Armenia

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 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, ethnic 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 closed the common border with Armenia in 1994 because of the Armenian separatists’ control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border

this process is currently dormant.

Geography

Location

Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 29,743 sq km
country comparison to the world: 143 land:28,203 sq km
water:1,540 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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point:Aragats Lerrnagagat’ 4,090 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops:2.01%
other:81.21% (2005)

Irrigated land

2,740 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

10.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.95cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)
per capita:977cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

occasionally severe earthquakes

droughts

Environment – current issues

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT

the energy crisis of the 1990s 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

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography – note

landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains

Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Armenian(s)
adjective:Armenian

Ethnic groups

Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

Languages

Armenian (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Religions

Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Population

2,967,975 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 279,304/female 242,621)
15-64 years:72.4% (male 1,006,312/female 1,141,430)
65 years and over:10.1% (male 112,947/female 185,361) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 32.2 years
male:29.5 years
female:35 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.063% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Birth rate

12.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Death rate

8.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Net migration rate

-3.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Urbanization

urban population: 64% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

YEREVAN (capital) 1.11 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.124 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.62 male(s)/female
total population:0.89 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 114

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 101 male:23.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female:13.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.23 years
country comparison to the world: 119 male:69.59 years
female:77.31 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.37 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Health expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144

Physicians density

3.697 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 21

Hospital bed density

4.07 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 47

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 93% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 7% of population
total: 4% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 80% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 20% of population
total: 10% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 92

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 133

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.4%
male:99.7%
female:99.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 57.6%
country comparison to the world: 1 male:47.2%
female:69.4% (2007)

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 type

republic

Capital

name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates:40 10 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 divisions

11 provinces (marzer, singular – marz)

Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark’unik’, Kotayk’, Lorri, Shirak, Syunik’, Tavush, Vayots’ Dzor, Yerevan

Independence

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
head of government:Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 19 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)

prime minister appointed by the president based on majority or plurality support in parliament

the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results:Serzh SARGSIAN elected president

percent of vote – Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%, other 8.9%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats

members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote

to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – HHK 33.9%, Prosperous Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party 6%, other 24.7%

seats by party – HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF (Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court

Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Political parties and leaders

Armenian National Congress or ANC (bloc of independent and opposition parties) [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]

Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (“Dashnak” Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]

Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISIAN]

People’s Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN]

Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKIAN]

Republican Party of Armenia or HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]

Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN]

Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

International organization participation

ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery:2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 319-1976
FAX:[1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
embassy:1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
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 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

National symbol(s)

Mount Ararat

eagle

lion

National anthem

name: “Mer Hayrenik”"(Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music:Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
note:adopted 1991

based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics

Economy

Economy – overview

After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009, despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines in the construction sector and workers’ remittances, particularly from Russia, were the main reasons for the downturn. The economy began to recover in 2010 with nearly 5% growth. 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 agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia had made progress in implementing some economic reforms, including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies, but geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made Armenia particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s and Armenia’s borders with Turkey remain closed. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support and most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia’s RAO-UES in 2005. Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas deliveries are slated to expand due to the April 2010 completion of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Armenia has some mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals are Armenia’s highest valued exports. Armenia’s severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective and the current economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the IMF, and other international financial institutions. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to regain economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$16.86 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $16.43 billion (2009 est.)
$19.14 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.389 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 -14.2% (2009 est.)
6.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$5,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 $5,500 (2009 est.)
$6,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 17.4%
industry:37%
services:45.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.481 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 46.2%
industry:15.6%
services:38.2% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Population below poverty line

26.5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%:25.4% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

30.9 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 112 44.4 (1996)

Investment (gross fixed)

33.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Budget

revenues: $2.023 billion
expenditures:$2.486 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192 3.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45 7.25% (2 December 2008)
note:this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19.2% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 18.763% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.201 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 $1.029 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.708 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 $3.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.485 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 $1.666 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$27.99 million (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 116 $140.5 million (31 December 2009)
$176 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables

livestock

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 production growth rate

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity – production

5.863 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity – consumption

4.986 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Electricity – exports

360 million kWh

note – exports an unknown quantity to Georgia

includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

17 million kWh

note – imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Oil – consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Oil – imports

46,680 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas – consumption

1.86 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas – imports

1.86 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Current account balance

-$1.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146 -$1.326 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.113 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151 $722.3 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports – partners

Russia 15.9%, Bulgaria 15.5%, Germany 13.1%, Netherlands 9.8%, US 8.2%, Belgium 7.2%, Iran 5.2%, Georgia 5% (2010)

Imports

$3.255 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136 $2.817 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports – partners

Russia 22.1%, China 10.7%, Ukraine 6.1%, Iran 5.7%, Germany 5.6%, Turkey 5.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.866 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 $2.004 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$6.965 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 101 $5.227 billion (30 June 2010)

Exchange rates

drams (AMD) per US dollar -
374.29 (2010)
363.28 (2009)
303.93 (2008)
344.06 (2007)
414.69 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

11 (2010)
country comparison to the world:154

Airports – with paved runways

total: 10
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:2 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 2,233 km (2010)

Railways

total: 869 km
country comparison to the world: 96 broad gauge:869 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified)
note:some lines are out of service (2010)

Roadways

total: 8,888 km
country comparison to the world: 139 paved:7,079 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways)
unpaved:1,809 km (2008)

Military

Military branches

Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense

“Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”: Nagorno-Karabakh Self-Defense Force (NKSDF) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service

2-year conscript service obligation (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 805,847
females age 16-49:854,296 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 644,372
females age 16-49:717,272 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 23,470
female:21,417 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley

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

local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders

ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian Government

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs:8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)

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