The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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 because of the Armenian separatists' 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; this process is currently dormant.
Geography ::Armenia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 29,743 sq km country comparison to the world: 142 land: 28,203 sq km
water: 1,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller 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)
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:
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
10.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)
per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)
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 ::Armenia
Population:
2,966,802 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Age structure:
0–14 years: 18.2% (male 289,119/female 252,150)
15–64 years: 71.1% (male 986,764/female 1,123,708)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 122,996/female 192,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 34.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.016% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Death rate:
8.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Net migration rate:
−4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Urbanization:
urban population: 64% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: −0.3% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.133 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 102 male: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.96 years country comparison to the world: 118 male: 69.33 years
female: 77.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)
Religions:
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages:
Armenian (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%