2010 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 in 1994 because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border; this process is currently dormant.

Area

land

28,203 sq km

total

29,743 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

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

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)

per capita

977 cu m/yr (2000)

total

2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)

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

border countries

Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

total

1,254 km

Land use

arable land

16.78%

other

81.21% (2005)

permanent crops

2.01%

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

12.74 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2007)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,400 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

24.16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

19.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.07 years (2010 est.)

male

69.33 years

total population

72.96 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.2% (2001 census)

male

99.7%

total population

99.4%

Median age

female

34.7 years (2010 est.)

male

29.1 years

total

31.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Armenian

noun

Armenian(s)

Net migration rate

-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

2,966,802 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.016% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2007)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.133 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

64% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

40 10 N, 44 30 E

name

Yerevan

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

former

Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic

local long form

Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

local short form

Hayastan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH

embassy

1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082

FAX

[374](10) 464-742

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

chancery

2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2982

telephone

[1] (202) 319-1976

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)

election results

Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 February 2008 (next to be held in 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

head of government

Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)

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

ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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)

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

elections

last held on 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics

name

"Mer Hayrenik""(Our Fatherland)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Armenian National Congress or ANC (bloc of independent and opposition parties) [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]; Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN]; Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKIAN]; Republican Party of Armenia or HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009) 7.25% (2 December 2008) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18.76% (31 December 2009 est.) 17.05% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.138 billion (2010 est.) -$1.326 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5.227 billion (30 June 2010) $3.449 billion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (2006) 44.4 (1996)

Economy - overview

After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009, despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly from Russia, were the main reasons for the downturn. The economy began to recover in 2010 with nearly 5% growth. 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. Armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia had made progress in implementing some economic reforms, including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies, but geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made Armenia particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s and Armenia's borders with Turkey remain closed until 2010, when Turkey and Armenia signed an accord to reestablish diplomatic relations. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support and most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, 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 gas deliveries are slated to expand due to the April 2010 completion of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. 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 have been ineffective and the current economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the IMF, and other international financial institutions. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to regain economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Electricity - consumption

4.776 billion kWh (2007 est.)

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.)

Exchange rates

drams (AMD) per US dollar - 374.29 (2010), 363.28 (2009), 303.93 (2008), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006)

Exports

$846 million (2010 est.) $722.3 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 16.47%, Russia 15.45%, US 9.64%, Bulgaria 8.6%, Georgia 7.57%, Netherlands 7.48%, Belgium 6.71%, Canada 4.91% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22%

industry

46.6%

services

31.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,800 (2010 est.) $5,600 (2009 est.) $6,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2010 est.) -14.2% (2009 est.) 6.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.83 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.27 billion (2010 est.) $16.5 billion (2009 est.) $19.23 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.988 billion (2010 est.) $2.817 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners

Russia 24.02%, China 8.72%, Ukraine 6.15%, Turkey 5.39%, Germany 5.36%, Iran 4.07% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2010 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)

6.9% (2010 est.) 3.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

33.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.481 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

46.2%

industry

15.6%

services

38.2% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$140.5 million (31 December 2009) $176 million (31 December 2008) $105 million (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

49,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

45,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.5% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.247 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.004 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.507 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.339 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.733 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.131 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.071 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (2007 est.)

Broadcast media

2 public television networks operating alongside more than 40 privately-owned television stations that provide local to near nationwide coverage; major Russian broadcast stations are widely available; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside about 20 privately-owned radio stations; several major international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet country code

.am

Internet hosts

65,279 (2010)

Internet users

208,200 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

reliable modern fixed-line 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

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

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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

630,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.62 million (2009)

Airports

11 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 2,233 km (2009)

Railways

broad gauge

845 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2008)

total

845 km

Roadways

paved

7,079 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways)

total

8,888 km

unpaved

1,809 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 809,293 females age 16-49: 862,679 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 644,195 females age 16-49: 724,085 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

22,682 (2010 est.)

male

24,611

Military branches

Armenian Armed Forces

Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense; "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force (NKSDF) (2010)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2010)

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

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 January 12, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

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

refugees (country of origin)

113,295 (Azerbaijan)