2015 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, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 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 seven surrounding regions, approximately 14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory. 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 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over 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, but Turkey has not yet ratified the Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries. In January 2015, Armenia joined Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

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

929.7 cu m/yr (2010)

total

2.86 cu km/yr (40%/6%/54%)

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

2,735 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Azerbaijan 996 km, Georgia 219 km, Iran 44 km, Turkey 311 km

total

1,570 km

Land use

arable land 15.8%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 42%

agricultural land

59.7%

forest

9.1%

other

31.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan

Map references

Asia

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

7.77 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

19.05% (male 310,893/female 271,479)

15-24 years

14.42% (male 225,029/female 215,700)

25-54 years

43.47% (male 638,983/female 689,519)

55-64 years

12.35% (male 171,584/female 205,751)

65 years and over

10.71% (male 130,804/female 196,640) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.61 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 7-17 (2007 est.)

percentage

4%

total number

19,596

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.3% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.9% (2010)

Death rate

9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

15.3%

potential support ratio

6.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

41.3%

youth dependency ratio

26%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.1%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.22% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

4,000 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

14.95 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.03 years (2015 est.)

male

71.13 years

total population

74.37 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.6% (2015 est.)

male

99.7%

total population

99.7%

Major urban areas - population

YEREVAN (capital) 1,044 (2015)

Median age

female

36.1 years (2015 est.)

male

32.3 years

total

34.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Armenian

noun

Armenian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2014)

Physicians density

2.7 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

3,056,382 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.15% (2015 est.)

Religions

Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.2% of population

rural: 78.2% of population

total: 89.5% of population

urban: 3.8% of population

rural: 21.8% of population

total: 10.5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2009)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.15 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.93 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

at birth

1.13 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

45% (2011 est.)

male

35%

total

39.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.11% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

62.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

40 10 N, 44 30 E

name

Yerevan

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995; amended 2005 (2013)

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 Richard MILLS (since 13 February 2015)

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 Tigran SARGSIAN (since 14 July 2014)

consulate(s) general

Glendale (CA)

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2982

telephone

[1] (202) 319-1976

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)

election results

Serzh SARGSIAN reelected president in one round; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN (RPA) 58.6%, Raffi HOVHANNISIAN (Heritage Party) 36.7%, Hrant BAGRATIAN (ANM) 2.2%, other 2.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2018); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority support in the National Congress; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Congress refuses to accept their program

head of government

Prime Minister Hovik ABRAHAMYAN (since 13 April 2014)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation (consists of the court chairman and organized into a criminal chamber and a civil and administrative chamber, each with a court chairman and 2 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by National Assembly; judges of both courts can serve until retirement at age 65

subordinate courts

2 Courts of Appeal (for civil cases and for criminal and military cases); district courts; Administrative Court

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; 90 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 41 directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - RPA 44%, Prosperous Armenia 30.1%, ANC 7.1%, Heritage Party 5.8%, ARF (Dashnak) 5.7%, Rule of Law 5.5%, other 1.8%; seats by party - RPA 69, Prosperous Armenia 37, ANC 7, Heritage Party 5, ARF (Dashnak) 5, Rule of Law 6, independent 2

elections

last held on 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN

name

"Mer Hayrenik""(Our Fatherland)

note

adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

National symbol(s)

Mount Ararat, eagle, lion; national colors: red, blue, orange

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 RPA [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

Budget

expenditures

$3.01 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$2.825 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.5% (10 February 2015)

8% (11 January 2012)

note

this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.21% (31 December 2014 est.)

15.04% (31 December 2013 est.)

note

average lending rate on loans up to one year

Current account balance

-$949 million (2014 est.)

-$839.2 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$8.452 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.694 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.3 (2012)

31.3 (2011)

Economy - overview

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 only two open trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, as a result of Armenia's ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. 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, including electricity and natural gas. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 20% of GDP and partly offset the country's severe trade imbalance. Armenia joined Russia in the Eurasian Economic Union upon the bloc’s launch in January 2015, even though the ruble’s sharp depreciation in December 2014 led to currency instability, inflation, and significant decrease of export from Armenia to Russia. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and to strengthen the rule of law 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.

Exchange rates

drams (AMD) per US dollar -

415.9 (2014 est.)

409.6 (2013 est.)

401.76 (2012 est.)

372.5 (2011 est.)

373.66 (2010 est.)

Exports

$1.519 billion (2014 est.)

$1.635 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Russia 20.3%, China 11.3%, Germany 10.4%, Canada 6.1%, US 5.8%, Bulgaria 5.6%, Iran 5.6%, Georgia 5.5%, Iraq 5.3%, Netherlands 4.9%, Belgium 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

27.2%

government consumption

14.8%

household consumption

87.7%

imports of goods and services

-46.9%

investment in fixed capital

20.5%

investment in inventories

-3.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

21.9%

industry

31.5%

services

46.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,400 (2014 est.)

$7,100 (2013 est.)

$6,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2014 est.)

3.5% (2013 est.)

7.1% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.88 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.28 billion (2014 est.)

$23.48 billion (2013 est.)

$22.68 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

13% of GDP (2014 est.)

13.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

12.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.8% (2012)

lowest 10%

3.7%

Imports

$4.402 billion (2014 est.)

$4.386 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, cars

Imports - partners

Russia 24.9%, China 9.5%, Germany 6.4%, Turkey 5.3%, Iran 4.7%, Ukraine 4.6%, Italy 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing, brandy, mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2014 est.)

5.8% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.489 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

39%

industry

17%

services

44% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$132.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$139.6 million (31 December 2011)

$144.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

32% (2013 est.)

Public debt

42.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

43.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.489 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.251 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.817 billion (2013)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.655 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$4.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.424 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

17.6% (2014 est.)

16.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

12.12 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

5.043 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.36 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

32.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

33.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

34.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

17 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.021 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

7.622 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.01 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.061 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

32 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

46,550 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

2 public TV networks operating alongside about 40 privately owned TV 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 21 privately owned radio stations; several major international broadcasters are available (2015)

Internet country code

.am

Internet users

percent of population

43.6% (2014 est.)

total

1.3 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Telephone system

domestic

reliable modern fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and 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 and third provider began operations in 2005 and 2009 respectively

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

560,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

113 (2014 est.)

total

3.5 million

Television broadcast stations

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

Airports

11 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2

total

10

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Pipelines

gas 2,233 km (2013)

Railways

broad gauge

780 km 1.520-m gauge (780 km electrified)

note

726 km operational (2014)

total

780 km

Roadways

total

7,792 km (2013)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

854,296 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

805,847

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

717,272 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

644,372

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

21,417 (2010 est.)

male

23,470

Military branches

Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense; "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self-Defense Force (NKSDF) (2011)

Military expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2013)

3.92% of GDP (2012)

3.87% of GDP (2011)

3.92% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation; 17 year olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2012)

Disputes - international

the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability; residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan; Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley; in 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered; local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders; ethnic Armenian groups in the Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian Government

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2014)

refugees (country of origin)

14,994 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (2014)

stateless persons

206 (2014)