Country Profile: Armenia

Armenia, located in Southwestern Asia, is a landlocked country bordered by Turkey and Azerbaijan. It has a population of approximately 2.96 million and operates as a parliamentary democracy. The economy is classified as upper-middle income, characterized by stable growth driven primarily by the copper and gold export sectors, although it faces challenges such as geopolitical vulnerabilities and high unemployment rates. Armenia's rich history includes being the first nation to adopt Christianity, and its culture is deeply influenced by its long-standing traditions and historical events.

Geography

Armenia is situated in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and is completely landlocked, with a total area of 29,743 square kilometers. It has a highland continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Most of its population resides in the northern part of the country, particularly in its capital, Yerevan. Armenia's diverse terrain includes mountains, fast-flowing rivers, and limited forest cover.

Total area: 29,743 sq km
Highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' at 4,090 m
Lowest point: Debed River at 400 m
Natural hazards: Often experiences severe earthquakes and droughts
Major lake: Lake Sevan, covering 1,360 sq km
Agricultural land: Accounts for 58.6% of total land use (2023 est.)

People and Society

Armenia has a population of about 2.96 million, predominantly ethnic Armenians. The country experiences a slight population decline, attributed to low birth rates and emigration. Armenian is the primary language spoken, and the majority of the population identifies with the Armenian Apostolic Church. The society values education, reflected in a high literacy rate of 99.8%.

Population (2025 est.): 2,963,837
Urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
Median age: 39.5 years (2025 est.)
Life expectancy: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Literacy rate: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Economy

Armenia exhibits robust economic growth, with a notable increase in its GDP over recent years. The economy is mainly driven by service and industrial sectors, with a strong emphasis on mining and agriculture. Despite its growth, the country deals with unemployment issues and a high dependency on remittances from abroad.

Real GDP (PPP, 2024 est.): $60.909 billion
GDP per capita (PPP, 2024 est.): $20,100
Unemployment rate: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Exports (2024 est.): $18.618 billion
Imports (2024 est.): $19.087 billion
Public debt: 48.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Government

Armenia functions under a parliamentary democracy, with significant changes made to its constitutional framework in 2015 to enhance parliamentary powers. The National Assembly is unicameral, and the political landscape includes various parties, primarily represented by the Civil Contract party. Elections for the presidency and assembly are characterized by indirect voting processes.

Capital: Yerevan
Chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 2022)
Head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 2021)
Total seats in National Assembly: 107
Next legislative election: Expected in June 2026

Military and Security

Armenia maintains a robust military structure, largely influenced by historical conflicts with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. The military strategy includes deterring threats and focusing on territorial defense, with an emphasis on collaboration with Russia, particularly through the CSTO.

Military expenditures: 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Active personnel: Approximately 40-50,000 in the armed forces (2025)
Service age: 18-27 for voluntary or compulsory service
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1
Major military focus: Territorial defense against Azerbaijan

Energy

Armenia's energy sector is transitioning, with a significant reliance on nuclear power for electricity generation. The country has achieved universal electrification and is working towards diversifying its energy sources.

Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed capacity: 4.265 million kW (2023 est.)
Nuclear generates: 31.1% of total electricity production (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 54.689 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental challenges include soil pollution, deforestation, and threats to drinking water sources. Armenia is a party to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues while promoting biodiversity and climate change mitigation.

Major environmental concerns: Soil and river pollution
Total renewable water resources: 7.769 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Annual emissions: 7.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Armenia's transportation infrastructure includes multiple modes, but it has limited access to international routes due to closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Total railways: 686 km (2017)
Airports: 11 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)

Communications

The telecommunications sector in Armenia is developing, with high mobile subscription rates and increasing internet access. The country boasts a significant number of fixed-line and mobile cellular subscriptions.

Total mobile subscriptions: 4.01 million (2024 est.)
Internet users: 80% of the population (2023 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions: 546,000 (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,963,837	(2025 est.)
Area	29,743 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$60.909 billion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	13.4%	(2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	76.7 years	(2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	99.8%	(2023 est.)
Military Expenditures	5.5% of GDP	(2024 est.)
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	54.689 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)
Electric Access	100%	(2022 est.)
Total Agricultural Land	58.6%	(2023 est.)