{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
Armenia prides itself on being the first state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, but it was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia, was initially incorporated into the USSR as part of the Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic; in 1936, the republic was separated into its three constituent entities, which were maintained until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
For over three decades, Armenia had a longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which historically had a mixed Armenian and Azerbaijani population, although ethnic Armenians have constituted the majority since the late 19th century. In 1921, Moscow placed Nagorno-Karabakh within Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a second military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020; Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had previously captured, returning the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territories around it to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh; after an armed conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the first period of conflict with Armenia and has since maintained a closed border, leaving Armenia with closed borders both in the west (with Turkey) and east (with Azerbaijan). Armenia and Turkey engaged in intensive diplomacy to normalize relations and open the border in 2009, but the signed agreement was not ratified in either country. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU.
In 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power, prompting protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution.” After SARGSIAN resigned, the National Assembly elected the leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, as the new prime minister. PASHINYAN’s party has prevailed in subsequent legislative elections, most recently in 2021.
" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "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" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "40 00 N, 45 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Asia" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "29,743 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "28,203 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "1,540 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly smaller than Maryland" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "1,570 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Azerbaijan 996 km; Georgia 219 km; Iran 44 km; Turkey 311 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "0 km (landlocked)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "highland continental, hot summers, cold winters" }, "Terrain": { "text": "Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Debed River 400 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "1,792 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "58.6% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 15.7% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "11.8% (2023 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "13.5% (2023 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "1,559 sq km (2022)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km" } }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "2,963,837 (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "1,451,842" }, "female": { "text": "1,511,995" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Armenian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Armenian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi 1.1%; less than 1%: Russian, other, Assyrian, Kurd, Ukrainian, Greek (2022 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Armenian 97.2%, Russian 1.4%, Ezidian 1.0%; less than 1%: other, unknown (2022)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
" }, "mailing address": { "text": "7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020" }, "telephone": { "text": "[374] (10) 464-700" }, "FAX": { "text": "[374] (10) 464-742" }, "email address and website": { "text": "acsyerevan@state.govupper-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
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024": { "text": "$60.909 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$57.516 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$53.108 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2024": { "text": "5.9% (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "8.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "12.6% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2024": { "text": "$20,100 (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$19,400 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$17,900 (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$25.787 billion (2024 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { "text": "0.3% (2024 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "2% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "8.6% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "7.9% (2024 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "23.2% (2024 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "61.5% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "66.5% (2024 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "10.7% (2024 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "21.7% (2024 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.5% (2024 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "76.3% (2024 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-75.8% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, apricots, apples, barley (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "brandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "6.2% (2024 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "1.51 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "13.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "13.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "13.4% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "26.2% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "24.8% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "27.9% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "24.8% (2022 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023": { "text": "27.2 (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "4% (2023 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "22.9% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2024": { "text": "4.6% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Remittances 2023": { "text": "6% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$5.812 billion (2023 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$6.27 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2023": { "text": "48.3% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "22.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2024": { "text": "-$997.086 million (2024 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$556.329 million (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$64.725 million (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2024": { "text": "$18.618 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Exports 2023": { "text": "$14.338 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$10.118 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Russia 37%, UAE 25%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5%, Georgia 4% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, diamonds, copper ore, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2024": { "text": "$19.087 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Imports 2023": { "text": "$14.532 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$10.265 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Russia 29%, China 12%, Vietnam 6%, Georgia 5%, Iran 4% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, gold, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": { "text": "$3.685 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$3.607 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$4.112 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$6.002 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "drams (AMD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "392.73 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "392.476 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "435.666 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "503.77 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "489.009 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "4.265 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "7.012 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "1.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "194.045 million kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "530.327 million kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "43% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "19% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Nuclear energy": { "Number of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "1 (2025)" }, "Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "0.42GW (2025 est.)" }, "Percent of total electricity production": { "text": "31.1% (2023 est.)" }, "Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down": { "text": "1 (2025)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "300 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "24 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "317 million metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "consumption": { "text": "2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "54.689 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "297,000 (2024 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "10 (2024 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "4.01 million (2024 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "135 (2024 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".am" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "80% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "546,000 (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "19 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "EK" }, "Airports": { "text": "11 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "686 km (2017)" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Armenian Republic Armed Forces: Armenian Army (includes land, air, air defense forces) (2025)", "note": "note: the Police of the Republic of Armenia is responsible for internal security, while the National Security Service is responsible for national security, intelligence activities, and border control" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { "text": "5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "4.4% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "5% of GDP (2020 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 40-50,000 active Armenian Armed Forces (2025)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "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)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-27 for voluntary (men and women), contract (men and women) or compulsory (men) military service; contract military service is 3-12 months or up to 5 years; conscripts serve 24 months; all citizens aged 27-50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared (2025)", "note": "note: in 2023, Armenia approved six-month voluntary service for women, after which they have the option to switch to a five-year contract; previously, women served on a contract basis; as of 2021, women made up about 10% of the active-duty military" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Armenian Armed Forces were officially established in 1992, although their origins go back to 1918; the modern military’s missions include deterrence, territorial defense, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, as well as socio-economic development projects; territorial defense is its primary focus, particularly in regards to tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023