Armenia

Broadcast media

2 public TV networks operating alongside about 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; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in late 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 21 privately owned radio stations; several major international broadcasters are available (2017)

Internet country code

.am

Internet users

total: 1,891,775 | percent of population: 62.0% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

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general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services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 and third provider began operations in 2005 and 2009 respectively | domestic: reliable modern fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and in major cities and towns; mobile-cellular coverage available in most 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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 531,624 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 3,434,567 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Agriculture - products

fruit (especially grapes and apricots), vegetables; livestock

Budget

revenues: $2.476 billion | expenditures: $3.046 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (14 December 2016) | 10.5% (10 February 2015) | note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank | country comparison to the world: 61

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.36% (31 December 2016 est.) | 17.59% (31 December 2015 est.) | note: average lending rate on loans up to one year | country comparison to the world: 24

Current account balance

$-238 million (2016 est.) | $-279.2 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Debt - external

$8.987 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $8.925 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.5 (2014) | 31.5 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Economy - overview

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 agro industrial complexes of the Soviet era. 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 joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been largely ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and strengthen the rule of law in order to raise its economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from Turkey and Azerbaijan. | Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to deteriorations in the global commodity markets and the economic challenges in Russia. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support, as most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 7-8% of GDP. Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, but has expressed interest in expanding its economic ties with the European Union as well, and in March 2017 an EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement was initiated. Armenia’s rising government debt is leading Yerevan to tighten its fiscal policies – the debt almost reached the debt to GDP threshold set by national legislation as of March 2017.

Exchange rates

drams (AMD) per US dollar - | 492.7 (2016 est.) | 477.92 (2015 est.) | 477.92 (2014 est.) | 415.92 (2013 est.) | 401.76 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.891 billion (2016 est.) | $1.624 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Exports - commodities

unwrought copper, pig iron, nonferrous metals, gold, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, brandy, cigarettes, energy

Exports - partners

Russia 21%, Bulgaria 8.7%, Georgia 8.1%, Canada 7.9%, Germany 7.9%, Iraq 7.8%, China 5.7%, Iran 4.2%, Switzerland 4.2% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.57 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.83 billion (2016 est.) | $25.46 billion (2015 est.) | $24.39 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 138

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 76.5% | government consumption: 13.9% | investment in fixed capital: 17.8% | investment in inventories: 1.4% | exports of goods and services: 33.1% | imports of goods and services: -42.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 17.8% | industry: 27.5% | services: 54.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,600 (2016 est.) | $8,600 (2015 est.) | $8,400 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 145

GDP - real growth rate

0.2% (2016 est.) | 3.3% (2015 est.) | 3.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Gross national saving

17% of GDP (2016 est.) | 18.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | 13.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% | highest 10%: 25.7% (2014)

Imports

$2.835 billion (2016 est.) | $2.81 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Imports - commodities

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, cars

Imports - partners

Russia 30.7%, China 11%, Iran 5.1%, Turkey 5%, Germany 5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.4% (2016 est.) | 3.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force

1.514 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 36.3% | industry: 17% | services: 46.7% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$132.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) | $139.6 million (31 December 2011 est.) | $144.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Population below poverty line

32% (2013 est.)

Public debt

56.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 48.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.204 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.775 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Stock of broad money

$2.219 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.779 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$228 million (2015 est.) | $215 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.169 billion (2015 est.) | $4.087 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Stock of domestic credit

$5.689 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.022 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Stock of narrow money

$1.355 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.149 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Taxes and other revenues

23.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Unemployment rate

18.8% (2016 est.) | 18.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

12 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - consumption

5.331 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - exports

1.424 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - from fossil fuels

58.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

9.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - imports

174 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.068 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - production

7.393 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

2.73 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - imports

2.05 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,736 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Area

total: 29,743 sq km | land: 28,203 sq km | water: 1,540 sq km | country comparison to the world: 143

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

mean elevation: 1,792 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Debed River 400 m | highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Environment - current issues

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; deforestation; 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

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

Irrigated land

2,740 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 1,570 km | border countries (4): Azerbaijan 996 km, Georgia 219 km, Iran 44 km, Turkey 311 km

Land use

agricultural land: 59.7% | arable land 15.8%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 42% | forest: 9.1% | other: 31.2% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Capital

name: Yerevan | geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E | time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Constitution

history: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995 | amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, by the National Assembly, and by a referendum with at least 25% registered voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable; amended 2005, 2007, 2008, last in 2015 | note: a 2015 amendment, approved in December 2015 by a public referendum and effective for the 2017-18 electoral cycle, changes the government type from the current semi-presidential system to a parliamentary system (2017)

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 | etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the country is named after Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; Hayk's descendant, Aram, purportedly is the source of the name Armenia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILLS (since 13 February 2015) | 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Grigor HOVHANNISSIAN (since 28 January 2016) | chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 | FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 | consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) | head of government: Prime Minister Karen KARAPETYAN (since 13 September 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2018); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority support in the National Congress; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Congress refuses to accept their program | election results: Serzh SARGSIAN reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN (RPA) 58.6%, Raffi HOVHANNISIAN (Heritage Party) 36.7%, Hrant BAGRATIAN (ANM) 2.2%, other 2.5% | note: constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 will transform the government to a parliamentary system by 2018; for the scheduled February 2018 election, the president will be indirectly elected by parliament and will serve a single 7-year term; following the 2018 election, the prime minister will be elected based on majority support of the National Assembly

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAEU, 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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the court chairman and organized into the criminal chamber and a civil and administrative chamber, each with a chamber 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

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (minimum 101 seats, currently 105; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 2 April 2017 (next to be held in spring of 2022) | election results: percent of vote by party - RPA 49.2%, Tsarukyan Alliance 27.4%, Yelk (Way Out) 7.8%, ARF (Dashnak) 6.6%, other 9%; seats by party - RPA 58, Tsarukyan Alliance 31, Yelk (Way Out) 9, ARF (Dashnak) 7

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

National symbol(s)

Mount Ararat, eagle, lion; national colors: red, blue, orange

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 or ARF ("Dashnak" Party) [Hrant MARKARIAN] | Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISIAN] | People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN] | Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKYAN] | Republican Party of Armenia or RPA [Serzh SARGSIAN] | Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN] | Tsarukyan Alliance [Gagik TSARUKYAN] | Yelk (Way Out) Alliance [Edmon Marukyan]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN] | Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, the Ottoman Empire 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 trilateral cease-fire between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding regions - approximately 14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory. 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 January 2015, Armenia joined Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Military branches

Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense; "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self-Defense Force (NKSDF) (2011)

Military expenditures

4.09% of GDP (2016) | 4.25% of GDP (2015) | 3.94% of GDP (2014) | 4% of GDP (2013) | 3.58% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 10

Military service age and obligation

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.94% (male 306,322/female 270,388) | 15-24 years: 12.89% (male 203,358/female 189,092) | 25-54 years: 43.43% (male 640,881/female 681,784) | 55-64 years: 13.41% (male 187,178/female 221,071) | 65 years and over: 11.33% (male 138,458/female 206,659) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

12.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.6% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 89

Contraceptive prevalence rate

57.1% (2015/16)

Death rate

9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 44.4 | youth dependency ratio: 28.7 | elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 | potential support ratio: 6.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 132

Ethnic groups

Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.1%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<200 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,300 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 155

Hospital bed density

3.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Languages

Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.9 years | male: 71.6 years | female: 78.5 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.7% | male: 99.7% | female: 99.6% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

YEREVAN (capital) 1,044 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Median age

total: 35.1 years | male: 33.3 years | female: 36.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.4 years (2015/16 est.)

Nationality

noun: Armenian(s) | adjective: Armenian

Net migration rate

-5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 103

Physicians density

2.8 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

3,045,191 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.21% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Religions

Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.2% of population | rural: 78.2% of population | total: 89.5% of population | urban: 3.8% of population | rural: 21.8% of population | total: 10.5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years | male: 13 years | female: 13 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.14 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 32.5% | male: 28.6% | female: 37.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Urbanization

urban population: 62.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 14,626 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (2016) | IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2016) | stateless persons: 512 (2016)

Airports

11 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 154

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EK (2016)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 (2015)

Pipelines

gas (high and medium pressure) 3,838 km (2017)

Railways

total: 780 km | broad gauge: 780 km 1.520-m gauge (780 km electrified) | note: 726 km operational (2014) | country comparison to the world: 97

Roadways

total: 7,792 km (2013) | country comparison to the world: 142