Match 13 DB Rec# - 7,465 Dataset-WOFACT
Title :Armenia
Text :
Armenia
Geography
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Map references:
Commonwealth of Independent States - European 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, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 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
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
natural hazards:
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Desertification
Note:
landlocked
People
Population:
3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
31% (female 542,664; male 570,998)
15-64 years:
61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226)
65 years and over:
8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.94% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.36 years
male:
68.94 years
female:
75.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.06 children born/woman (1995 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 1994, most 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)
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
1.578 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35%
(1992)
Government
Names:
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
Digraph:
AM
Type:
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*
Independence:
28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet
Union)
National holiday:
Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution:
adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 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-PETROSYAN (since October 1991) election last
held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Levon Akopovich
TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich
TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August
1990 before becoming president
head of government:
Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy Prime
Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Government
Supreme Soviet:
elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5 July 1995); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 136, ANM 52,
DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12, NDU 9, Christian Democratic
Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, ONS 1, Republican Party 1,
Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National
Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized;
Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN,
chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens
Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben
MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman;
Union for Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman
Member of:
BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO,
IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN
chancery:
Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 628-5766
FAX:
[1] (202) 628-5769
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE
embassy:
18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661
FAX:
[7] (8852) 151-138
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
Economy
Overview:
Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a more
modern industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles,
and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw
materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large 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. In addition, bread is
strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the
economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase its
financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from around 40%
per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second half 1994 and the
first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery cannot be expected until the
conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate:
-2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,290 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
27% per month average (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed
(1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:
gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment
partners:
Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports:
$120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities:
grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
partners:
Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
4,620,000 kW
production:
5.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,620 kWh (1994)
Economy
Industries:
traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR)
metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%),
electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%),
shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals,
trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990); currently, much
of industry is shut down
Agriculture:
only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor force as residents
increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and
vegetable farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous
for brandy and other liqueurs
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a
transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from US and
EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits in late 1994 and
approved a 110 billion ruble credit almost half of which was to go toward
the restart of the Metsamor nuclear power plant
Currency:
1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
Exchange rates:
dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railroads:
total:
840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge:
840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:
total:
11,300 km
paved:
10,500 km
unpaved:
earth 800 km (1990)
Inland 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 2,438 m:
2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:
3
with unpaved runways under 914 m:
1
Communications
Telephone system:
about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000 persons; progress on
installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilities for mobile
cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for joint venture
agreement
local:
NA
intercity:
NA
international:
international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by
landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased
connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT
satellite link
Radio:
broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios:
NA
Television:
broadcast stations:
NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs
televisions:
NA
Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal
and border troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for military service 699,167; males reach
military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures:
250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the
military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
produce misleading results
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The World Factbook 1995,
SuDoc No: PREX 3.15:995
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