View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1998 CSV Excel Print All Years

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs; minor livestock sector

Budget [time series]

revenues: $322 million expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$820 million (of which $75 million to Russia) (1997 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: commitments (excluding Russia), $1,385 million ($675 million in disbursements) (1992-95)

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 area. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but ahead of most of the rest of the CIS. Armenia is a food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the embargoes imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-97. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years has been partially offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor, which in 1996 supplied about 40% of the country's energy needs, according to the Armenian Government. Moreover, Armenia is expanding its energy imports from Iran.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

2.768 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

1,570 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

6.3 billion kWh (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

dram per US$1-499.89 (November 1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994), 9.11 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $290 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$9.5 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 38% industry: 32% services: 30% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$2,750 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $727 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.7% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

13.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 1.6 million (1997) by occupation: manufacturing, mining, and construction 25%, agriculture 38%, services 37%

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 3, shortwave NA (1991)

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

joint venture agreement to install fiber-optic cable and construct facilities for cellular telephone service is in the implementation 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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

650,000

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 note: 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs

Televisions [time series]

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.6% officially registered unemployed, but large numbers of underemployed (June 1997)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 29,800 sq km land: 28,400 sq km water: 1,400 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has 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 without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

2,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 15% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 provinces (marzer, singular-marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular - k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan*

Constitution [time series]

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TOMSEN embassy: 18 General Baghramian Avenue, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [374] (2) 524-661, 521-611

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben SHUGARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Armen DARBINYAN (since 10 April 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next election to be held March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote-Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[374] (2) 151-550, 151-511

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Yerevan

National holiday [time series]

Referendum Day, 21 September

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Armenian National Movement or ANM [Vano SIRADEGIAN, chairman]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; Intellectual Armenia [H. TOKMAJIAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Yeghia NACHARIAN]; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Maria NERSISSIAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Sergey BADALYAN]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Orthosis GYONJIAN, chairman]; Republican Party [Andranik MARKARYAN]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

33.3 billion drams (1998); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using prevailing exchange rates could produce misleading results

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 914,134 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 726,938 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 31,814 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26% (male 460,191; female 441,906) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,092,652; female 1,139,916) 65 years and over: 9% (male 119,464; female 167,646) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.52 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.82 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

40.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.73 years male: 62.45 years female: 71.23 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

3,421,775 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.36% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Armenian Orthodox 94%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.69 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and the US ARUBA (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

11 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,580 km paved: 8,580 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 900 km (1991)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Waterways [time series]

NA km