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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

2 public TV networks operating alongside more than 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 about 20 privately-owned radio stations; several major international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.am

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

194,142 (2012) country comparison to the world: 73

Internet users [time series]

208,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 138

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

577,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 92

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.211 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 123

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.2 billion expenditures: $2.507 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Central bank discount rate [time series]

8% (11 January 2012) country comparison to the world: 38 7.25% (2 December 2008) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy instrument of the Armenian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

18.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 17.76% (31 December 2011 est.) note: average lending rate on loans up to one year

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.163 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -$1.12 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$6.435 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $6.417 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

30.9 (2008) country comparison to the world: 111 44.4 (1996)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009, despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly from Russia, led the downturn. The economy began to recover in 2010 with 2.1% growth, and picked up to 4.6% growth in 2011, before slowing to 3.8% in 2012. 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. Since August 2011, Armenia experienced a sharp 15 percent currency depreciation and an increase in the unemployment rate. 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 has only two open trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1994 as a result of Armenia's ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. 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. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005. Natural gas is primarily imported from Russia but construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas deliveries expanded after the April 2010 completion of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective and the economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the IMF, and other international financial institutions. Amendments to tax legislation, including the introduction of the first ever "luxury tax" in 2011, aim to increase the ratio of budget revenues to GDP, which still remains at low levels. 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

drams (AMD) per US dollar - 404.8 (2012 est.) 372.5 (2011 est.) 373.66 (2010 est.) 363.28 (2009) 303.93 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$1.495 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $1.518 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 16.7%, Germany 11.8%, Bulgaria 11.4%, Netherlands 8.8%, Iran 8%, US 7.5%, Spain 6.2%, Belgium 5.3%, Canada 5.3%, Georgia 4.6% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$10.55 billion (2012 est.)

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

$18.95 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $18.26 billion (2011 est.) $17.46 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 19.2% industry: 40.8% services: 40% (2012 est.)

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

$5,600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $5,500 (2011 est.) $5,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

3.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 4.6% (2011 est.) 2.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 25.4% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$3.269 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $3.614 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 20.1%, China 8.2%, Ukraine 6.9%, Iran 6.5%, Germany 5.9%, Italy 4.7%, Turkey 4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

14.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 7.7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

37.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Labor force [time series]

1.194 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 44.2% industry: 16.8% services: 39% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$43.52 million (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 117 $27.99 million (31 December 2010) $140.5 million (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

35.8% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

42.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 41.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.016 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $1.932 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$3.555 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $4.261 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$2.807 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $3.364 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.249 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.341 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Unemployment rate [time series]

7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 5.9% (2011 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

11.56 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.8 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.36 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

53.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

34.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

11.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - imports [time series]

291 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

3.173 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - production [time series]

7.432 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.077 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.077 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

45,300 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

9,698 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%) per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

2,740 sq km (2003)

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: 16.78% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.21% (2005)

Location [time series]

Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan

Map references [time series]

Middle East

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, bauxite

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

10.5 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John HEFFERN 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 February 2008 (next to be held 18 February 2013); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%, other 8.9%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

National symbol(s) [time series]

Mount Ararat; eagle; lion

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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, Ottoman Turkey 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 a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. 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 1994 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 the rapprochement effort faltered.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 805,847 females age 16-49: 854,296 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 644,372 females age 16-49: 717,272 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 23,470 female: 21,417 (2010 est.)

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

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

Military expenditures [time series]

2.8% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 50

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 275,915/ female 239,873) 15-64 years: 72.7% (male 1,014,321/ female 1,146,333) 65 years and over: 9.9% (male 109,360/ female 184,693) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

4.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 92

Death rate [time series]

8.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 133

Ethnic groups [time series]

Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

4.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 144

Hospital bed density [time series]

4.07 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 18.21 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 100 male: 22.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

Armenian (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.49 years country comparison to the world: 118 male: 69.85 years female: 77.56 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.4% (2010 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

YEREVAN (capital) 1.11 million (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 123

Median age [time series]

total: 32.6 years male: 29.9 years female: 35.4 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.697 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

2,970,495 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Population growth rate [time series]

0.107% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Religions [time series]

Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 95% of population rural: 80% of population total: 90% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population rural: 20% of population total: 10% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2009)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.38 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 57.6% country comparison to the world: 1 male: 47.2% female: 69.4% (2007)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 64% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2009)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

11 (2012) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 2,233 km (2010)

Railways [time series]

total: 869 km country comparison to the world: 96 broad gauge: 869 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2009)

Roadways [time series]

total: 7,705 km (2012) country comparison to the world: 144