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The smallest of the former USSR’s republics, Armenia
lies landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. After
1988, a confrontation with Azerbaijan dominated national life.
ASIA
Armenia
FACTFILE
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Armenia
DATE OF FORMATION: 1991
CAPITAL: Ye re v a n
POPULATION: 3.08 million
TOTAL AREA: 11,506 sq. miles
(29,800 sq. km)
DENSITY: 268 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Armenian*, Azeri, Russian
RELIGIONS: Armenian Apostolic Church
(Orthodox) 88%, Armenian Catholic Church
6%, other 6%
ETHNIC MIX: Armenian 98%, Yezidi 1%,
other 1%
GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
CURRENCY: Dram = 100 luma
GEOGRAPHY
Rugged and mountainous, with
expanses of semidesert and a large lake
in the east: Sevana Lich.
CLIMATE
Continental climate, with little
rainfall in the lowlands. The winters are
often bitterly cold.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Christianity is the dominant
religion, but minority groups are
well integrated. War with Azerbaijan
over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh
forced 350,000 Armenians living in
Azerbaijan to return home, many to
live in poverty. There are close and
important ties to the seven-million-
strong Armenian diaspora.
THE ECONOMY
Overseas remittances and
agriculture each account for a sixth
of GDP. Main products are wine,
tobacco, potatoes, and fruit. Well-
developed machine-building and
manufacturing – includes textiles
and bottling of mineral water.
INSIGHT: In the 4th century, Armenia
became the first country to adopt
Christianity as its state religion
GEORGIATURKEYAZERBAIJANAZERBAIJANIRAN(^) L
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Aras
Sevana
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Gyumri
Vanadzor
Vagharshapat
Armavir
Kapan
Alaverdi
Sevan
Ashtarak
Hrazdan
Ararat
YEREVAN
3000m/9843ft
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
50 km
50 miles
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