Introduction
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. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with 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, ethnic 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 closed the common border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border, but Turkey has not yet ratified the Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries. In September 2013, President SARGSIAN announced Armenia would join Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Geography
Location
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan
Geographic coordinates
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 29,743 sq km
land: 28,203 sq km
water: 1,540 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries (km)
total: 1,570 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 996 km, Georgia 219 km, Iran 44 km, Turkey 311 km
Coastline (km)
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 (m)
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Land use (%)
arable land: 14.47%
permanent crops: 1.8%
other: 83.74% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
2,735 sq km (2006)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
7.77 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 2.86 cu km/yr (40%/6%/54%)
per capita: 929.7 cu m/yr (2010)
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, Environmental Modification, 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
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups (%)
Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.1%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)
Languages (%)
Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1% (2011 est.)
Religions (%)
Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.)
Population
3,060,631 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 312,955/female 272,065)
15-24 years: 15.2% (male 236,317/female 228,943)
25-54 years: 43.5% (male 638,141/female 693,397)
55-64 years: 11.7% (male 161,102/female 195,714)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 128,568/female 193,429) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 33.7 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 35.8 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
-0.13% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
13.92 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-5.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 64.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.34% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
YEREVAN (capital) 1.116 million (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
30 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 74.12 years
male: 70.9 years
female: 77.78 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
1.64 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
2.85 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.2% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 95.9% of population
rural: 80.9% of population
total: 90.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 4.1% of population
rural: 19.1% of population
total: 9.5% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
0.2% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
3,500 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
200 (2012 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
24% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
5.3% (2010)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
3.3% of GDP (2012)
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 14 years (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)
total: 39.2%
male: 35%
female: 45% (2011)
Government
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
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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 the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution
previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995; amended 2005 (2013)
Legal system
civil law system
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Hovik ABRAHAMYAN (since 13 April 2014)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February 2013 (next to be held February 2018); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Serzh SARGSIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN 58.6%, Raffi HOVHANNISIAN 36.7%, Hrant BAGRATIAN 2.2%, other 2.5%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPA 44%, Prosperous Armenia 30.1%, ANC 7.1%, Heritage Party 5.8%, ARF (Dashnak) 5.7%, Rule of Law 5.5%, other 1.8%; seats by party - RPA 69, Prosperous Armenia 37, ANC 7, Heritage Party 5, ARF (Dashnak) 5, Rule of Law 6, independent 2
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the court chairman and organized into a criminal chamber and a civil and administrative chamber, each with a court chairman and 2 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by National Assembly; judges of both courts can serve until retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: 2 Courts of Appeal (for civil cases and for criminal and military cases); district courts; Administrative Court
Political parties and leaders
Armenian National Congress or ANC (bloc of independent and opposition parties) [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]
Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]
Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]
Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISIAN]
People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN]
Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKIAN]
Republican Party of Armenia or RPA [Serzh SARGSIAN]
Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN]
Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation
ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN (since 26 May 2005)
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA), Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador John HEFFERN (since 6 October 2011)
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US 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; the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the workers who farm it
National symbol(s)
Mount Ararat; eagle; lion
National anthem
name: "Mer Hayrenik""(Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics
Economy
Economy - overview
After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009, despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly from Russia, led the downturn. The economy began to recover in 2010 with 2.1% growth, and has grown even faster in the three years since then. Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. Since August 2011, Armenia has experienced a sharp currency depreciation. Armenia has only two open trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, as a result of Armenia's ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support and most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005. Natural gas is primarily imported from Russia but construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas deliveries expanded after the April 2010 completion of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective and the economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the IMF, and other international financial institutions. Amendments to tax legislation, including the introduction of the first ever "luxury tax" in 2011, aim to increase the ratio of budget revenues to GDP, which still remains at low levels. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and to strengthen the rule of law in order to regain economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$20.61 billion (2013 est.)
$19.7 billion (2012 est.)
$18.38 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.44 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
4.6% (2013 est.)
7.2% (2012 est.)
4.7% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,300 (2013 est.)
$6,000 (2012 est.)
$5,600 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 37.3%
services: 42.1% (2013 est.)
Labor force
1.394 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 44.2%
industry: 16.8%
services: 39% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
17.3% (2012 est.)
18.4% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
35.8% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.4% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
30.9 (2008)
44.4 (1996)
Budget
revenues: $2.677 billion
expenditures: $2.707 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
25.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
37.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
41.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
6.2% (2013 est.)
2.6% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
$NA (11 January 2012)
7.25% (2 December 2008)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
16.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
17.23% (31 December 2012 est.)
note: average lending rate on loans up to one year
Stock of narrow money
$1.418 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.352 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$2.051 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.829 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$4.355 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$3.548 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$132.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$139.6 million (31 December 2011)
$144.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Agriculture - products
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries
diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing, brandy, mining
Industrial production growth rate (%)
3.9% (2013 est.)
Current account balance
-$720.6 million (2013 est.)
-$1.052 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$1.653 billion (2013 est.)
$1.588 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners (%)
Russia 19.6%, Germany 10.7%, Bulgaria 9.1%, Belgium 8.9%, Iran 6.9%, US 6.1%, Canada 6%, Georgia 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, Switzerland 5% (2012)
Imports
$3.459 billion (2013 est.)
$3.656 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners (%)
Russia 20%, Germany 11%, Bulgaria 9%, Belgium 9%, Iran 6.5%, US 6.1%, Canada 5.9%, Netherlands 5.6%, Georgia 5.6%, Switzerland 5.2% (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.863 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.799 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$7.839 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$7.633 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
drams (AMD) per US dollar -
410.5 (2013 est.)
401.76 (2012 est.)
373.66 (2010 est.)
363.28 (2009)
303.93 (2008)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
7.432 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
5.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
1.36 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
246 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
3.472 million kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
55.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
10.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
33.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
45,300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
32 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
46,550 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
2.1 billion cu m (2013 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
2.1 billion cu m (2013 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
11.74 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
584,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
3.223 million (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began operations in mid-2005
domestic: reliable modern fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant but ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural areas
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, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2008)
Broadcast media
2 public TV networks operating alongside more than 40 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near nationwide coverage; major Russian broadcast stations are widely available; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside about 20 privately owned radio stations; several major international broadcasters are available (2008)
Internet country code
.am
Internet hosts
194,142 (2012)
Internet users
208,200 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
11 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Pipelines (km)
gas 2,233 km (2013)
Railways (km)
total: 869 km
broad gauge: 869 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2009)
Roadways (km)
total: 7,705 km (2012)
Military
Military branches
Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense; "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self-Defense Force (NKSDF) (2011)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation; 17 year olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 805,847
females age 16-49: 854,296 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 644,372
females age 16-49: 717,272 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 23,470
female: 21,417 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures (% of GDP)
3.92% of GDP (2012)
3.87% of GDP (2011)
3.92% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability; residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan; Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley; in 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered; local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders; ethnic Armenian groups in the Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian Government
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 11,090 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (2013)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2009)
stateless persons: 35 (2012)
Illicit drugs
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
Largest cities of Armenia
These are the 50 largest cities of Armenia ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yerevan | 1,093,499 |
| 2 | Gyumri | 148,383 |
| 3 | Vanadzor | 101,099 |
| 4 | Vagharshapat | 49,514 |
| 5 | Hrazdan | 40,796 |
| 6 | Abovyan | 35,677 |
| 7 | Kapan | 33,161 |
| 8 | Gavar | 21,681 |
| 9 | Artashat | 20,562 |
| 10 | Goris | 20,379 |
| 11 | Masis | 18,911 |
| 12 | Ashtarak | 18,779 |
| 13 | Sevan | 17,083 |
| 14 | Sisian | 15,208 |
| 15 | Spitak | 15,063 |
| 16 | Ijevan | 14,737 |
| 17 | Dilijan | 13,480 |
| 18 | Alaverdi | 13,186 |
| 19 | Vedi | 12,192 |
| 20 | Vardenis | 11,382 |
| 21 | Martuni | 11,037 |
| 22 | Yeghvard | 10,705 |
| 23 | Metsamor | 8,789 |
| 24 | Berd | 8,374 |
| 25 | Vardenik | 7,709 |
| 26 | Akhuryan | 7,672 |
| 27 | Tashir | 7,318 |
| 28 | Byureghavan | 6,972 |
| 29 | Garni | 6,827 |
| 30 | Ararat | 6,554 |
| 31 | Sarukhan | 6,173 |
| 32 | Chambarak | 6,153 |
| 33 | Aparan | 5,670 |
| 34 | Noratus | 5,426 |
| 35 | Hoktember | 5,348 |
| 36 | Noyemberyan | 5,119 |
| 37 | Aragats | 5,092 |