Armenia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Republic of Armenia Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն (Armenian) Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Մեկ ազգ, մեկ մշակույթ Mek Azg, Mek Mshakouyt "One nation, one culture"
Anthem: Մեր Հայրենիք Mer Hayrenik "Our Fatherland"
Location of Armenia
Capital and largest city	Yerevan 40°11′N 44°31′E / 40.183°N 44.517°E / 40.183; 44.517
Official languages	Armenian
Recognized languages	List: Assyrian German Greek Kurdish Russian Ukrainian see ECRML
Ethnic groups (2022)	98.1% Armenians 1.1% Yazidis 0.8% other
Religion (2022)	96.8% Christianity 95.2% Armenian Apostolic Church 1.6% other Christian 0.6% no religion 0.9% other 1.7% unspecified
Demonym(s)	Armenian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Vahagn Khachaturyan
• Prime Minister	Nikol Pashinyan
• President of the National Assembly	Alen Simonyan
Legislature	National Assembly
Establishment
• Hayasa-Azzi	16th century BC - 13th century BC
• Urartu	860 BC – 590 BC
• Orontid dynasty	6th century BC
• Kingdom of Armenia	321 BC–428 AD
• Principality of Hamamshen	790–1486
• Bagratid Armenia	885–1045
• Kingdom of Vaspurakan	908–1021
• Kingdom of Vanand	963–1064
• Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget	979–1118
• Kingdom of Syunik	987–1170
• Kingdom of Artsakh	1000–1261
• Kingdom of Cilicia	1198–1375
• Principality of Khachen	1261–1603
Area
• Total	29,743 km2 (11,484 sq mi) (138th)
• Water (%)	4.71
Population
• 2024 estimate	3,015,400 (138th)
• Density	101.5/km2 (262.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$64.432 billion (114th)
• Per capita	$21,746 (77th)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$25.408 billion (115th)
• Per capita	$8,575 (84th)
Gini (2022)	27.9 low
HDI (2022)	0.786 high · 76th
Currency	Dram (֏) (AMD)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AMT)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+374
ISO 3166 code	AM
Internet TLD	.am .հայ

Armenia, officially known as the Republic of Armenia, is a country located in the western part of Asia. Its capital city is Yerevan. Armenia became an independent country in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke apart.

Armenia shares its borders with Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.

Most people in Armenia are ethnic Armenians, making up over 90% of the population. There are also smaller groups like Greeks and Russians. The main religion in Armenia is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is a type of Christianity. Some Christians believe that Noah's Ark landed in Armenia, and Noah's family settled there. The Armenian name for Armenia, Hayastan, means "Land of Haik," named after a great-great-grandson of Noah.

Throughout history, Armenia's size has changed a lot. It was once much larger, covering parts of what are now Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan around 80 BCE. From 1920 to 1991, Armenia was part of the Soviet Union.

Today, Armenia has some border issues with Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 1992, Armenia and Azerbaijan had a conflict over a region called Nagorno-Karabakh. The fighting stopped in 1994, and Armenia gained control of this land, but Azerbaijan still claims it.

Exploring Armenia's Geography

Armenia's mountainous and volcanic topography.

Armenia is a landlocked country, meaning it has no coastline. It is located in the South Caucasus region, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. To the north and east, it borders Georgia and Azerbaijan. To the south and west, it borders Iran and Turkey.

The country covers an area of about 29,743 square kilometers (11,484 square miles). The land is mostly mountainous, with many fast-flowing rivers and not many forests. Armenia experiences hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.

Mount Ararat is a very important symbol for Armenians. It used to be part of Armenia and is the highest mountain in the region. Even though it is now in Turkey, it is clearly visible from Armenia. Because of its importance, Mount Ararat is shown on the Armenian national emblem.

Provinces and Cities of Armenia

Armenia is divided into ten main areas called provinces, plus the capital city of Yerevan. As of 2007, Armenia has 915 communities. Out of these, 49 are considered urban (cities or towns), and 866 are considered rural (villages). You can find a full list of communities at List of settlements in Armenia.

Largest Cities in Armenia

Armenia has many cities. Here are the ten biggest ones:

• Yerevan (with about 1,121,900 people)
• Vanadzor
• Gyumri
• Vagharshapat
• Hrazdan
• Abovyan
• Armavir
• Kapan
• Gavar
• Artashat (with about 20,562 people)

Armenia's Climate

The 7th-century Khor Virap monastery with Mount Ararat in the background, where Noah's Ark is said to have landed.

Armenia has a continental climate. This means it has distinct seasons. Summers are usually dry and sunny, lasting from June to mid-September. Temperatures can range from 22 to 36 degrees Celsius (72 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit). The low humidity makes the heat more bearable. Cool breezes often blow down from the mountains in the evenings.

Springs are short, while autumns are long and known for their beautiful, colorful trees. Winters are quite cold with lots of snow. Temperatures typically range from -10 to -5 degrees Celsius (14 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit). If you like Winter sports, you can go skiing in Tsakhkadzor, which is about 30 minutes from Yerevan. Lake Sevan, located high in the Armenian mountains, is the second largest lake in the world for its altitude, sitting about 1,900 meters (6,234 feet) above sea level.

Armenia's Economy

A vibrant Yerevan at dusk

Armenia's economy gets a lot of help from Armenians living in other countries. Before Armenia became independent, its economy was mostly based on industry. This included making things like chemicals, electronics, machinery, processed food, and textiles. It relied heavily on resources from outside the country.

Before the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, agriculture was a smaller part of the economy. After independence, farming became much more important.

Armenian mines produce valuable metals like copper, zinc, gold, and lead. Most of Armenia's energy comes from fuel imported from Russia, including gas and nuclear fuel for its single nuclear power plant. The main energy source within Armenia is hydroelectric power, which uses water. There are also small amounts of coal, gas, and petroleum, but these have not been developed much yet.

People and Population

Armenian children at the UN Cup Chess Tournament in 2005.

Armenia has a population of about 3,238,000 people (as of 2008). It is one of the most densely populated countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. After the USSR broke up, many people left Armenia, causing the population to decrease. However, in recent years, fewer people have been leaving, and some Armenians have even returned. This trend is expected to continue, and Armenia's population is predicted to start growing again by 2010.

Most of the people in Armenia are ethnic Armenians, making up 97.9% of the population. Other groups include Yazidis (1.3%) and Russians (0.5%). There are also smaller groups like Assyrians, Ukrainians, Greeks, Kurds, Georgians, and Belarusians.

During the Soviet era, Azerbaijanis were the second largest group in Armenia. However, because of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, almost all of them moved from Armenia to Azerbaijan.

Armenian is the only official language. However, Russian is also widely used, especially in schools. Many adult Armenians (94%) think it is important for their children to learn Russian.

Armenian Culture and Traditions

Mesrop Mashtots by Francesco Maggiotto

Armenians have their own unique alphabet and language. The alphabet was created in AD 405 by Saint Mesrob Mashtots. It has thirty-eight letters, with two letters added later. About 96% of people in Armenia speak Armenian. Also, 75.8% of the population speaks Russian, and English is becoming more and more popular.

Music and Dance in Armenia

Armenian music is a blend of traditional folk music and modern pop. A famous example of Armenian folk music is the sound of the duduk, a traditional Armenian woodwind instrument, often played by artists like Djivan Gasparyan.

Instruments commonly found in Armenian folk music include the duduk, the dhol (a drum), the zurna (a wind instrument), and the kanun (a string instrument). Artists like Sayat Nova are well-known for their important role in developing Armenian folk music.

One of the oldest forms of Armenian music is the Armenian chant. This is the most common type of religious music in Armenia. Many of these chants are very old, some even from before Christianity. Others are more recent, including some written by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, who invented the Armenian alphabet.

See Also

• Armenia at the Olympics
• Armenia national football team
• List of rivers of Armenia

Images for kids

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  Armenian soldier of the Achaemenid army, circa 470 BC. Xerxes I tomb relief.

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  The pagan Garni Temple, probably built in the first century, is the only "Greco-Roman colonnaded building" in the post-Soviet states

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  The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia's Mother Church traditionally dated 303 AD, is considered the oldest cathedral in the world.

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  In 1501–02, most of the Eastern Armenian territories including Yerevan were conquered by the emerging Safavid dynasty of Iran led by Shah Ismail I.

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  Capture of Erivan fortress by Russian troops in 1827 during the Russo-Persian War (1826–28) by Franz Roubaud.

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       Territory held by Armenia and the Karabakh Council at some point      Area given to Armenia by the Treaty of Sèvres, which was never enforced.

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  The Government house of the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920)

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  Advance of the 11th Red Army into the city of Yerevan.

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  Armenians gather at Theater Square in central Yerevan to claim unification of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with the Armenian SSR.

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  Armenian soldiers in 2008, during the ongoing and unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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  21 September 2011 parade in Yerevan, marking the 20th anniversary of Armenia's re-independence

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  Carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons per capita in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Germany, Italy, USA in 2000–2012. World Bank data.

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  Yerevan is the economic and cultural centre of Armenia.

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  Yerevan State University building

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  Population pyramid 2016

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  The Armenian population around the world

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  1. FBEC5D
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  Armenian-language writing.

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  Portal to the Holy City at Echmiazin, the seat of the Catholicos

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  Traditional Armenian dance

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  Ancient Armenian Khachkars (cross-stones)

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  Queen Zabel's Return to the Palace, Vardges Sureniants (1909)

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  The Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan

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  The Armenia national football team in Dublin, Ireland

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  Chess Grandmaster Levon Aronian is a former FIDE No. 2 rated player and the fourth-highest rated player in history.

See also

In Spanish: Armenia para niños