from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Armenia
Introduction
Background: Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to
formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century).
Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia
came under the sway of various empires including the
Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman
Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement
coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an
estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area
of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828;
this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian
leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with
Muslim 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.
Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and
closed the common border because of the Armenian
occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic 40 00 N, 45 00 E
coordinates:
Map Asia
references:
Area: total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Maryland
comparative:
Land total: 1,254 km
boundaries: 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 none (landlocked)
claims:
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation lowest point: Debed River 400 m
extremes: highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,
resources: alumina
Land use: arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
Irrigated 2,860 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
hazards:
Environment - soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the
current energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when
issues: 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 - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
agreements: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants
Geography - landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana
note: Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain
range
People
Population: 2,976,372 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 30.4 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)
Population -0.19% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 12.07 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 71.84 years
expectancy at male: 68.25 years
birth: female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.33 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2,600 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other
0.3% (2001 census)
Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages: Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4%
(2001 census)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 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
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn,
divisions: Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak,
Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Independence: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
holiday:
Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995;
amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27
November 2005
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30
branch: March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN
(since 12 May 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime
minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held
in 2008); prime minister appointed by the president and
confirmed with the majority support of the National
Assembly; the prime minister and Council of Ministers
must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept
their program
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president;
percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan
DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Legislative unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin
branch: Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms; 90 members elected by party
list, 41 by direct vote)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in
the spring of 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Republican
Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF
(Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United
Labor Party 5.7%; seats by faction - Republican Party
39, Rule of Law 20, Justice Bloc 14, ARF (Dashnak) 11,
National Unity 7, United Labor 6, People's Deputy Group
16, independent (not in faction or group) 18; note - as
of 10 March 2006; voting blocs in the legislature are
more properly termed factions and can be composed of
members of several parties; seats by faction change
frequently as deputies switch parties or announce
themselves independent
Judicial Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals
branch: Court)
Political Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALYAN]; Armenia
parties and Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement
leaders: or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar
Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN,
chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak"
Party) or ARF [Levon MKRTCHYAN]; Democratic Party [Aram
SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic
Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic
Union, the People's Party, and the Republic Party)
[Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party
[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU
[Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert
BAZEYAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN,
chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan
DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN, chairman];
Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARGARYAN]; Rule of
Law Party [Samvel BALASANYAN]; Union of Constitutional
Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen
ARSENYAN]
Political Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO,
organization IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
participation: IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
representation chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
representation d'Affaires Anthony F. GODFREY
from the US: embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US
Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC
20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742
Flag three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and
description: orange
Economy
Economy - Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia
overview: 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 (copper, 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 liberalization program that
resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2005. Armenia
joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has
managed to slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and
privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high,
despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy
shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s
have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its
nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net
energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient
generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under
international pressure to close. The electricity
distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's
severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by
international aid, remittances from Armenians working
abroad, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties
with Russia remain close, especially in the energy
sector. The government made some improvements in tax
and customs administration in 2005, but anti-corruption
measures will be more difficult to implement.
Investment in the construction and industrial sectors
is expected to continue in 2006 and will help to ensure
annual average real GDP growth of about 13.9%.
GDP $14.45 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $4.868 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 13.9% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $4,800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 23.9%
composition by industry: 34.3%
sector: services: 41.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.2 million (2005)
Labor force - agriculture: 45%
by occupation: industry: 25%
services: 30% (2002 est.)
Unemployment 31.6% (2004 est.)
rate:
Population 43% (2003 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 1.6%
income or highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 41.3 (2004)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 0.6% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 21.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $786.1 million
expenditures: $930.7 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
products:
Industries: diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools,
forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires,
knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals,
trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing,
brandy
Industrial 7.5% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 6.317 billion kWh (2005)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 42.3%
production by hydro: 27%
source: nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 4.374 billion kWh (2005)
consumption:
Electricity - 650 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to
exports: Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in
Azerbaijan (2003)
Electricity - 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity
imports: from Iran (2003)
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2005)
production:
Oil - 40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 1.685 billion cu m (2005 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 1.685 billion cu m (2005 est.)
imports:
Current $-118 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $800 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
commodities:
Exports - Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia
partners: 12.2%, Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8% (2005)
Imports: $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs,
commodities: diamonds
Imports - Russia 13.5%, Belgium 8%, Germany 7.9%, Ukraine 7%,
partners: Turkmenistan 6.3%, US 6.2%, Israel 5.8%, Iran 5%,
Romania 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of $754.9 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.819 billion (20 September 2005)
external:
Economic aid - ODA, $254 million (2004)
recipient:
Currency dram (AMD)
(code):
Currency code: AMD
Exchange drams per US dollar - 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004),
rates: 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 582,500 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 320,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: system inadequate; now 90%
system: privately owned and undergoing modernization and
expansion
domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most
modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging
and mobile cellular service)
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 and through the Moscow international switch and
by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth
stations - 3 (2005)
Radio AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 850,000 (1997)
Television 3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters) (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 825,000 (1997)
Internet .am
country code:
Internet 8,163 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 9 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 150,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 13 (2006)
Airports - total: 11
with paved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 2
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 2,002 km (2006)
Railways: total: 845 km
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2005)
Roadways: total: 7,633 km
paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways)
(2003)
Military
Military Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self
branches: Defense Force (NKSDF), Air Force, Air Defense Force
(2006)
Military 18 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service,
service age conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of
and age for voluntary military service (2004)
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 722,836
available for females age 18-49: 795,084 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 551,938
for military females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 31,774
reaching females age 18-49: 31,182 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $135 million (FY01)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 6.5% (FY01)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in
international: Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has
militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues
to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic
Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and
Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven
from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan
seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to
Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed
over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups
in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy;
tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate, primarily to
Russia, to seek employment
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 235,101 (Azerbaijan)
internally IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over
displaced Nagorno-Karabakh) (2005)
persons:
Trafficking in current situation: Armenia is a major source and, to a
persons: lesser extent, a transit and destination country for
women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation
largely to the UAE and Turkey; traffickers, many of
them women, route victims directly into Dubai or
through Moscow; profits derived from the trafficking of
Armenian victims reportedly increased dramatically from
2005
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia has failed to
show evidence of increasing efforts, particularly in
the areas of enforcement, trafficking-related
corruption, and victim protection; the government
increased implementation of its anti-trafficking law,
but failed to impose significant penalties for
convicted traffickers and failed to vigorously
investigate and prosecute ongoing and widespread
allegations of public officials' complicity in
trafficking; victim protection efforts remain in early,
formative stages and a lack of sensitivity for victims
remains a problem, particularly in the judiciary
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