Introduction
Background
Armenia prides itself on being the first state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, but it was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia, was initially incorporated into the USSR as part of the Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic; in 1936, the republic was separated into its three constituent entities, which were maintained until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
For over three decades, Armenia had a longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which historically had a mixed Armenian and Azerbaijani population, although ethnic Armenians have constituted the majority since the late 19th century. In 1921, Moscow placed Nagorno-Karabakh within Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a second military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020; Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had previously captured, returning the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territories around it to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh; after an armed conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the first period of conflict with Armenia and has since maintained a closed border, leaving Armenia with closed borders both in the west (with Turkey) and east (with Azerbaijan). Armenia and Turkey engaged in intensive diplomacy to normalize relations and open the border in 2009, but the signed agreement was not ratified in either country. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU.
In 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power, prompting protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution.” After SARGSIAN resigned, the National Assembly elected the leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, as the new prime minister. PASHINYAN’s party has prevailed in subsequent legislative elections, most recently in 2021.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Geographic coordinates
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references
Asia
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
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
mean elevation: 1,792 m
Natural resources
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Land use
agricultural land: 58.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 15.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.5% (2022 est.)
other: 29.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
1,559 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km
Population distribution
most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country
Natural hazards
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Geography - note
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
People and Society
Population
total: 2,976,765 (2024 est.)
male: 1,456,415
female: 1,520,350
comparison rankings: total 139; male 139; female 138
Nationality
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups
Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi 1.1%, other 0.8% (2022 est.)
Languages
Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1.1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Armenian Apostolic Christian 95.2%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.9%, none 0.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2022 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 275,589/female 250,630)
15-64 years: 67% (male 991,490/female 1,004,101)
65 years and over: 15.3% (2024 est.) (male 189,336/female 265,619)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 49.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 38.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 37.6 years
female: 40.3 years
comparison ranking: total 70
Population distribution
most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country
Urbanization
urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.095 million YEREVAN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
25.2 years (2019 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 115
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.4 years
female: 80.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 102
Gross reproduction rate
0.8 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
12.3% of GDP (2021)
6.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
3.36 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
4.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
total: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
total: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 3.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 99
Tobacco use
total: 21.5% (2025 est.)
male: 47.6% (2025 est.)
female: 1.6% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 57
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.8% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0% (2016)
women married by age 18: 5.3% (2016)
men married by age 18: 0.4% (2016)
Education expenditure
2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
10% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 176
Literacy
total population: 99.8% (2022 est.)
male: 99.7% (2022 est.)
female: 99.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years (2023 est.)
male: 14 years (2023 est.)
female: 14 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
soil pollution from toxic chemicals; deforestation; river pollution; threats to drinking water supplies from use of hydropower; nuclear power plant located in earthquake zone
International environmental agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Climate
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Land use
agricultural land: 58.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 15.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.5% (2022 est.)
other: 29.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
7.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 1.934 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 5.162 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 122
Particulate matter emissions
28.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 492,800 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 542 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 150 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 2.38 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources
7.769 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
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
etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the local name for the country, Hayastan, comes from Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; the name Armenia was first recorded in a rock inscription from A.D. 521 in modern-day Iran
Government type
parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system
Capital
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name origin is unclear; it may derive from the name of a local ethnic group, or from the ancient fortress of Erebuni that was built on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C.
Administrative divisions
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Legal system
civil law system
Constitution
history: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995
amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, the National Assembly, and a referendum with at least 25% registered-voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds, if needed, for a single 7-year term; prime minister indirectly elected by majority vote in two rounds, if needed, by the National Assembly
most recent election date: 3 March 2022
election results:
2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (independent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0
2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN (indpendent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10
expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 107 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 6/20/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Civil Contract Party (71); Armenia Alliance (29); I Have the Honour Alliance (7)
percentage of women in chamber: 38.3%
expected date of next election: June 2026
note 1: additional seats allocated as necessary; the numbers usually change with each parliamentary convocation
note 2: four mandates are reserved for national minorities; no more than 70% of the top membership of a party list can belong to the same sex; political parties must meet a 5% threshold and alliances a 7% threshold to win seats; at least three parties must be seated in the Parliament
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Appeals Court (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges – with both civil and administrative specializations); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; judges can serve until age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70
subordinate courts: criminal and civil appellate courts; administrative appellate court; first instance courts; specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts
Political parties
Armenia Alliance or HD
Armenian National Congress or ANC
Bright Armenia
Civil Contract or KP
Country To Live In
Homeland of Armenians
Homeland Party
I Have Honor Alliance (formerly known as the Republican Party of Armenia) PUD
Liberal Party
National Democratic Party
Prosperous Armenia or BHK
Republic Party (Hanrapetutyun Party)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Narek MKRTCHYAN (since 19 September 2025)
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
email address and website: armembassyusa@mfa.am
https://usa.mfa.am/en/
consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristina A. KVIEN (since 21 February 2023)
embassy:
1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
mailing address: 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374] (10) 464-700
FAX: [374] (10) 464-742
email address and website: acsyerevan@state.gov
https://am.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
meaning: red stands for the blood shed for liberty, blue for the Armenian skies and hope, and orange for the land and the courage of the workers who farm it
National symbol(s)
Mount Ararat, eagle, lion
National color(s)
red, blue, orange
National anthem(s)
title: "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
history: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley; Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle income, fast-growing Caucasus economy; stable fiscal and monetary regime but vulnerable to geopolitical shocks; economic and energy ties to Russia but seeking more EU and US trade; key copper and gold exporter; business-friendly and anti-corruption reforms; persistent unemployment; influx of migrants from Ukraine war easing
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$60.909 billion (2024 est.)
$57.516 billion (2023 est.)
$53.108 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 115
Real GDP growth rate
5.9% (2024 est.)
8.3% (2023 est.)
12.6% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 26
Real GDP per capita
$20,100 (2024 est.)
$19,400 (2023 est.)
$17,900 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 101
GDP (official exchange rate)
$25.787 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.3% (2024 est.)
2% (2023 est.)
8.6% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 8
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 7.9% (2024 est.)
industry: 23.2% (2024 est.)
services: 61.5% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: agriculture 87; industry 106; services 79
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 66.5% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 10.7% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 76.3% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, apricots, apples, barley (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
brandy, mining, 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
Industrial production growth rate
6.2% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 29
Labor force
1.51 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 134
Unemployment rate
13.4% (2024 est.)
13.3% (2023 est.)
13.4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 169
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 26.2% (2024 est.)
male: 24.8% (2024 est.)
female: 27.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 31
Population below poverty line
24.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
27.2 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 134
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 22.9% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
4.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
6% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $5.812 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $6.27 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
48.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 108
Taxes and other revenues
22.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 34
Current account balance
-$997.086 million (2024 est.)
-$556.329 million (2023 est.)
$64.725 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 129
Exports
$18.618 billion (2024 est.)
$14.338 billion (2023 est.)
$10.118 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 93
Exports - partners
Russia 37%, UAE 25%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5%, Georgia 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
gold, diamonds, copper ore, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$19.087 billion (2024 est.)
$14.532 billion (2023 est.)
$10.265 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 97
Imports - partners
Russia 29%, China 12%, Vietnam 6%, Georgia 5%, Iran 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
cars, gold, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.685 billion (2024 est.)
$3.607 billion (2023 est.)
$4.112 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 110
Debt - external
$6.002 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 67
Exchange rates
drams (AMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
392.73 (2024 est.)
392.476 (2023 est.)
435.666 (2022 est.)
503.77 (2021 est.)
489.009 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 4.265 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 7.012 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 1.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 194.045 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 530.327 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 97; consumption 117; exports 64; imports 108; transmission/distribution losses 82
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 43% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 19% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.42GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 31.1% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal
production: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 24 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 317 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 331,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 103
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 3.96 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 137
Broadcast media
government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near-nationwide coverage; three Russian TV companies are broadcast under interstate agreements; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations (2024)
Internet users
percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 546,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 93
Transportation
Railways
total: 686 km (2017)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armenian Republic Armed Forces: Armenian Army (includes land, air, air defense forces) (2025)
note: the Police of the Republic of Armenia is responsible for internal security, while the National Security Service is responsible for national security, intelligence activities, and border control
Military expenditures
5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
4.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 40-50,000 active Armenian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years however, Armenia has looked to other countries besides Russia to provide military hardware, including France and India (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 for voluntary (men and women), contract (men and women) or compulsory (men) military service; contract military service is 3-12 months or 3 or 5 years; conscripts serve 24 months; men under the age of 36, who have not previously served as contract servicemen and are registered in the reserve, as well as women, regardless of whether they are registered in the reserve can be enrolled in contractual military service; all citizens aged 27 to 50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared (2024)
note: in 2023, Armenia approved six-month voluntary service for women, after which they have the option to switch to a five-year contract; previously, women served on a contract basis; as of 2021, women made up about 10% of the active-duty military
Military - note
the Armenian Armed Forces were officially established in 1992, although their origins go back to 1918; the modern military’s missions include deterrence, territorial defense, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, as well as socio-economic development projects; territorial defense is its primary focus, particularly in regards to tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023
Armenia has traditionally had close military ties with Russia; it has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and committed troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force until suspending its engagement in 2024; Armenia has relations with NATO going back to 1992 when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council; in 1994, it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and has contributed to the NATO force in Kosovo, as well as the former NATO deployment in Afghanistan (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees: 145,354 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 4 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 373 (2024 est.)