About
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. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long
conflict with Muslim 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, 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 imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed
the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Yerevan
Languages: Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%,
Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Government: republic
Climate: highland continent_idal, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Geography: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)
Economy: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern
industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw
materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away
from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and
updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the
current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing
conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally
directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994,
however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in
positive growth rates in 1995-2005. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation,
stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate,
however, remains high, despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and
mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy
exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure
to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset
somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with
Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration
in 2005, but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. Investment in the construction and industrial
sectors is expected to continue in 2006 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP growth of about 7.5%.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,100
(2005 est.)
GDP real growth: 8%
(2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (2003 est.)
Internet country code: .am
Dial code: +374
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Local currency is the Armenian Dram
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