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| Introduction | Armenia |
| 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. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR 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. |
| People | Armenia |
| Population: | 2,991,360 note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in October 2001 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 22.7% (male 357,094; female 323,396) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 929,719; female 1,065,505) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 128,027; female 187,619) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 29.7 years male: 27.1 years female: 32.4 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.32% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 11.43 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.18 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 29.32 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.23 years male: 67.73 years female: 75.36 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.31 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 2,600 (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than less than 200 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian |
| Ethnic groups: | Armenian 93%, Azeri 1%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia |
| Religions: | Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist) 2% |
| Languages: | Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99.4% female: 98% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Armenia |
| Country name: | 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 |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | Yerevan |
| Administrative divisions: | 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan |
| Independence: | 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 21 September (1991) |
| Constitution: | adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995 |
| Legal system: | based on civil law system |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | 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; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president; 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 branch: | unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote) elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007) note: 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 party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the People's Party); National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN] |
| International organization participation: | BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSSIAN consulate(s) general: Los Angeles FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador John M. EVANS embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019 mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661, 527-001, 524-840 FAX: [374](1) 520-800 |
| Flag description: | three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange |
| Communications | Armenia |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 562,600 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 114,400 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% 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 - 1 Intelsat (2000) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Radios: | 850,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998) |
| Televisions: | 825,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .am |
| Internet hosts: | 2,206 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 9 (2001) |
| Internet users: | 150,000 (2003) |
| Transportation | Armenia |
| Railways: | total: 845 km broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 15,918 km paved: 15,329 km (includes 7,527 km of expressways) unpaved: 589 km (2000) |
| Pipelines: | gas 1,871 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | none |
| Airports: | 17 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Armenia |
| Military branches: | Army, Air Force and Air Defense Force |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 812,140 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 649,568 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 31,926 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $135 million (FY01) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 6.5% (FY01) |
| Transnational Issues | Armenia |
| Disputes - international: | Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and militarily occupies 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the new Georgian Government |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 236,306 (Azerbaijan) IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004) |
| Illicit drugs: | illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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