| Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to | | | | Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and is |
| formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite | | | | the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It is |
| periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia | | | | bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the |
| came under the sway of various empires including the | | | | east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. |
| Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was | | | | Contemporary Armenia is a fraction of the size of |
| incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. | | | | ancient Armenia. A land of rugged mountains and |
| Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long | | | | extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, |
| conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over | | | | 13,435 ft (4,095 m). |
| Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated | | | | Government: Republic |
| region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by | | | | President: Robert Kocharian (1998) |
| Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over | | | | Prime Minister: Andranik Markarian (2000) |
| the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both | | | | Area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800 sq km) |
| countries attained independence from the Soviet Union | | | | Population (2004 est.): 2,991,360 (growth rate: -0.3%); |
| in 1991. | | | | (Armenian, 93%; others, Kurds, Ukrainians, and |
| By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian | | | | Russians); birth rate: 11.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 24.2 |
| forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a | | | | 1000; life expectancy: 71.2; density per sq mi: 260 |
| significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The | | | | Capital and largest city: Yerevan, 1,462,700 (metro. |
| economies of both sides have been hurt by their | | | | area), 1,267,600 (city proper) |
| inability to make substantial progress toward a | | | | Other large cities: Vanadzor, 147,400; Gyumri |
| peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic | | | | (Leninakan), 125,300; Abovian, 59,300 |
| blockade on Armenia and closed the common border | | | | Monetary unit: Dram |
| because of the Armenian occupation of | | | | Language: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% |
| Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. | | | | Ethnicity/race: Armenian 93%, Russian 2%, Azeri 1%, |
| Geography | | | | other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002). |