2.626 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.25% (2 December 2008) NA% (31 December 2007) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.05% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 27 17.52% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$1.355 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 -$589.6 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$3.449 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 116 $2.909 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (2006) country comparison to the world: 77 44.4 (1996)

Economy - overview

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has made progress in implementing many economic reforms including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates. Economic growth has averaged over 10% in recent years. However, with the global economic downturn, Armenia's growth rate dropped to 6.8% in 2008. Armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Nuclear power plants built at Metsamor in the 1970s were closed following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, though they sustained no damage. One of the two reactors was re-opened in 1995, but the Armenian government is under international pressure to close it due to concerns that the Soviet era design lacks important safeguards. Metsamor provides 40 percent of the country's electricity - hydropower accounts for about one-fourth. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005. Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008 and after testing is expected to be operational in Spring 2009, though it is unlikely significant quantities of gas will flow through it until the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant renovation is completed in 2010. Armenia has some mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals are Armenia's highest valued exports. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. Despite strong economic growth, Armenia's unemployment rate remains high. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to improve its economic competitiveness and to build on recent improvements in poverty and unemployment, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan. The disruption of rail transit into Armenia during the Georgia-Russia conflict in August 2008 highlighted how vulnerable Armenia's supply chains for key goods - such as gasoline - are to instances of regional instability.

Electricity - consumption

4.776 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - exports

451.3 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

418.7 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

5.584 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Exchange rates

drams (AMD) per US dollar - 303.93 (2008 est.), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004)

Exports

$1.124 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1.197 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners

Russia 20.2%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 12.2%, Belgium 8.5%, Georgia 7.7%, Bulgaria 5.7%, US 4.9% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 16.7% industry: 33.8% services: 49.4% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $5,900 (2007 est.) $5,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 13.8% (2007 est.) 13.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.92 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$18.81 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $17.62 billion (2007 est.) $15.48 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

Imports

$3.763 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $2.797 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners

Russia 19.3%, China 8.7%, Ukraine 7%, Turkey 6.1%, Germany 5.8%, US 4.9%, Iran 4.6% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

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)

9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 4.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

39% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Labor force

1.481 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 46.2% industry: 15.6% services: 38.2% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110 $105 million (31 December 2007) $60.17 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - imports

1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Oil - consumption

48,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Oil - imports

45,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Population below poverty line

26.5% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.407 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $1.659 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.98 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 93 $1.256 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.359 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 80 $1.507 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$950.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 96 $765.2 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Internet country code

.am

Internet hosts

36,354 (2009) country comparison to the world: 88

Internet users

191,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 138

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began operations in mid-2005 domestic: reliable modern landline and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant but ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural areas 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, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

650,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.336 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 118

Television broadcast stations

48 (private television stations alongside 2 public networks; major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Airports

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Pipelines

gas 2,233 km (2008)

Railways

total: 845 km country comparison to the world: 99 broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2008)

Roadways

total: 7,700 km country comparison to the world: 144 paved: 7,700 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2006)

Armed Forces

Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force (NKSDF) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 809,576 females age 16-49: 870,864 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 642,734 females age 16-49: 729,047 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 27,293 female: 25,574 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

6.5% of GDP (FY01) country comparison to the world: 8

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Disputes - international

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; Armenians continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia, seeking employment

IDPs

8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)

Illicit drugs

illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe page last updated on November 11, 2009

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Armenia is primarily a source country for women and girls trafficked to the UAE and Turkey for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Armenian men and women are trafficked to Turkey and Russia for the purpose of forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year; its efforts to increase compliance with the minimum standards were assessed based on its commitments to undertake future actions, particularly in the areas of improving victim protection and assistance; while the government elevated anti-trafficking responsibilities to the ministerial level, adopted a new National Action Plan, and drafted a National Referral Mechanism, it has yet to show tangible progress in identifying and protecting victims or in tackling trafficking complicity of government officials; the Armenian Government made some notable improvements in its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, but it failed to demonstrate evidence of investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences of officials complicit in trafficking (2008)