Armenia

Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

republicIndependence 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic)

Armenia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 87 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

Position40 00 N, 45 00 E

Area29,800 sq km land area: 28,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

LocationSouthwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Populationas each edition published it

3.46 million July 1996 est. · 3.42m in 1992

Population growth% a year

0.02% 1996 est. · 1.23% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 32.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.06 years 1996 est. · 71.77 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.06 children per woman 1996 est. · 2.7 in 1992

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

38.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 35 in 1992

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,560 1995 est. · $2,040 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

5.2% 1995 est. · -34% in 1993

Communications

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force

9 fields

Fixed lines

2.7 million

(1983 est.)

Telephone system

12,000 public telephones;
extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones;
despite extensive use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force

Manpower availability

males age 15-49: 8,707,014 males fit for military service: 7,063,304 males reach military age (20) annually: 310,107 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1995)

Geography

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

15 fields

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Irrigated land

3,050sq km

(1990)

Area

total area: 29,800 sq km land area: 28,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger 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

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 lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60%

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;
restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems 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

3,463,574

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.02% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

16.27Death

7.73Net migration

-8.3

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1989 est.) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98%

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 497,461; female 476,649) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,085,935; female 1,132,282) 65 years and over: 8% (male 111,661; female 159,586) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.06 years male: 64.44 years female: 73.92 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia

Government

Republic; President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSSIAN (since NA October 1991) was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before being elected president by popular vote

21 fields

Legislature, 190 seatsone dot, one seat

Republican Bloc (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6, Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic Party 2, independents 78) 159SWM 8ACP 7NDU 5NSDU 3DLP 1ARF 1other 4vacant 2

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

Data code

Type of government

republic

Capital

Yerevan

Administrative divisions

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* note: with the adoption of the new constitution of 5 July 1995, the country was divided into 10 provinces plus the capital: Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Gugark, Kotayk, Shirak, Syunk, Uak, Vayots Dzor, and the capital city of Yerevan

Independence

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

National holiday

Referendum Day, 21 September

Constitution

adopted by nationwide referendum 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-PETROSSIAN (since NA October 1991) was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before being elected president by popular vote;
election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA September 1996);
results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSSIAN 86%, radical nationalists 7% (est.) head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993) was appointed by the president;
First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Assembly

elections last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (190 total) Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6, Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF 1, other 4, vacant 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Republic Bloc (Hanrapetoutioun)

Armenian National Movement (ANM), Husik LAZARIAN, chairman;
Democratic Liberal Party (split away from the opposition party);
Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDIAN, chairman;
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Azat ARSHAKIAN, chairman;
Intellectual Armenia, H. TOKMAJIAN;
Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party, Yeghia NAJARIAN opposition parties: Shamiram Women's Movement (SWM), Nadezhda SARKISIAN;
Armenian Communist Party (ACP), Sergey BADALYAN;
National Democratic Union (NDU), Davit VARDANIAN and Vasken MANUKIAN;
Union of National Self-Determination (NSDU), Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman;
Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), Rouben MIRZAKHANIAN, chairman;
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Rouben HAKOBIAN, chairman

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN chancery: 11th floor, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766

FAX

[1] (202) 628-5769 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TOMSEN embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3742) 151-144, 524-661

FAX

[7] (3742) 151-138

Flag

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

Economy

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,560

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

5.2%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 2.4% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

32.2%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

officially registered unemployed, but large numbers of underemployed (December 1995)

Economic overview

Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine building tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia is a 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. Nevertheless, the economy appears to have bottomed out due largely to the government's strong reform program.

GDP grew by about 5% in 1995. Inflation fell from an average 40% per month in early 1994 to an average 2.4% per month in 1995. A full economic recovery, however, cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.1 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: 57% industry: 36% services: 7% (1993 est.)

Labor force

1.012 million by occupation: industry and construction 46%, agriculture 2%, transportation and communication 7%, other 45% (1992)

Budget

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

Industries

much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics

Electricity

capacity: 4,620,000 kW production: 5.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)

Agriculture

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables;
vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs;
minor livestock sector

Illicit drugs

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

Exports

$248 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia