Armenia

• 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

• Armenian Highland with mountains;
• little forest land;
• fast flowing rivers;
• good soil in Aras River valley

agricultural land:

58.6% (2023 est.)

arable land:

15.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops:

2.2% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture:

41.5% (2023 est.)

forest:

11.8% (2023 est.)

other:

13.5% (2023 est.)

• most of the population is located in the northern half of the country;
• the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country

noun:

Armenian(s)

adjective:

Armenian

• Armenian Apostolic 95.2%, not stated 1.7%;
• less than 1%: Catholic, no religion, Evangelical, Shar-fadinian, other, Armenian Orthodox, Jehovah's Witness, Pagan, Molokan (2022 est.)

total:

39.5 years (2025 est.)

male:

37.6 years

female:

40.3 years

• most of the population is located in the northern half of the country;
• the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.71 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

10 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

76.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

73.4 years

female:

80.1 years

total:

3.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

2.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

21.5% (2025 est.)

male:

47.6% (2025 est.)

female:

1.6% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

0% (2016)

women married by age 18:

5.3% (2016)

men married by age 18:

0.4% (2016)

• soil pollution from toxic chemicals;
• deforestation;
• river pollution;
• threats to drinking water supplies from use of hydropower;
• nuclear power plant located in earthquake zone

agricultural land:

58.6% (2023 est.)

arable land:

15.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops:

2.2% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture:

41.5% (2023 est.)

forest:

11.8% (2023 est.)

other:

13.5% (2023 est.)

urban population:

63.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

492,800 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

13.5% (2022 est.)

municipal:

542 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial:

150 million cubic meters (2022)

agricultural:

2.38 billion cubic meters (2022)

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

etymology:

• the etymology of the country's name remains obscure;
• according to tradition, the local name for the country, Hayastan, comes from Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah;
• the name Armenia was first recorded in a rock inscription from A.D. 521 in modern-day Iran

name:

Yerevan

geographic coordinates:

40 10 N, 44 30 E

time difference:

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

name origin is unclear; it may derive from the name of a local ethnic group, or from the ancient fortress of Erebuni that was built on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C.

history:

previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995

amendment process:

• proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly;
• passage requires approval by the president, the National Assembly, and a referendum with at least 25% registered-voter participation and more than 50% of votes;
• constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

3 years

chief of state:

President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)

head of government:

Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

election/appointment process:

• president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds, if needed, for a single 7-year term;
• prime minister indirectly elected by majority vote in two rounds, if needed, by the National Assembly

most recent election date:

3 March 2022

election results:

2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (independent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0; 2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN (indpendent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10

expected date of next election:

2029

legislature name:

National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

107 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

6/20/2021

parties elected and seats per party:

• Civil Contract Party (71);
• Armenia Alliance (29);
• I Have the Honour Alliance (7)

percentage of women in chamber:

38.3%

expected date of next election:

June 2026

note 1: additional seats allocated as necessary; the numbers usually change with each parliamentary convocation

note 2: four mandates are reserved for national minorities; no more than 70% of the top membership of a party list can belong to the same sex; political parties must meet a 5% threshold and alliances a 7% threshold to win seats; at least three parties must be seated in the Parliament

highest court(s):

• Court of Cassation or Appeals Court (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges – with both civil and administrative specializations);
• Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office:

• Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars;
• judges appointed by the president;
• judges can serve until age 65;
• Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly;
• judges can serve until age 70

subordinate courts:

• criminal and civil appellate courts;
• administrative appellate court;
• first instance courts;
• specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts

• Armenia Alliance or HD
• Armenian National Congress or ANC
• Bright Armenia or BA
• Civil Contract or KP
• Hanrapetutyun Party or HP
• Heritage
• I Have Honor Alliance (formerly known as the Republican Party of Armenia) PUD
• Orinats Yerkir or OY
• Prosperous Armenia or PAP

chief of mission:

Ambassador Narek MKRTCHYAN (since 19 September 2025)

chancery:

2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 319-1976

FAX:

[1] (202) 319-2982

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://usa.mfa.am/en/

consulate(s) general:

Glendale (CA)

chief of mission:

Ambassador Kristina A. KVIEN (since 21 February 2023)

embassy:

1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082

mailing address:

7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020

telephone:

[374] (10) 464-700

FAX:

[374] (10) 464-742

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://am.usembassy.gov/

• 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union);
• notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty);
• 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established);
• 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)

description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

meaning:

red stands for the blood shed for liberty, blue for the Armenian skies and hope, and orange for the land and the courage of the workers who farm it

title:

"Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)

lyrics/music:

Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN

history:

adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (3 cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin;
• Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley;
• Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin

• upper-middle income, fast-growing Caucasus economy;
• stable fiscal and monetary regime but vulnerable to geopolitical shocks;
• economic and energy ties to Russia but seeking more EU and US trade;
• key copper and gold exporter;
• business-friendly and anti-corruption reforms;
• persistent unemployment;
• influx of migrants from Ukraine war easing

agriculture:

7.9% (2024 est.)

industry:

23.2% (2024 est.)

services:

61.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

26.2% (2024 est.)

male:

24.8% (2024 est.)

female:

27.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

4% (2023 est.)

highest 10%:

22.9% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

1 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

0.42GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

31.1% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down:

1 (2025)

production:

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

24 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

317 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports:

2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

• government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near-nationwide coverage;
• three Russian TV companies are broadcast under interstate agreements;
• subscription cable TV services are available in most regions;
• several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN;
• Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in 2016;
• Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations (2024)

• the military's inventory includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment;
• in recent years however, Armenia has looked to other countries besides Russia to provide military hardware, including France and India (2025)

refugees:

145,354 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

4 (2024 est.)

stateless persons:

373 (2024 est.)