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Mountainous, fast flowing rivers, landlocked and just east of Turkey.
Acquired independence on September 21, 1991 with the break up of the Soviet Union. Armenia is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, former republics within the Soviet Union that today are closely associated with Russia economically, in defense and foreign policy,
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Factbook: "Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has made progress in implementing many economic reforms including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates."
Estimated per capita GDP:
2008 $6,400
2007 $5,900
2006 $5,200
GDP annual growth rate:
2008: 7.6%
2007: 13.8%
2006: 13.2%
Unemployment estimated for 2007: 7.1%
Armenia remains closely tied in trade to Russia, especially in energy. It has a 30 percent unemployment rate estimated for 2003. And it has a negative trade imbalance offset somewhat by international aid and foreign investment.
For 2008: deaths 8.34; births 12.53
Estimated for July 2008: 2.968 million. Estimated growth rate for 2008: 0.077 percent per year.
More leaving than arriving, a net loss of 4.95 persons per 1,000 population.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 20.94, down from 23.28 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).
Average life expectancy at birth estimated for 2008: 72.4, up from 71.55 years in 2005.
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 0.1percent (2003)
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.