2022 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 - actions widely recognized as constituting genocide. 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. Armenia remains involved in the protracted struggle with Azerbaijan over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in September-November 2020, Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had captured a quarter century earlier. Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement signed in November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it occupied and some parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, including the key city that Armenians call Shushi and Azerbaijanis call Shusha. 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, Armenia and Turkey signed Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries, but neither country ratified the Protocols, and Armenia officially withdrew from the Protocols in March 2018. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In November 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. In spring 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power by becoming prime minister, prompting popular protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution” after SARGSIAN was forced to resign. The leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, was elected by the National Assembly as the new prime minister on 8 May 2018. PASHINYAN’s party prevailed in an early legislative election in December 2018, and he was reelected as prime minister. 

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

highest point

Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

lowest point

Debed River 400 m

mean elevation

1,792 m

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

1,554 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,570 km

Land use

agricultural land

59.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 42% (2018 est.)

forest

9.1% (2018 est.)

other

31.2% (2018 est.)

Location

Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second largest city in the country

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

18.64% (male 297,320/female 265,969)

15-24 years

11.63% (male 184,258/female 167,197)

25-54 years

43.04% (male 639,101/female 661,421)

55-64 years

14.08% (male 195,754/female 229,580)

65 years and over

12.6% (male 154,117/female 226,607) (2020 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0.4% (2016 est.)

women married by age 15

0%

women married by age 18

5.3%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.6% (2015/16)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

57.1% (2015/16)

Current health expenditure

11.3% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

Armenia’s population peaked at nearly 3.7 million in the late 1980s but has declined sharply since independence in 1991, to just over 3 million in 2021, largely as a result of its decreasing fertility rate, increasing death rate, and negative net emigration rate.  The total fertility rate (the average number of children born per woman) first fell below the 2.1 replacement level in the late 1990s and has hovered around 1.6-1.65 for over 15 years.  In an effort to increase the country’s birth rate, the government has expanded its child benefits, including a substantial increase in the lump sum payment for having a first and second child and a boost in the monthly payment to mothers of children under two.  Reversing net negative migration, however, remains the biggest obstacle to stabilizing or increasing population growth.  Emigration causes Armenia not only lose individuals but also the children they might have.  The emigration of a significant number of working-age people combined with decreased fertility and increased life expectancy is causing the elderly share of Armenia’s population to grow.  The growing elderly population will put increasing pressure on the government’s ability to fund the pension system, health care, and other services for seniors.  Improving education, creating more jobs (particularly in the formal sector), promoting labor market participation, and increasing productivity would mitigate the financial impact of supporting a growing elderly population. Armenia has a long history of migration, some forced and some voluntary.  Its large diaspora is diverse and dispersed around the world.  Widely varying estimates suggest the Armenian diaspora may number anywhere from 5-9 million, easily outnumbering the number of Armenians living in Armenia.  Armenians forged communities abroad from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to Russia and to the Americas, where they excelled as craftsmen, merchants, and in other occupations.  Several waves of Armenian migration occurred in the 20th century.  In the aftermath of the 1915 Armenian genocide, hundreds of thousands of survivors fled to communities in the Caucasus (including present day Armenia), Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Europe, and Russia and established new communities in Africa and the Americas.  In the 1930s, the Soviets deported thousands of Armenians to Siberia and Central Asia.  After World War II, the Soviets encouraged the Armenian diaspora in France, the Middle East, and Iran to return the Armenian homeland in order to encourage population growth after significant losses in the male workforce during the war.  Following Armenian independence in 1991, the economic downturn and high unemployment prompted hundreds of thousands of Armenians to seek better economic opportunities primarily in Russia but also in the US, former Soviet states, and Europe.  In the early 1990s, hundreds of thousands of Armenians fled from Azerbaijan to Armenia because of the ongoing Nagorno-Karbakh conflict, but many of them then emigrated again, mainly to Russia and the US.  When the economy became more stable in the late 1990s, permanent emigration slowed, but Armenians continued to seek temporary seasonal work in Russia.  The remittances families receive from relatives working abroad is vital to Armenian households and the country’s economy.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

19.1

potential support ratio

5.2 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.6

youth dependency ratio

30.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.2%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Hospital bed density

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

13.72 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1.1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.68 years (2022 est.)

male

72.86 years

total population

76.13 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2020)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major urban areas - population

1.095 million YEREVAN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

38.3 years (2020 est.)

male

35.1 years

total

36.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.2 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Armenian

noun

Armenian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016)

Physicians density

4.4 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

3,000,756 (2022 est.)

Population distribution

most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second largest city in the country

Population growth rate

-0.38% (2022 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 84.6% of population

improved: total

total: 94.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 15.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 5.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2021)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.11 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.65 male(s)/female

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.5% (2020 est.)

male

49.4% (2020 est.)

total

25.5% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

63.7% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

22.1% (2020 est.)

male

25.4%

total

24%

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

name likely derives from the ancient Urartian fortress of Erebuni established on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C. and whose impressive ruins still survive

geographic coordinates

40 10 N, 44 30 E

name

Yerevan

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, by the National Assembly, and by a referendum with at least 25% registered voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable; amended 2005, 2015, last in 2020; note - a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for 4 May 2020 was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020, the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the fall of 2020, and the postwar political crisis of early 2021

history

previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Armenia

conventional short form

Armenia

etymology

the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the country is named after Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; Hayk's descendant, Aram, purportedly is the source of the name 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 Lynne M. TRACEY (since 5 March 2019)

email address and website

acsyerevan@state.govhttps://am.usembassy.gov/

embassy

1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082

FAX

[374] (10) 464-742

mailing address

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 Lilit MAKUNTS (since 15 September 2021)

consulate(s) general

Glendale (CA)

email address and website

armembassyusa@mfa.amhttps://usa.mfa.am/en/

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 Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)

election results

  2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-02018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds if needed for a single 7-year term; election last held on 2-3 March 2022; prime minister elected by majority vote in 2 rounds if needed by the National Assembly; election last held 2 August 2021; the next parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Armenia by 2026

head of government

Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Mher GRIGORYAN (since 3 August 2021) and Hambardzum MATEVOSYAN (since 25 November 2021); note - Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN resigned on 25 April 2021; he was reappointed by the president on 2 August 2021 and sworn in on 10 September 2021

note

note: Nikol PASHINYAN was first elected prime minister on 8 May 2018 and reelected on January 2019; in response to a political crisis that followed Armenia's defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in late 2020, PASHINYAN called an early legislative election for June 2021; his party won the election and PASHINYAN was elected to the prime ministership for a third time; his election was confirmed by the president on 2 August 2021, and he was sworn in on 10 September 2021

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

parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system

Independence

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)

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), EAEU, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges – with both civil and administrative specializations); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; judges can serve until age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70

subordinate courts

criminal and civil appellate courts; administrative appellate court; first instance courts; specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (minimum 101 seats, with additional seats allocated as necessary and generally changing with each parliamentary convocation; current - 107; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms; four mandates are reserved for national minorities; no more than 70% of the top membership of a party list can belong to the same sex; political parties must meet a 5% threshold and alliances a 7% threshold to win seats; at least three parties must be seated in the parliament)

election results

percent of vote by party - Civil Contract 53.9%, Armenia Alliance 21.0%, I Have Honour Alliance 5.2%; seats by party - Civil Contract 71 of 107 seats, Armenia Alliance 29, I Have Honour Alliance 7; composition (as of February 2022) - men 69, women 38, percent of women 35.5%

elections

last held early on 20 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN

name

"Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)

note

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley; Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin

total World Heritage Sites

3 (3 cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

5165 National Conservative Movement Party [Karin TONOYAN]Alliance of Democrats [Arman BABAJANYAN]Armenia Alliance or HD [Robert KOCHARYAN](alliance of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Reborn Armenia Party)Armenian National Congress or ANC [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN] (bloc of independent and opposition parties)Bright Armenia [Edmon MARUKYAN]Civil Contract or KP [Nikol PASHINYAN]Homeland of Armenians [Artak GALSTYAN]Homeland Party [Artur VANETSYAN]I Have Honor Alliance (alliance of the RPA and the Homeland Party, [Serzh SARGSIAN and Artur VANETSYAN]Liberal Party [Samvel BABAYAN]National Democratic Party [Vahe GASPARYAN]Prosperous Armenia or BHK [Gagik TSARUKYAN]Republic Party (Hanrapetutyun Party) [Aram SARGSYAN]Republican Party of Armenia or RPA [Serzh SARGSIAN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley

Budget

expenditures

3.192 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

2.644 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2020)

Moody's rating

Ba3 (2019)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$238 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$328 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$10.785 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$11.637 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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 agro industrial 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 joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been largely ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and strengthen the rule of law in order to raise its economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from Turkey and Azerbaijan.   Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to volatility in the global commodity markets and the economic challenges in Russia. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support, as most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 12-14% of GDP. Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, but has remained interested in pursuing closer ties with the EU as well, signing a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU in November 2017. Armenia’s rising government debt is leading Yerevan to tighten its fiscal policies – the amount is approaching the debt to GDP ratio threshold set by national legislation.

Exchange rates

Currency

drams (AMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

415.92 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

477.92 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

480.49 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

480.49 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

487.9 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$4.91 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$5.64 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$3.82 billion (2020 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

copper ore, gold, tobacco, liquors, iron alloys (2019)

Exports - partners

Russia 22%, Switzerland 20%, China 7%, Bulgaria 6%, Iraq 5%, Serbia 5%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

38.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

76.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-50.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

4.1% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.7% (2017 est.)

industry

28.2% (2017 est.)

services

54.8% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.694 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013

31.5 (2013 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

34.4 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.7% (2014)

lowest 10%

3.5%

Imports

Imports 2018

$6.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$7.47 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$5 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

natural gas, cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, diamonds (2019)

Imports - partners

Russia 29%, China 10%, Georgia 8%, Iran 6%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

5.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

brandy, mining, 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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0.9% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

2.5% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

1.4% (2019 est.)

Labor force

1.507 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

36.3%

industry

17%

services

46.7% (2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.4% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

51.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

53.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$37.53 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$40.38 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$37.31 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

3.3% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

0.3% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

7.5% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$12,700 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$13,700 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$12,600 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$2.204 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$2.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

18.8% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

18.9% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

22.1% (2020 est.)

male

25.4%

total

24%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.978 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

1.364 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

12,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

12,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

163 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

5,758,470,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

1.251 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

320 million kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.633 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

548 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

40.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

24.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

34.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

53.019 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2,537,497,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

2,514,220,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

10,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,145 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2020 est.)

total

430,407 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

Armenia’s government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near nationwide coverage; three Russian TV companies are broadcast in Armenia under interstate agreements; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in late 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.am

Internet users

percent of population

77% (July 2022 est.)

total

2,288,566 (July 2022 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

roughly 14 per 100 fixed-line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; reliable fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and in major cities and towns; mobile-cellular coverage available in most rural areas (2020)

general assessment

Armenia’s telecom sector was able to post in the mobile and broadband segments; its fixed-line penetration continues to slide downwards, with the rollout of fiber networks which have encouraged the increase in bundled services; the fixed broadband market remains undeveloped due to the lack of underlying infrastructure outside the main cities (2021)

international

country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic cable through Georgia and Iran to Europe; 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 (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

427,539 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

3,488,797 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

7 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2021)

over 3,047 m

2

total

10

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2021)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EK

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Pipelines

3,838 km gas (high and medium pressure) (2017)

Railways

broad gauge

780 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (780 km electrified)

note

note: 726 km operational

total

780 km (2014)

Roadways

non-urban

3,920 km

total

7,700 km (2019)

urban

3,780 km

Military - note

since November 2020, Russia has deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a cease-fire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; fighting erupted between the two countries over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September of 2020; Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces (the "Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army") backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994; six weeks of fighting resulted in about 6,500 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high into 2022, and both sides have accused the other of provocations since the fighting ended; Armenia has accused Azerbaijani forces of a series of border intrusions and of seizing pockets of territory Armenia has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force

Military and security forces

Armenian Armed Forces: Armenian Army (includes land, air, air defense forces) (2022)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 45,000 active troops (42,000 ground; 3,000 air/defense) (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of the Armenian Armed Forces includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2022)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

4.4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $1.43 billion)

Military Expenditures 2018

4.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately 1.6 billion)

Military Expenditures 2019

5.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $1.82 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

4.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 for voluntary/contract (men and women) or compulsory (men) military service; contract military service is 3-12 months or 3 or 5 years; conscripts serve 24 months; men under the age of 36, who have not previously served as contract servicemen and are registered in the reserve, as well as women, regardless of whether they are registered in the reserve can be enrolled in contractual military service; all citizens aged 27 to 50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared (2022)

note

note: as of 2021, conscripts comprised about half of the military's active personnel; as of 2018, women made up about 13% of the active duty military

Disputes - international

local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian bordersArmenia-Azerbaijan: 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.Armenia-Georgia: Georgians restrict Armenian access into Samtse-Javakheti ethnic Armenian areas. Armenia has made no claims to the region.Armenia-Iran: None identifiedArmenia-Turkey: 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, in part due to resistance from Azerbaijan. The border has been closed since 1993, and no diplomatic relations established after Armenian independence. In 2022, Turkey and Armenia have agreed to move forward with efforts to normalize relations.Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the ruins of Ani, an ancient city on the high ridge overlooking the Arpaçay valley on the opposite shore. 

Illicit drugs

a transit country for illicit drugs with its location between source countries Afghanistan and Iran and the markets of Europe and Russia

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

38,774 (Azerbaijan), 5,205 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (mid-year 2021)

stateless persons

892 (mid-year 2021)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.16 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

2.91 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

30.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Environment - current issues

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; deforestation; pollution of Hrazdan 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Land use

agricultural land

59.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 42% (2018 est.)

forest

9.1% (2018 est.)

other

31.2% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.28% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

7.77 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.127 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

122.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

616.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

63.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

492,800 tons (2014 est.)