Introduction

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National Anthem: (click here to play)

Background: Armenia was one of the 15 successor republics to the USSR in December 1991. Its leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. 

In January 1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head. With the prime minister, defense minister, and security minister arrayed against him, TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the presidency on 3 February 1998. Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN was elected president in March 1998.

Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E 

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area: total: 29,800 sq km land: 28,400 sq km water: 1,400 sq km 

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland 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 Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) 

Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley (current weather) 

Elevation extremes: 

• lowest point: Debed River 400 m 
• highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m 

Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 15% other: 41% (1993 est.) 

Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.) 

Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts 

Geography-note: landlocked. .

People

Population: 3,409,234 (July 1999 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 442,117; female 425,561) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,100,334; female 1,148,595) 65 years and over: 9% (male 122,170; female 170,457) (1999 est.) 

Population growth rate: -0.38% (1999 est.) 

Birth rate: 13.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.) Death rate: 9.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.) 

Net migration rate: -8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) 

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 41.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.56 years male: 62.21 years female: 71.13 years (1999 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)

 Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94% Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Government

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 

Data code: AM Government type: republic 

Capital: Yerevan 

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular-marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular-k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan* 

Independence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) 

National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September 

Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995 

Legal system: based on civil law system 

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 

Executive branch: see http://www.gov.am/

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold

Economy

Economy-overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. 

Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agro industrial complexes of the Soviet area. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration.

Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-98. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. The Russian financial crisis generated concerns about Armenia's economic performance in 1998. Although inflation dropped to 10% and GDP grew about 6%, the industrial sector remained moribund.

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,700 (1998 est.) GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (1998 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.6 million (1997) Labor force-by occupation: manufacturing, mining, and construction 25%, agriculture 38%, services 37%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $322 million expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1998 est.)

Industries: much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity-production: 7.6 billion kWh (1996) Electricity-production by source: fossil fuel: 46.05% hydro: 26.32% nuclear: 27.63% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity-consumption: 7.6 billion kWh (1996) Electricity-exports: 0 kWh (1996) Electricity-imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture-products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports-commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal

Exports-partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.) Imports-commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy Imports-partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU Debt-external: $820 million (of which $75 million to Russia) (1997 est.) Economic aid-recipient: $245.5 million (1995) Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma

Exchange rates: dram per US$1-529 (April 2000), 535.62 (January 1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 730,000 (1998 est.) Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications oversees the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; the national operator is Armentel; the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will provide a $60 million eight-year loan; Armenia has about 4,000 Internet users on one satellite channel domestic: local-350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan; a fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's customers; GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging; intercity-the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000 numbers mostly governmental international: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; 1 INTELSAT earth station Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, programs are received by relay from Russia; 100% of the population receive Armenian and Russian TV programs) (1997) Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992) Highways: total: 8,580 km paved: 8,580 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.) Waterways: NA km Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991) Ports and harbors: none Airports: 11 (1996 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 922,124 (1999 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males age 15-49: 732,495 (1999 est.) Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 32,052 (1999 est.) Military expenditures-dollar figure: $72.1 million (1999) Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 4% (1999)

Tourist Information

Armenia Area Codes
Airlines Flying to and from Yerevan
Hotels in Armenia
Ground Transportation to and from Yerevan
Internet Access, Hosting, Domain Rates
Map of Armenia
Zvartnots Airport Plan