Armenia
Country Guide

Explore Armenia

Armenia with its capital Yerevan is located in Asia (Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically). It covers some 29,744 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Maryland) with a population of 3,045,190. Armenian is the official language spoken by people in Armenia. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey are bordering countries.

Armenia (Armenian: Hayastan) is the only country remaining from 3,000 year old maps of Anatolia. It became the world’s first Christian country 1,707 years ago in 301 AD, and has a large Diaspora all over the world. As a former Soviet republic lying in the Caucasus region, straddling Asia and Europe, Armenia has an ancient and rich culture. Armenia is very easy to experience, thanks to very hospitable people. The many mountains and mountain valleys create a great number of micro climates, with scenery changing from arid to lush forest at the top of a mountain ridge.

Popular Destinations in Armenia

Administrative regions of Armenia

• Aragatsotni Marz
• Ararati Marz
• Armaviri Marz
• Geghark'unik'i Marz
• Kotayk'i Marz
• Lorru Marz
• Shiraki Marz
• Syunik'i Marz
• Tavushi Marz
• Vayots' Dzor
• Yerevan

About the country

The topography is Armenian Highland with mountains with little forest land, fast flowing rivers as well as good soil in Aras River valley. The average density of population is about 102 per km². The climate in Armenia can be described as highland continental, hot summers, cold winters. Potential natural disasters are droughts occasionally severe earthquakes

To reach someone Armenia dial +374 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".am". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Dram is AMD.

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.

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, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 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 trilateral cease-fire between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding regions - approximately 14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory. 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 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over 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, but Turkey has not yet ratified the Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries. In January 2015, Armenia joined Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 143)	29,743	sq km
Land (World Rank: 140)	28,203	sq km
Water (World Rank: 98)	1,540	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 31)	42.00	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Maryland
Landborder
1570
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 9)	400	m
Highest point (World Rank: 43)	4,090	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 45)	59.70	%
Arable (World Rank: 75)	15.80	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 95)	1.90	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 31)	42.00	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 72)	2,740	sq km
Map reference
Asia
Environment
Issues	- a result of its use as a source for hydropower - deforestation - pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers - restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone - soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT - the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) - threatens drinking water supplies
Agreement party	- Air Pollution - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Agreement signed	Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Hazzards	- droughts - occasionally severe earthquakes
Location
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Climate
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 137)	3,045,190
Deathrate (World Rank: 57)	0.94	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 151)	1.29	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 205)	-0.21	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 159)	-0.57	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 174)	1.64	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 83)	33.30
Female (World Rank: 70)	36.90
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 143)	306,322
0 14 female (World Rank: 143)	270,388
15 24 male (World Rank: 144)	203,358
15 24 female (World Rank: 144)	189,092
25 54 male (World Rank: 136)	640,881
25 54 female (World Rank: 132)	681,784
55 64 male (World Rank: 121)	187,178
55 64 female (World Rank: 119)	221,071
65 x male (World Rank: 121)	138,458
65 x female (World Rank: 115)	206,659
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 111)	1.27	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 115)	75	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 98)	79	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 123)	72	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 47)	2.80
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 52)	3.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 101)	89.50	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 104)	20.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 40)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 111)	7,393,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 118)	5,331,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 49)	1,424,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 93)	174,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 134)	58.80	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 117)	9.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 159)	0.10	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 159)	8,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 146)	7,736	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 78)	2,730,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 53)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
12000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 146)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 14)	4	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 156)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 154)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
Mount Ararat
National colours
red
Adjective
Armenian
Noun
Armenian(s)
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, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 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 trilateral cease-fire between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding regions - approximately 14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory. 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 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over 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, but Turkey has not yet ratified the Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries. In January 2015, Armenia joined Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 138)	25,830,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 185)	0.20	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 141)	8,600	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 56)	17.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 98)	27.50	%
Source service (World Rank: 153)	54.70	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 130)	1,514,000
In poverty (World Rank: 53)	32.00	%
Products
Industries	- brandy - chemicals - diamond processing - electric motors - food processing - forging - hosiery - instruments - jewelry - knitted wear - metal-cutting machine tools - microelectronics - mining - pressing machines - shoes - silk fabric - software - trucks
Agriculture	- apricots - fruit - grapes - livestock - vegetables
Exports	- brandy - cigarettes - diamonds - energy - foodstuffs - gold - mineral products - nonferrous metals - pig iron - unwrought copper
Imports	- cars - diamonds - foodstuffs - natural gas - petroleum - pharmaceuticals - tobacco products

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 91)	531,624
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 102)	17.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 95)	113.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 115)	1,891,780
Population (World Rank: 89)	62.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 118)	10.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 184)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 98)	780
Road
Total length (World Rank: 142)	7,792

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