| |
| |
 |
|
|
 |
National Map
Of |
Armenia |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Flag
Of |
Armenia |
|
|
Flag Description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Armenia |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Anthem
Of |
Armenia |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Categories National Symbol Of |
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. |
|
Location:
|
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
40 00 N,
45 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Asia |
|
Area:
|
total:
29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 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, alumina |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 17.55%
permanent crops: 2.3%
other: 80.15% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
2,870 sq
km (1998 est.) |
|
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,
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
|
|
Population:
|
2,982,904
(July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 938,734/female
1,074,240)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 131,519/female
193,744) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
30.07 years
male: 27.45 years
female: 32.84 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
-0.25%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
11.76
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
8.16
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-6.1
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at
birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 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 (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
23.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 71.55 years
male: 67.97 years
female: 75.75 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.32
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1%
(2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
2,600
(2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
less than
200 (2003 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
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:
|
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; amendments adopted
through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005 |
|
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
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; election last held 19 February and 5
March 2003 (next to be held NA 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 branch:
|
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin
Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-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)
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 BADALYAN]; 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, 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 GEGAMIAN, chairman];
People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic
Party [Aram SARKISYAN, chairman]; Republican Party or
RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur
BAGHDASARYAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights
[Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen
ARSENYAN] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
Yerkrapah
Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN] |
|
International organization participation:
|
ACCT
(observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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 John M. EVANS
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan,
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
|
|
Economy - overview:
|
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 (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 the local currency (the dram), 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 7.5%. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$15.27 billion (2005 est.) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
$3.426 billion (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
8% (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 24.9%
industry: 34.6%
services: 40.5% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
1.2 million (2004) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
30% (2003 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
43% (2003 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 46.2% (1999) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
37.9 (1998) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
2.4% (2005 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
23% of GDP (2005 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $786.1 million
expenditures: $930.7 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2005 est.) |
|
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:
|
15% (2002 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
4.954 billion kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
4.42 billion kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
650 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to
Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in
Azerbaijan (2003) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from
Iran (2003) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2003) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA (2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA (2001) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$-237.7 million (2005 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$800 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%,
US 8.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE
4% (2004) |
|
Imports:
|
$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran
7.1%, UAE 6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%,
Georgia 4.6%, France 4.5% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$625.6 million (2005 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$1.868 billion (31 December 2004) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
ODA $170 million (2000) |
|
Currency (code):
|
dram (AMD) |
|
Exchange rates:
|
drams per US dollar - 445 (2005), 533.45 (2004), 578.76
(2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
|
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 - 3 (2005) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 9, FM
6, shortwave 1 (1998) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
3 (plus
an unknown number of repeaters); (1998) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.am |
|
Internet hosts:
|
2,206
(2004) |
|
Internet users:
|
150,000
(2003) |
|
Airports:
|
16 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2005 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 1,871
km (2004) |
|
Railways:
|
total:
845 km
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km
electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2004) |
|
Roadways:
|
total:
7,633 km
paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of
expressways) (2003) |
|
Military branches:
|
Army, Air
Force, Air Defense Force |
|
Military service 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) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 722,836 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 551,938 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
31,774 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$135
million (FY01) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
6.5%
(FY01) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
Armenia
supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in
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 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 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
