The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey closed the common border with Armenia in 1994 because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border; this process is currently dormant.

      Geography ::Armenia

      Location:

      Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

      Geographic coordinates:

      40 00 N, 45 00 E

      Map references:

      Middle East

      Area:

      total: 29,743 sq km country comparison to the world: 142 land: 28,203 sq km

      water: 1,540 sq km

      Area - comparative:

      slightly smaller than Maryland

      Land boundaries:

      total: 1,254 km

      border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 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 extremes:

      lowest point: Debed River 400 m

      highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

      Natural resources:

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

      Land use:

      arable land: 16.78%

      permanent crops: 2.01%

      other: 81.21% (2005)

      Irrigated land:

      2,860 sq km (2003)

      Total renewable water resources:

      10.5 cu km (1997)

      Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

      total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)

      per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)

      Natural hazards:

      occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

      Environment - current issues:

      soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone

      Environment - international agreements:

      party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

      signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

      Geography - note:

      landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

      People ::Armenia

      Population:

      2,966,802 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

      Age structure:

      0–14 years: 18.2% (male 289,119/female 252,150)

      15–64 years: 71.1% (male 986,764/female 1,123,708)

      65 years and over: 10.6% (male 122,996/female 192,267) (2010 est.)

      Median age:

      total: 31.9 years

      male: 29.1 years

      female: 34.7 years (2010 est.)

      Population growth rate:

      0.016% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

      Birth rate:

      12.74 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

      Death rate:

      8.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

      Net migration rate:

      −4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

      Urbanization:

      urban population: 64% of total population (2008)

      rate of urbanization: −0.3% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)

      Sex ratio:

      at birth: 1.133 male(s)/female

      under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female

      15–64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female

      65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

      total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

      total: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 102 male: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births

      female: 14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

      total population: 72.96 years country comparison to the world: 118 male: 69.33 years

      female: 77.07 years (2010 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

      1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

      0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

      2,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

      fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

      Nationality:

      noun: Armenian(s)

      adjective: Armenian

      Ethnic groups:

      Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

      Religions:

      Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

      Languages:

      Armenian (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

      Literacy:

      definition: age 15 and over can read and write

      total population: 99.4%