About Armenia
The first Christian nation and considered to be the cradle of civilization, Armenia is located in the Southern Caucasus—landlocked by Turkey on the west, Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, and Iran on the south.
A tiny Nation, only 30,000 square kilometers in area, Armenia has a long and tumultuous History, marked by invasions, occupations, and massacres—battered by war for more than 3,000 years, shaped the Culture as well as its ever-changing Geography and unique mountainous landscape. Few people have endured so many trials and rebounded with such dignity. Recent history tells only a part of the devastating story—genocide, wars, Soviet rule and a massive earthquake taking the lives of more than 50,000. And so it is here that the American doctors and the Armenian People come together to fight blindness with a deep respect for each other. The American doctors for the resilience and the internal strength of the Armenian people. The Armenians for the caring, quiet dedication of the American doctors who come to bring hope and sight because they are needed.
Quick Facts
Background
According to the CIA World Fact Book Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the 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. However, in 2009 senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, which could result in the border reopening.
| Population: | 2,966,802 |
|---|---|
| Population Growth: | .016% (2010 Est.) |
| Infant Mortality: | 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Net Migration Rate: | -4.56 migrant(s) per 1,000 population |
| Medium Age: | 31.9 |
| Birth Rate: | 12.74/1,000 population. 1.36 children born per woman |
| Ethnicity: | Armenian 98%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% |
| Religions: | Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi 1.3% |
| Languages: | Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census) |
| Literacy: | Total Population: 99.4% |
| President: | Serzh Sargsian (April 2008)) |
| Prime Minister: | Tigran Sargsian |
| Constitution: | Adopted by Nationwide Referendum, July 5, 1995 |
| Government Type: | Republic |
| Legislative Branch: | Unicameral National Assembly (131 seats) |
| Judicial Branch: | Based on Civil Law System. Not accepted International CJ Jurisdiction. |
| Capital: | Yerevan |
| Administrative: | 11 Provinces |
| GDP: real growth rate | -15% (2009 est.) |
| GDP: per capita | $5,900 (2008 est.) purchasing power parity |
| Inflation Rate: | 10.2% (2008 est.) |
| Below Poverty: | 26.5% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment: | 7.1% (2007 est.) |
| Labor Force: | 1.4 million (2007 est.) |
| Labor Force: | Agriculture: 46.2% Industry: 15.6% Services: 38.2% (2006 est.) |
Source: CIA World Factbook, August 2010
