Armenia is a small, landlocked country located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran to the south. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, and Armenian is the official language.

Armenia has a population of around 3 million people, and the majority of the population is ethnically Armenian, with small minorities of Russians, Yazidis, and others. The country has a mountainous landscape, with Mount Ararat being the highest peak at 5,165 meters above sea level. The climate in Armenia varies from subtropical to continental, with hot summers and cold winters.

Armenia has a mixed economy, with agriculture, mining, and services being the main sectors. The country is known for its production of fruits, vegetables, and wine, as well as its mining of metals such as copper and molybdenum. Armenia also has a growing technology sector, with many start-up companies and innovative initiatives.

Armenia has a rich cultural heritage, influenced by its ancient history and its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The country has a variety of festivals and celebrations throughout the year, including the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24th and the Yerevan Wine Days in May.

Armenia is a parliamentary democracy with a presidential system, with the President serving as the head of state and the Prime Minister serving as the head of government. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Eurasian Economic Union, among other international organizations.

Armenia has faced challenges in recent years, including political instability, economic difficulties, and conflicts with neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Despite these challenges, Armenia remains a resilient country with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant population.

National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Telephone Code
374

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 103; Fire: 101; Police: 102

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Currency (Code)
Drams (AMD)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Armenian (official) 97.9%, Russian

Major Religions
Armenian Apostolic 92.6%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Yerevan (includes Saint Gregory Cathedral, Blue Mosque, Cafesjian Museum); Shikahogh State Reserve; Lake Sevan; Dilijan National Park; Mount Aragats; Noravank Monastery Complex; Mount Ararat

Major Sports
Wrestling, soccer, gymnastics

Cultural Practices
When using public transportation, arrive early because buses fill up quickly and leave before their departure time.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is only common in the parts of the country visited by Western travelers. Anything from 10-20% is acceptable. Restaurants may include a service fee, but this is not the same as a tip. Rounding up taxi fares as a tip is common practice.

Souvenirs
Woven carpets, evil eye glass or bead jewelry, pottery, quilled picture art, silver jewelry and cameo jewelry/art

Traditional Cuisine
Harees — a dish of boiled, cracked, or coarsely-ground wheat, mixed with meat and seasoned

Country code top-level domain
.am

Geography
Area
total: 29,743 sq km
land: 28,203 sq km
water: 1,540 sq km

Climate
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Natural resources
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite

People and Society
Population
2,989,091 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.2%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)

Languages
Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1.1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.)

Religions
Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.)

Population growth rate
-0.4% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system

Capital
name: Yerevan

Economy
Economic overview
EEU-and CIS-member state but seeking more EU and US trade; business-friendly growth environments; stable monetary regime but vulnerable demand economy; key copper and gold exporter; persistent unemployment; large diaspora and remittances

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$39.613 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$14,200 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley

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

Exports
$5.012 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Russia 22%, Switzerland 20%, China 7%, Bulgaria 6%, Iraq 5%, Serbia 5%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
copper ore, gold, tobacco, liquors, iron alloys (2019)

Imports
$6.12 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Russia 29%, China 10%, Georgia 8%, Iran 6%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
natural gas, cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, diamonds (2019)