Country Profile: Armenia

Armenia, known for being the first nation to adopt Christianity in the early 4th century, is a landlocked country located in Southwestern Asia, bordered by Turkey and Azerbaijan. With a population of approximately 2.96 million, Armenia's society is predominantly Armenian, with a rich cultural heritage influenced by its historical ties to various empires and recent geopolitical challenges. The economy is classified as upper-middle income and is primarily driven by mining, agricultural exports, and burgeoning energy sectors. Governed as a parliamentary democracy, Armenia has experienced significant political changes in recent years, notably following the Velvet Revolution of 2018.

Geography

Armenia is situated in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and is bordered by Turkey to the west and Azerbaijan to the east. The country has a total area of 29,743 sq km, making it slightly smaller than Maryland. Being landlocked, Armenia has no coastline, and its terrain is characterized by mountains and highland continental climate, featuring hot summers and cold winters. The country is prone to natural hazards such as severe earthquakes and droughts.

58.6% of land used for agriculture (2023 est.)
4,090 m is the highest point, Aragats Lerrnagagat'
1,540 sq km of water bodies, predominantly Lake Sevan
11.8% of the area is covered by forest (2023 est.)

People and Society

As of 2025, Armenia's population is estimated at 2,963,837, comprised mostly of ethnic Armenians (98.1%). The country has a high literacy rate of 99.8% and a life expectancy of 76.7 years. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the dominant religion, with about 95.2% of the population adhering to it. Armenia's demographic trends indicate a slight decline in population, characterized by a negative growth rate of -0.45%.

63.7% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
The median age is 39.5 years (2025 est.)
10.24 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.)
13.4% unemployment (2024 est.)

Economy

Armenia's economy is classified as upper-middle income, characterized by a stable fiscal environment but vulnerable to geopolitical impacts. In 2024, the GDP (PPP) is projected at $60.909 billion, with a growth rate of 5.9%. The economy heavily relies on mining and agriculture, with key exports including copper and gold. Despite ongoing reforms to enhance the business environment, unemployment remains a noted challenge, particularly among youth.

$25.787 billion GDP (official exchange rate, 2024 est.)
24.8% of the population is below the poverty line (2022 est.)
76.3% of GDP comes from household consumption (2024 est.)
5.5% military expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2024 est.)

Government

Armenia is a parliamentary democracy with a system that evolved following constitutional changes in 2015. The current President is Vahagn Khachatryan, and the Prime Minister is Nikol Pashinyan, both pivotal figures in Armenia's recent history. Legislative power lies with the National Assembly, which consists of 107 directly elected members. The country maintains various diplomatic relationships, including memberships in international organizations such as the UN and the CSTO.

Independence declared on 21 September 1991
The official language is Armenian, with Russian also spoken
11 provinces (marzer) form the administrative divisions
The most recent legislative elections were held in June 2021

Military and Security

The Armenian Republic Armed Forces serve as the country's military, focusing on territorial defense, particularly concerning ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan. Armenia allocates 5.5% of its GDP to military expenditures and has a current strength of approximately 40-50,000 active personnel. The military's inventory predominantly comprises Russian and Soviet-era equipment, with efforts to diversify sources in recent years.

Military service is compulsory for men aged 18-27
31.1% of total electricity production comes from nuclear energy (2023 est.)
Armenia has been part of the CSTO since 1994
The military was officially established in 1992

Energy

Armenia's energy sector is evolving, providing 100% electricity access to the population as of 2022. The country utilizes a mix of energy sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy. In 2023, electricity consumption reached 7.012 billion kWh, with notable contributions from both nuclear and hydroelectric sources.

4.265 million kW is Armenia's installed electricity generation capacity (2023 est.)
2.631 billion cubic meters of natural gas consumed (2023 est.)
54.689 million Btu/person is the total energy consumption per capita (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues facing Armenia include soil pollution, deforestation, and challenges related to water resources, particularly in light of hydropower use. The country participates in several international environmental agreements but faces significant challenges related to pollution, including river and drinking water contamination.

58.6% of land is used for agriculture, with only 11.8% forest cover (2023 est.)
7.769 billion cubic meters of renewable water resources are available (2022 est.)
492,800 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)

Transportation

Armenia's transportation infrastructure includes 11 airports and a railway network. The country is taking steps to enhance connectivity while maintaining civil aircraft registration under the prefix EK.

686 km of railways as of 2017
1 heliport operational (2025)
Airports serve both domestic and international traffic

Communications

With 80% of the population using the internet and mobile cellular subscriptions surpassing 4 million, Armenia's communications sector has expanded significantly. The country has transitioned to digital broadcasting and continues to improve its telecommunication infrastructure.

297,000 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2024 est.)
546,000 broadband subscriptions, equating to 19 per 100 inhabitants (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,963,837	Estimate for 2025
Area	29,743 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$60.909 billion	Projected for 2024
Energy Consumption	54.689 million Btu/person	Consumption per capita (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	10.24 births/1,000 population	2025 est.
Unemployment Rate	13.4%	Estimate for 2024
Life Expectancy	76.7 years	Estimate for 2024
Literacy Rate	99.8%	Estimate for 2023
Urban Population	63.7%	Of total population (2023)
Military Expenditure	5.5%	As a percentage of GDP (2024 est.)