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Middle East :: Armenia

- ## Introduction :: ARMENIA

- 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 cease-fire 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.

- ## Geography :: ARMENIA

- Location:
  Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan
  Geographic coordinates:
  40 00 N, 45 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  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
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,570 km
  border countries (4): Azerbaijan 996 km, Georgia 219 km, Iran 44 km, Turkey 311 km
  Coastline:
  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:
  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:
  agricultural land: 59.7%
  arable land 15.8%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 42%
  forest: 9.1%
  other: 31.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  2,735 sq km (2006)
  Total renewable water resources:
  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 :: ARMENIA

- 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:
  3,056,382 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19.05% (male 310,893/female 271,479)
  15-24 years: 14.42% (male 225,029/female 215,700)
  25-54 years: 43.47% (male 638,983/female 689,519)
  55-64 years: 12.35% (male 171,584/female 205,751)
  65 years and over: 10.71% (male 130,804/female 196,640) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 41.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 26%
  elderly dependency ratio: 15.3%
  potential support ratio: 6.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 34.2 years
  male: 32.3 years
  female: 36.1 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.15% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Birth rate:
  13.61 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Death rate:
  9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Net migration rate:
  -5.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 62.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  YEREVAN (capital) 1,044 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 13.51 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.37 years
  male: 71.13 years
  female: 78.03 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Total fertility rate:
  1.64 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  54.9% (2010)
  Health expenditures:
  4.5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Physicians density:
  2.7 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  3.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 96.2% of population
  rural: 78.2% of population
  total: 89.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 3.8% of population
  rural: 21.8% of population
  total: 10.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.22% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  4,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  19.9% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  5.3% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Education expenditures:
  2.3% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.7%
  male: 99.7%
  female: 99.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 14 years (2009)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 19,596
  percentage: 4%
  note: data represents children ages 7-17 (2007 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 39.2%
  male: 35%
  female: 45% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13

- ## Government :: ARMENIA

- 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/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two 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 one round; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN (RPA) 58.6%, Raffi HOVHANNISIAN (Heritage Party) 36.7%, Hrant BAGRATIAN (ANM) 2.2%, other 2.5%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; 90 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 41 directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-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 Tigran SARGSIAN (since 14 July 2014)
  chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
  FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
  consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA)
  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
  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 colors: red, blue, orange
  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 :: ARMENIA

- 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 agroindustrial 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'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. 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, including electricity and natural gas. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 20% of GDP and partly offset the country's severe trade imbalance. Armenia joined Russia in the Eurasian Economic Union upon the bloc’s launch in January 2015, even though the ruble’s sharp depreciation in December 2014 led to currency instability, inflation, and significant decrease of export from Armenia to Russia. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective. 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):
  $24.28 billion (2014 est.)
  $23.48 billion (2013 est.)
  $22.68 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 136
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $10.88 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.4% (2014 est.)
  3.5% (2013 est.)
  7.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $7,400 (2014 est.)
  $7,100 (2013 est.)
  $6,900 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Gross national saving:
  13% of GDP (2014 est.)
  13.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  12.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 87.7%
  government consumption: 14.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 20.5%
  investment in inventories: -3.3%
  exports of goods and services: 27.2%
  imports of goods and services: -46.9%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 21.9%
  industry: 31.5%
  services: 46.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
  Industries:
  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, brandy, mining
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Labor force:
  1.489 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 39%
  industry: 17%
  services: 44% (2011 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  17.6% (2014 est.)
  16.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Population below poverty line:
  32% (2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.7%
  highest 10%: 24.8% (2012)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  30.3 (2012)
  31.3 (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Budget:
  revenues: $2.825 billion
  expenditures: $3.01 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  25.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Public debt:
  42.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  43.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (2014 est.)
  5.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Central bank discount rate:
  10.5% (10 February 2015)
  8% (11 January 2012)
  note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  16.21% (31 December 2014 est.)
  15.04% (31 December 2013 est.)
  note: average lending rate on loans up to one year
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.424 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $4.655 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $4.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Current account balance:
  -$949 million (2014 est.)
  -$839.2 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Exports:
  $1.519 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.635 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Exports - commodities:
  pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, gold, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
  Exports - partners:
  Russia 20.3%, China 11.3%, Germany 10.4%, Canada 6.1%, US 5.8%, Bulgaria 5.6%, Iran 5.6%, Georgia 5.5%, Iraq 5.3%, Netherlands 4.9%, Belgium 4.1% (2014)
  Imports:
  $4.402 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.386 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Imports - commodities:
  natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, cars
  Imports - partners:
  Russia 24.9%, China 9.5%, Germany 6.4%, Turkey 5.3%, Iran 4.7%, Ukraine 4.6%, Italy 4.1% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $1.489 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.251 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Debt - external:
  $8.452 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.694 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $4.817 billion (2013)
  Exchange rates:
  drams (AMD) per US dollar -
  415.9 (2014 est.)
  409.6 (2013 est.)
  401.76 (2012 est.)
  372.5 (2011 est.)
  373.66 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ARMENIA

- Electricity - production:
  7.622 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Electricity - consumption:
  5.043 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Electricity - exports:
  1.36 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - imports:
  17 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  4.021 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  32.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  34.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  33.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  52,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  32 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  46,550 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Natural gas - consumption:
  2.01 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Natural gas - imports:
  2.061 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  12.12 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98

- ## Communications :: ARMENIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 560,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 3.5 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  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; 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 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; 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 (2015)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)
  Television broadcast stations:
  48 (private television stations alongside 2 public networks; major Russian channels widely available) (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .am
  Internet users:
  total: 1.3 million
  percent of population: 43.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117

- ## Transportation :: ARMENIA

- 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 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 2,233 km (2013)
  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: 96
  Roadways:
  total: 7,792 km (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 143

- ## Military :: ARMENIA

- 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:
  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:
  4.1% of GDP (2013)
  3.92% of GDP (2012)
  3.87% of GDP (2011)
  3.92% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 10

- ## Transnational Issues :: ARMENIA

- 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): 14,994 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (2014)
  IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2014)
  stateless persons: 206 (2014)
  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

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