Armenia

Republic of ArmeniaHayastani Hanrapetut'yun

republicIndependence 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic)

Armenia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalYerevan

Area29,800 sq km

LocationSouthwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Populationas each edition published it

3.56 million July 1995 est. · 3.42m in 1992

Population growth% a year

0.94% 1995 est. · 1.23% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.36 years 1995 est. · 71.77 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.06 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.7 in 1992

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

26 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 35 in 1992

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,290 1994 est. · $2,040 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

-2% 1994 est. · -34% in 1993

Geography

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

14 fields

Land useshare of 29,800 sq km

arable land 17%permanent crops 3%meadows and pastures 20%forest and woodland 0%other 60%irrigated 3,050 sq km (1990)

Area

29,800sq km

land area: 28,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

1,254km

total · Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States - European States

International disputes

supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government;
traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood;
pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers;
the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies
natural hazards:: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

People

15 fields

Population

3,557,284

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.94% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

22.79Death

6.66Net migration

-6.68

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years72.36

68.94 · 75.95

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy99%

99% · 98%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1989)

Ethnic divisions(1989)

Armenian 93%Azeri 3%Russian 2%other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia

Labor force

1.578million

by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998)
15-64 years:: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226)
65 years and over:: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Armenian(s)
adjective:: Armenian

Government

Republic; President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October 1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

86%

Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%radical nationalists about 7%

Legislature, 260 seatsone dot, one seat

non-aligned 136ANM 52DPA 17Democratic Liberal Party 17ARF 12NDU 9Christian Democratic Party 1Constitutional Rights Union 1ONS 1Republican Party 1

Names

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

37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan) and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, Akhuryani Shrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan, Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*, Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan, Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*, Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan, Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan, Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, Kapani Shrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, Masisi Shrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan, Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan, Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan, Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'i Shrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*

Independence

28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday

Referendum Day, 21 September

Constitution

adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 5 July 1995

Legal system

based on civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October 1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%;
radical nationalists about 7%;
note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president
head of government:: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

Supreme Soviet

elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5 July 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (260 total) non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12, NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman;
National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman;
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun);
note - banned until reorganized;
Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman;
Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman;
Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman;
Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman;
Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman;
Union for Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman

Member of

BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN
chancery:: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 628-5766

FAX

[1] (202) 628-5769

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE
embassy:: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
mailing address:: use embassy street address
telephone:: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661

FAX

[7] (8852) 151-138

Flag

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

Economy

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,290

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

-2%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

27%per month average

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.5%

of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 4,620,000 kW

Electricity production

5.7 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,620 (1994)

Overview

Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small.

The economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of the Karabakh Armenians.

This has left Armenia with chronic energy shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods.

In 1994, the economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports

$43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment
partners:: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia

Imports

$120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
partners:: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU

External debt

$NA

Industries

traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990);
currently, much of industry is shut down

Agriculture

only 17% of land area is arable;
employs 31% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture;
fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock sector;
vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs

Illicit drugs

illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid

recipient:: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from US and EU;
Russia granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble credit almost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamor nuclear power plant

Currency

1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)

Exchange rates

dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 11 in all

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

11,300Railroads

840

Highways: paved: 10,500 km · unpaved: earth 800 km (1990) · Railroads: ; does not include industrial lines · broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Railroads

total:: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge:: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Highways

total:: 11,300 km
paved:: 10,500 km
unpaved:: earth 800 km (1990)

Inland waterways

NA km

Pipelines

natural gas 900 km (1991)

Ports

none

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

about 650,000 telephones;
177 telephones/1,000 persons;
progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement

local:: NA
intercity:: NA
international:: international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security | Forces (internal and border troops)

3 fields

Defense expenditures

250million rubles

NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results ARUBA (part of the Dutch realm)

Branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 877,414;
males fit for military service 699,167;
males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Armenia.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/armenia/1995.

How to cite ← 1994 edition 1996 edition →