The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Armenia

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Armenia

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Map

Location: 40 00 N, 45 00 E -- Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

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

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Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
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
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
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%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
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
Geographic note: landlocked

People

Population: 3,463,574 (July 1996 est.)
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.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.27 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
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
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98%

Government

Name of country:
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: AM
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
Political parties and leaders:
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

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 real growth rate: 5.2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,560 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 57%
industry: 36%
services: 7% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32.2% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.012 million
by occupation: industry and construction 46%, agriculture 2%, transportation and communication 7%, other 45% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 8% officially registered unemployed, but large numbers of underemployed (December 1995)
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
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)
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
Imports: $661 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
External debt: $850 million (of which $75 million to Russia) (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $30 million (1993)
note: commitments (excluding Russia), $1,385 million ($675 million in disbursements) (1992-95)
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 401.8 (end December 1995), 406 (end December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation

Railways:
total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways:
total: 11,300 km
paved: 10,500 km (including graveled)
unpaved: 800 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 650,000
Telephone system: joint venture agreement to install fiber-optic cable and construct facilities for cellular telephone service remains in the negotiation phase
domestic: NA
international: international connections to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 3, shortwave NA (1991)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
note: 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs
Televisions: NA

Defense

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 901,974
males fit for military service: 719,212
males reach military age (18) annually: 29,988 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $75 million, NA% of GDP (1992)

Armenia

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).