Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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An Armenian Apostolic Christian country, Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR 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, 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.
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Location:
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Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
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Geographic coordinates:
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40 00 N, 45 00 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 29,800 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
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Terrain:
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Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
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Natural resources:
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small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
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Land use:
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arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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2,870 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan and disagreements with Turkey, has 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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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Geography - note:
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landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
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Population:
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3,330,099
note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in October 2001, but official figures have not yet been released (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 22.2% (male 374,597; female 363,115)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,104,100; female 1,150,282)
65 years and over: 10.1% (male 141,330; female 196,675) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.15% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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12 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.94 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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41.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 66.59 years
female: 71.12 years (2002 est.)
male: 62.27 years
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Total fertility rate:
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1.53 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.01% (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 500 (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (1999 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
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Ethnic groups:
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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
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Religions:
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Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist) 2%
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Languages:
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Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Yerevan
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Administrative divisions:
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11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
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Independence:
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21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
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Constitution:
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adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Unity Bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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Agro-Technical People's Group (formerly Stability Group) [Hmayk HOVHANISSIAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenia Democratic Party [Armen SARGSIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman]; Constitutional Rights Union [Hrant KHACHATRYAN]; Democratic Liberal Party/Ramkvar Azatakyan or DL/RA [Ruben MIRZAKHANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; National Accord Front [Ashot MANUTCHARIAN]; National Democratic Alliance [Arshak ZADOYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Alex ARZOUMANYAN]; People's Democratic Party [Gagik ASLANYAN]; People's Deputies Group [Hovhannes HOVHANISSIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARGSIAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Shogher MATEVOSIAN]; Social Democratic (Hunchak) Party [Yeghia SHAMSHAYN]; Social Democratic Union (formerly National Self-Determination Union) [Paruyr HAYRIKIAN]; Twenty-first Century Party [David SHAKHNAZARIAN]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's Party of Armenia); Yerkrapah Union [Manval GRIGORYAN]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAY
embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 543-900
FAX: [374](1) 520-800, 542-152
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
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Economy - overview:
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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 agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. 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 1995-2001. 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. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, domestic restructuring of the economy, and foreign direct investment.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $11.2 billion (2001 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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9.6% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,350 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 29%
industry: 32%
services: 39% (2000 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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55% (2001 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.2% (1996)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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44.4 (1996)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.1% (2000 est.)
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Labor force:
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1.4 million (2001)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 44%, services 14%, industry 42% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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20%
note: official rate is 10.9% for 2000 (2001 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $358 million
expenditures: $458 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
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Industries:
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metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, gem cutting, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.8% (2001)
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Electricity - production:
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5.69 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 36.34%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 32.34%
hydro: 31.32%
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.89 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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704 million kWh
note: exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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300 million kWh
note: imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
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Exports:
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$338.5 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, brandy, copper ore
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Exports - partners:
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Belgium 23%, Russia 15%, US 13%, Iran 10% (2000)
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Imports:
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$868.6 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 15%, US 12%, Belgium 10%, Iran 9% (2000)
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Debt - external:
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$839 million (June 2001)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$245.5 million (1995)
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Currency:
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dram (AMD)
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Currency code:
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AMD
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Exchange rates:
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drams per US dollar - 564.08 (January 2002), 555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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