Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party
6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF
(Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Armenian National Congress or ANC (bloc of independent and
opposition parties) [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]; Armenian National
Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]; Heritage Party [Raffi
HOVHANNISIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN];
Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKIAN]; Republican Party of Armenia or
HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur
BAGHDASARIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN]; Yerkrapah Union
[Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:
ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer),
OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the
color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian
skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the
workers who farm it
National anthem:
name: "Mer Hayrenik""(Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic
of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics
Economy ::Armenia
Economy - overview:
After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a
severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009,
despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines
in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly
from Russia, were the main reasons for the downturn. The economy
began to recover in 2010 with nearly 5% growth. Under the old Soviet
central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial
sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured
goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy.
Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from
the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has
managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency,
and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Since the
breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia had made progress in
implementing some economic reforms, including privatization, price
reforms, and prudent fiscal policies, but geographic isolation, a
narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business
sectors have made Armenia particularly vulnerable to the sharp
deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in
Russia. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic
Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a
severe economic decline in the early 1990s and Armenia's borders
with Turkey remain closed until 2010, when Turkey and Armenia signed
an accord to reestablish diplomatic relations. Armenia is
particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental
support and most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or
managed, especially in the energy sector. The electricity
distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's
RAO-UES in 2005. Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas
from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas
deliveries are slated to expand due to the April 2010 completion of
the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Armenia has some mineral deposits
(copper, gold, bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other
nonferrous metals are Armenia's highest valued exports. Armenia's
severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international
aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct
investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government
made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent
years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective and the
current economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and
forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the
IMF, and other international financial institutions. Armenia will
need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to regain
economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment
opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of
its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.27 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$16.5 billion (2009 est.)
$19.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.83 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
-14.2% (2009 est.)
6.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$5,600 (2009 est.)
$6,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 46.6%
services: 31.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.481 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 46.2%
industry: 15.6%
services: 38.2% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Population below poverty line:
26.5% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 77
44.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
33.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
3.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
7.25% (2 December 2008)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy
instrument of the Armenian National Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.76% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
17.05% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.131 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.071 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.507 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$3.339 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$1.733 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$140.5 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
$176 million (31 December 2008)
$105 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries:
diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing
machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk
fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - production:
5.584 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - consumption:
4.776 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - exports:
451.3 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
418.7 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran
(2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - imports:
45,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - consumption:
1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - imports:
1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Current account balance:
-$1.138 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
-$1.326 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$846 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$722.3 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral
products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:
Germany 16.47%, Russia 15.45%, US 9.64%, Bulgaria 8.6%, Georgia
7.57%, Netherlands 7.48%, Belgium 6.71%, Canada 4.91% (2009)
Imports:
$2.988 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$2.817 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.02%, China 8.72%, Ukraine 6.15%, Turkey 5.39%, Germany
5.36%, Iran 4.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.247 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$2.004 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.227 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
$3.449 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 374.29 (2010), 363.28 (2009), 303.93
(2008), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006)
Communications ::Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
630,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.62 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major
inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications
network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and
undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services
monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began
operations in mid-2005
domestic: reliable modern fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
are available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant
but ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural
areas
international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the
Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional
international service is available by microwave radio relay and
landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by
satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3
(2008)
Broadcast media:
2 public television networks operating alongside more than 40
privately-owned television stations that provide local to near
nationwide coverage; major Russian broadcast stations are widely
available; subscription cable TV services are available in most
regions; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast
network that operates alongside about 20 privately-owned radio
stations; several major international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Internet country code:
.am
Internet hosts:
65,279 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
Internet users:
208,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Transportation ::Armenia
Airports:
11 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,233 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 845 km
country comparison to the world: 99
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2008)
Roadways:
total: 8,888 km
country comparison to the world: 139
paved: 7,079 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,809 km (2008)
Military ::Armenia
Military branches:
Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense;
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service;
2-year conscript service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 809,293
females age 16-49: 862,679 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 644,195
females age 16-49: 724,085 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 24,611
female: 22,682 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
Transnational Issues ::Armenia
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic
Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about
230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan
into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route
through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey
remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups
in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; Armenians
continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia, seeking employment
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium
and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser
extent the rest of Europe
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Aruba (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Aruba
Background:
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the
Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main
industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity
brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last
decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a
separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in
1990.
Geography ::Aruba
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 217
land: 180 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
68.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:
arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely
threatened
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its
tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
People ::Aruba
Population:
104,589
country comparison to the world: 192
note: estimate based on a revision of the base population,
fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-99
migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is
assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent
with the 2000 census (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 9,921/female 9,758)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,676/female 37,752)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 4,351/female 6,607) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 39.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.457% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Death rate:
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Net migration rate:
9.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.021 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 131
male: 17.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.51 years
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 72.47 years
female: 78.61 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups:
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or
unspecified 4.6%
Languages:
Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%,
Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%,
other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 74
Government ::Aruba
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:
constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy
in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the
Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and
foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Constitution:
1 January 1986
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law
influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Michiel Godfried (Mike) EMAN
(since 30 October 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed
for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last
held in 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: Mike EMAN elected prime minister; percent of
legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR
5.7%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal
Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or
MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny
NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's
Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy
or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform
or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: environmental groups
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr.
Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to
Curacao is accredited to Aruba
Flag description:
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower
portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper
hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soil and
white beaches, its four points the four major languages (Papiamento,
Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of a compass, to
indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; the blue
symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the
island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists to the
sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
National anthem:
name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country)
lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER
note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)
Economy ::Aruba
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small open Aruban economy, together
with offshore banking. Oil refining and storage ended in 2009. The
rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million
tourists per year visit Aruba with 75% of those from the US.
Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the
1985 level. Tourist arrivals rebounded strongly following a dip
after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The government has made cutting
the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
GDP (purchasing power parity):