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Demographics of Armenia

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Demographics of Armenia
Armenia population pyramid in 2020
Population3,039,700 (April 2024 )[1]
Density102,2/km2
Growth rate0.27/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Birth rate2.97 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate1.76 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Nationality
NationalityArmenian(s)
Major ethnicArmenian
Minor ethnicRussian, Yazidis, Kurds, Assyrians
Language
OfficialArmenian
SpokenArmenian, English, Kurdish, Russian, French and others

After registering steady increases during the Soviet period, the population of Armenia declined from its peak value of 3.633 million in 1992 to 2.986 million in 2017.[1]

Whilst the country's population increased steadily during the Soviet Union as a result of periods of repatriation and low emigration rates, it has declined in recent times due to the exodus of peoples following the Soviet break-up. The rates of emigration and population decline, however, have decreased in recent years, and there has been a moderate influx of Armenians returning to Armenia.

Historical statistics

[edit]
Census population and average annual growth rate
YearPop.±% p.a.
1831161,747—    
1873496,140+2.70%
1886635,833+1.93%
1897797,853+2.08%
1904877,322+1.37%
19141,014,255+1.46%
1916993,782−1.01%
1919961,677−1.09%
1920720,000−25.13%
1922782,052+4.22%
1926878,929+2.96%
19311,050,633+3.63%
19391,282,338+2.52%
19591,763,048+1.60%
19702,491,873+3.20%
19793,037,259+2.22%
19893,304,776+0.85%
20013,213,011−0.23%
20113,018,854−0.62%
20222,932,731−0.26%
2024 3,039,700+1.81%
For 1831–1931[2] [better source needed] [3][4][a]
For 1920[5]
For 1926[6]
For 1939–1989[7][b]
For 2001[9]
For 2011[10]

Citing Armenia's conquest and occupation by the Seljuks (11th century) and Mongols (13th–15th centuries), historians Edmund Herzig and Marina Kurkchiyan write "the combination of progressive Turkish (and Kurdish) immigration and Armenian decline, through massacre, famine and emigration, changed the demographic balance in a way that Arab immigration had never done".[11]

As a result of "deliberate relocation policies employed by both the Ottomans and Safavids" during the Ottoman–Safavid War, there was a large-scale displacement of Armenians; Armenians also emigrated "to escape the insecurity and hardship of life in war-torn Armenia". Whilst Shah Abbas I relocated Armenians to Isfahan and "Armenian colonies in other parts of Iran" in 1604–1605, "the Ottomans also removed Armenian artisans to their capital".[12]

Following the Russian annexation, 45,000 Armenians from Persia and 100,000 from the Ottoman Empire migrated to Eastern Armenia, with another 25,000 migrating following the 1878 Russo-Turkish war. As a result of the repatriation, Armenians had regained a majority in their homeland "for the first time in several hundred years".[13] As a result of persecution and massacres in the Ottoman Empire, some 100,000 Armenians immigrated to Eastern Armenia between 1870 and 1910.[14] The areas with Armenian-majorities would later "form the nucleus in the twentieth century of an independent Armenian state".[13]

Historian Sen Hovhannisian writes that during the 80 years of peace during which Eastern Armenia was part of Russia, there was "unprecedented" population growth: it tripled from 161,700 to 496,100 between 1831 and 1873, and doubled in the following forty years until it reached 1,000,100 in 1913. The population between 1831 and 1913 increased 6.18 times, yielding an average annual growth rate of 10,200 people. Following the outbreak of World War I, the population, which was 1,014,300 in 1914, fell by 20,500 in 1916 due to the Christian population being drafted. As a result of "wars and civil clashes, hunger and diseases" of 1918–1920, 432,000 people (35.8 percent of the population) were "exterminated".[15]

Upon its sovietisation, the territory of modern-day Armenia had a population of some 720,000, a decline of nearly 30 percent—"almost half" consisted of refugees.[5] American historian Richard Pipes states that "according to Soviet estimates, the Armenian population of Transcaucasia declined between 1914 and 1920 by one half million: 200,000 in consequence of Turkish, and, presumably, Communist, massacres, and 300,000 from other causes, mostly famine and disease".[16]

The drastic decline of the population was addressed by the Soviet Armenian government by repatriating displaced Azerbaijanis to districts where they had formed a significant population in Armenia. The Azerbaijani population of Armenia which numbered some 10,000 in 1920 (attributed to the ARF government's expulsion of at least 200,000 Turks and Kurds) rose to 72,596 in 1922 as a result of the return of 60,000 refugees.[17] [better source needed] In addition to this, the Soviet government welcomed 44,000 Armenian refugees from Greece, Iraq, Turkey, and elsewhere throughout the 1920s and 1930s.[18] In 1946–1948, 86,000 Armenians were repatriated to Soviet Armenia to offset the country's wartime losses.[19] At the same time, by agreement of Armenian and Azerbaijani Soviet leaderships, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis in Armenia were resettled to Azerbaijan to make room for the repatriates.[20]

Population growth rates in Armenia in years 1980–2016. Data from World Bank.
Global map of changes in population growth rates
image icon Population growth rates in 2010–2015 vs. 2005–2010 A study revealed that population growth rates were more positive in Armenia, compared to surrounding countries in the specified period.

Human development

[edit]

According to the 2018 HDI statistical update (with data for 2017), compared to all its neighbouring countries Armenia has:[21]

  • the lowest coefficient of human inequality,
  • the lowest gender inequality (ranked 55th on Gender Inequality Index),
  • highest percentage of men and highest percentage of women with at least some secondary education,
  • highest share of seats in parliament held by women,
  • highest share of women who reported to feel safe,
  • highest GDP growth rate.

Since 1990, Armenia recorded steady growth of average annual HDI scores in every reported period (1990–2000, 2000–2010, 2010–2017).[21]

According to the 2016 Sustainable Society Index, Armenia has a higher rank of Human Wellbeing than all its neighbours. At the same time its Economic Wellbeing rank is below neighbouring countries.[22]

The 2011 census counted 539,394 persons (19.4 percent of the population above 6 years of age) with higher professional education.[23]

Vital statistics

[edit]

Life expectancy

[edit]
Life expectancy in Armenia since 1950
Life expectancy in Armenia since 1960 by gender

According to the 2018 HDI statistical update, compared to all its neighbouring countries Armenia has the highest health expenditures as percentage of its GDP and the highest healthy life expectancy at birth.[21]

In 2016, the average life expectancy at birth for males was 71.6 years and for females was 78.3 years, with the average at 75.0 years.[1]

After a setback during 1986–1996, mostly due to the Spitak earthquake, and the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenia regained its position and was consistently among the top three former Soviet republics during 1997–2016, topping the list in 2007.[24]

During the Soviet period, life expectancy was traditionally high in Armenia and topped all other republics of the USSR, and most other countries in Eastern Europe between 1978 and 1980.[25][26]

Period Life expectancy in
Years 		Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 62.8 1985–1990 68.4
1955–1960 64.9 1990–1995 68.1
1960–1965 67.0 1995–2000 70.2
1965–1970 69.2 2000–2005 72.4
1970–1975 70.8 2005–2010 72.7
1975–1980 70.6 2010–2015 74.0
1980–1985 70.9

Source: UN[27]

Reproduction indicators

[edit]

In 2016, natural increase of population comprised 12,366 persons and the crude rate of natural increase reached 4.1%, per 1000 population, decreasing by 0.4 percent compared to the previous year.[1]

After double-digit crude natural increase rates between 1982 and 1992, rates did not exceed 5.5 after 1998. At a regional level, slightly better rates were recorded in the capital Yerevan, where the value of 5.5 is consistently being surpassed since 2009. Particularly weak is natural increase in Tavush and Syunik provinces, not much better off are Lori and Vayots Dzor provinces.[1]

Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):[28]

Year Total Urban Rural
CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR
2000 13.9 1.7 (1.5) 12.1 1.5 (1.3) 16.3 2.1 (1.7)
2005 14.6 1.7 (1.6) 14.5 1.6 (1.6) 14.9 1,8 (1,6)
2010 14.0 1.7 (1.6) 12.8 1.6 (1.5) 16.2 1.8 (1.8)
2015–2016 12.9 1.7 (1.7) 12.7 1.7 (1.6) 13.2 1.8 (1.8)

Armenia's Total Fertility Rate at 1.6 was lowest in the Caucasus region in 2017.[29] TFR is expected to stay at 1.6 between 2015 and 2020, less from 1.7 in years 2010–2015.[21]

The mean age of mothers at birth was 26.8 years and at first birth it was 24.7 years in 2016.[1] Adolescent birth rate, as well as, share of women married aged 18 was lowest in Armenia compared to its neighbouring countries.[21]

In 2016, infant mortality rate (in the first year of their life) was 8.6%, per 1,000 live births.[1]

A study revealed that population growth rate changes were more favourable in Armenia than in its surrounding countries between 2005 and 2015.

Structure of the population

[edit]

The median age in 2020 was 36.6 years (male: 35.1, female: 38.3).[30]

36.3 percent of women who gave birth in 2016 had higher education.[1]

Pyramid Armenia 2012
http://www.armstat.am

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 12.10.2011):[31]

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 1,398,052 1,620,802 3,018,854 100
0–4 105 565 102 007 207 572 6.88
5–9 91 429 88 500 179 929 5.96
10–14 90 458 88 179 178 637 5.92
15–19 107 938 125 137 233 075 7.72
20–24 133 897 158 337 292 234 9.68
25–29 122 109 149 820 271 929 9.01
30–34 103 114 119 891 223 005 7.39
35–39 89 073 98 348 187 421 6.21
40–44 82 502 94 462 176 964 5.86
45–49 98 064 112 996 211 060 6.99
50–54 109 294 125 238 234 532 7.77
55–59 80 989 96 769 177 758 5.89
60–64 56 189 71 410 127 599 4.23
65–69 28 020 37 353 65 373 2.17
70–74 44 041 63 637 107 678 3.57
75–79 30 734 44 643 75 377 2.50
80–84 18 662 30 244 48 906 1.62
85+ 5 974 13 831 19 805 0.66
Age Group Male Female Total %
0–14 287 452 278 686 566 138 18.75
15–64 983 169 1 152 408 2 135 577 70.74
65+ 127 431 189 708 317 139 10.51

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019):[32]

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 1 399 368 1 563 114 2 962 482 100
0–4 102 588 92 078 194 666 6.57
5–9 111 879 98 348 210 227 7.10
10–14 103 991 90 955 194 946 6.58
15–19 88 582 77 838 166 420 5.62
20–24 90 776 88 311 179 087 6.05
25–29 115 826 127 910 243 736 8.23
30–34 124 127 138 753 262 880 8.87
35–39 111 345 123 527 234 872 7.93
40–44 87 619 100 891 188 510 6.36
45–49 74 528 90 316 164 844 5.56
50–54 73 562 93 943 167 505 5.65
55–59 91 952 116 734 208 686 7.04
60–64 81 199 105 827 187 026 6.31
65–69 55 578 76 627 132 205 4.46
70–74 29 945 46 812 76 757 2.59
75–79 23 192 37 510 60 702 2.05
80–84 21 287 37 958 59 245 2.00
85+ 11 392 18 776 30 168 1.02
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 318 458 281 381 599 839 20.25
15–64 939 516 1 064 050 2 003 566 67.63
65+ 141 394 217 683 359 077 12.12

|- |} In 2016, households with up to four members prevailed in urban areas throughout Armenia, with the share of such households coming to 70.2 percent in urban communities compared to 60.1 percent in rural communities.[33]

Since the 1960s, Armenia has the highest share of urban population among South Caucasus countries.[34]

Vital statistics summary data

[edit]

[35][36][37][38][39]

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Crude migration rate (per 1000) Total fertility rate Infant mortality rate (per 1000 births) Life expectancy
males females total
1950 1,354,000 43,414 11,525 31,889 32.1 8.5 23.6
1951 1,378,000 49,790 12,482 37,308 36.1 9.1 27.1 -9.4
1952 1,415,000 53,845 12,916 40,929 38.1 9.1 28.9 -2.0
1953 1,454,000 51,025 14,007 37,018 35.1 9.6 25.5 2.1
1954 1,504,000 57,995 12,301 45,900 38.6 8.2 30.4 4.0
1955 1,564,000 59,477 13,763 45,714 38.0 8.8 29.2 10.7
1956 1,616,000 62,119 12,286 50,000 38.5 7.6 30.8 2.4
1957 1,671,000 66,862 14,101 52,761 40.0 8.4 31.6 2.4
1958 1,732,000 71,213 14,089 57,124 41.1 8.1 33.0 3.5
1959 1,796,000 72,211 13,968 58,243 40.2 7.8 32.4 4.6
1960 1,867,000 74,825 12,675 62,150 40.1 6.8 33.3 6.2 4.63
1961 1,942,000 72,377 12,496 59,881 37.3 6.4 30.8 9.4 4.27
1962 2,005,000 69,505 13,297 56,208 34.7 6.6 28.0 4.4 4.17
1963 2,064,000 67,382 12,046 55,336 32.6 5.8 26.8 2.6 4.11
1964 2,133,000 64,454 12,415 52,039 30.2 5.8 24.4 9.0 3.98
1965 2,205,000 62,969 12,582 50,387 28.6 5.7 22.9 10.9 3.91
1966 2,273,000 61,594 12,445 49,149 27.1 5.5 21.6 9.2 3.69
1967 2,337,000 57,031 12,622 44,409 24.4 5.4 19.0 9.2 3.55
1968 2,401,000 57,503 12,231 45,272 23.9 5.1 18.9 8.5 3.46
1969 2,462,000 56,203 12,782 43,421 22.8 5.2 17.6 7.8 3.20
1970 2,518,000 55,694 12,844 42,850 22.1 5.1 17.0 5.7 3.17
1971 2,580,000 58,188 12,518 45,670 22.6 4.9 17.7 6.9 3.18
1972 2,644,000 59,313 13,730 45,583 22.4 5.2 17.2 7.6 3.07
1973 2,708,000 59,593 14,102 45,491 22.0 5.2 16.8 7.4 2.92
1974 2,770,000 60,419 14,276 46,143 21.8 5.2 16.7 6.2 2.82
1975 2,826,000 62,866 15,498 47,368 22.2 5.5 16.8 3.4 2.79
1976 2,883,000 65,065 15,688 49,377 22.6 5.4 17.1 3.1 2.72
1977 2,943,000 65,830 15,813 50,017 22.4 5.4 17.0 3.8 2.61
1978 3,001,000 66,698 16,465 50,233 22.2 5.5 16.7 3.0 2.46
1979 3,051,000 69,786 17,125 52,661 22.9 5.6 17.3 -0.6 2.38
1980 3,096,000 70,324 17,124 53,200 22.7 5.5 17.2 -2.5 2.33
1981 3,144,000 73,682 16,659 57,023 23.4 5.3 18.1 -2.1 2.31
1982 3,194,000 74,225 17,469 56,756 23.2 5.5 17.8 -1.9 2.26
1983 3,243,000 76,436 18,369 58,067 23.6 5.7 17.9 -2.6 2.35
1984 3,292,000 79,767 19,043 60,724 24.2 5.8 18.4 -3.3 2.44
1985 3,339,000 80,306 19,581 60,725 24.1 5.9 18.2 -3.9 2.56
1986 3,387,000 81,192 19,410 61,782 24.0 5.7 18.2 --3.8 2.58
1987 3,435,000 78,492 19,727 58,765 22.9 5.7 17.1 -2.9 2.55
1988 3,453,000 74,707 35,567 39,140 21.6 10.3 11.3 -6.1 2.49
1989 3,482,000 75,250 20,853 54,397 21.6 6.0 15.6 -7.2 2.61
1990 3,545,000 79,882 21,993 57,889 22.5 6.2 16.3 1.8 2.63
1991 3,604,000 77,825 23,425 54,400 21.6 6.5 15.1 1.5 2.60
1992 3,549,000 70,581 25,824 44,757 19.9 7.3 12.6 -27.9 2.44
1993 3,410,000 59,041 27,500 31,541 17.3 8.1 9.2 -48.4 2.14
1994 3,309,000 51,143 24,648 26,495 15.5 7.4 8.0 -37.6 1.878
1995 3,255,000 48,960 24,842 24,118 15.0 7.6 7.4 -23.7 1.842
1996 3,247,000 48,134 24,936 23,198 14.8 7.7 7.1 -9.6 1.834
1997 3,242,000 43,929 23,985 19,944 13.5 7.4 6.2 -7.7 1.680
1998 3,235,000 39,366 23,210 16,156 12.2 7.2 5.0 -7.2 1.509
1999 3,230,000 36,502 24,087 12,415 11.3 7.5 3.8 -5.3 1.388
2000 3,221,000 34,276 24,025 10,251 10.6 7.5 3.2 -6.0 1.305
2001 3,214,000 32,065 24,003 8,062 10.0 7.5 2.5 -4.7 1.239
2002 3,205,000 32,229 25,554 6,675 10.1 8.0 2.1 -4.9 1.207
2003 3,188,000 35,793 26,014 9,779 11.2 8.2 3.1 -8.4 1.349
2004 3,172,000 37,520 25,679 11,841 11.8 8.1 3.7 -8.7 1.383
2005 3,155,000 37,499 26,379 11,120 11.9 8.4 3.5 -8.9 1.366
2006 3,139,000 37,639 27,202 10,437 12.0 8.7 3.3 -8.4 1.348 13.9 69.8 76.0 72.9
2007 3,122,000 40,105 26,830 13,275 12.8 8.6 4.3 -9.7 1.417 10.9 69.8 76.1 73.0
2008 3,106,000 41,185 27,412 13,773 13.3 8.8 4.4 -9.5 1.444 10.8 70.0 76.3 73.2
2009 3,089,000 44,466 27,528 16,938 14.4 8.9 5.5 -11.0 1.551 10.4 70.0 76.3 73.2
2010 3,073,000 44,825 27,921 16,904 14.6 9.1 5.5 -10.7 1.556 11.4 70.1 76.4 73.3
2011 3,056,000 43,340 27,963 15,377 14.2 9.1 5.0 -10.5 1.499 11.6 70.5 77.3 74.0
20123 3,037,000 42,480 27,599 14,881 14.0 9.1 4.9 -11.1 1.583 10.8 70.9 77.5 74.3
2013 3,022,000 41,770 27,165 14,605 13.8 9.0 4.8 -9.7 1.573 9.7 71.5 77.9 74.8
2014 3,014,000 43,183 27,196 15,987 14.3 9.0 5.3 -7.9 1.652 8.8 71.8 78.1 75.0
2015 3,007,000 41,763 27,878 13,885 13.9 9.3 4.6 -6.9 1.645 8.8 71.7 78.2 75.0
2016 2,998,000 40,592 28,226 12,366 13.5 9.4 4.2 -7.2 1.647 8.6 71.6 78.3 75.0
2017 2,986,000 37,700 27,157 10,543 12.7 9.2 3.5 -7.5 1.576 8.2 71.9 78.7 75.4
2018 2,973,000 36,574 25,751 10,823 12.3 8.7 3.6 -8.0 1.573 7.1 72.4 79 75.9
2019 2,965,000 36,041 26,186 9,855 12.2 8.8 3.4 -6.1 1.599 6.2
2020 2,959,000 36,353 36,433 -80 12.3 12.3 -0.0 -2.0 1.656
2021 2,964,000 36,623 34,388 2,235 12.4 11.6 0.8 0.9 1.710
2022 2,969,000 36,375 26,692 9,683 12.3 9.0 3.3 -1.6 1.738
2023 2,990,900 36,265 24,305 11,960 12.2 8.2 4.0 3.4 1.745(e)
2024 3,057,800

1 The numbers of life births and deaths until 1959 were calculated from the birth rate and death rate, respectively

2 The high number of deaths in 1988 is related to the Spitak earthquake, while in the rest of the 20th century the death rate was equal to the rate of other European countries (excluding England).[40]

3 The population estimate for 2012 has been recalculated on the basis of the 2011 Census.

2024: https://armstat.am/file/article/population_01_07_24.pdf

Current vital statistics

[edit]

[41]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January—August 2023 23,597 16,409 +7,188
January—August 2024 21,876 17,213 +4,663
Difference Decrease -1,721 (-7.3%) Negative increase +804 (+4.9%) Decrease -2,525
Birth rate by province[42][43]
Province TFR (2022) CBR (2022)
Yerevan 1.42 9.9
Aragatsotn 2.10 15.4
Ararat 2.08 15.2
Armavir 1.90 14.0
Gegharkunik 1.78 12.7
Lori 1.85 13.0
Kotayk 2.04 14.5
Shirak 1.67 12.2
Syunik 1.82 12.6
Vayots Dzor 1.99 14.5
Tavush 1.80 12.3

Ethnic groups

[edit]
Main article: Censuses of Armenia
Population of ethnic groups in Armenia in 1926–2022
Ethnic
group 		census 19261 census 19392 census 19593 census 19704 census 19795 census 19896 census 20017 census 20118 census 20229
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Armenians 743,571 84.5 1,061,997 82.8 1,551,610 88.0 2,208,327 88.6 2,724,975 89.7 3,083,616 93.3 3,145,354 97.9 2,961,514 98.1 2,875,697 98.1
Yazidis 12,237 1.4 20,481 1.6 25,627 1.5 37,486 1.5 50,822 1.7 56,127 1.7 40,620 1.3 35,272 1.2 31,077 1.1
Kurds 2,973 0.3 1,519 0.0 2,131 0.1 1,663 0.1
Russians 19,548 2.2 51,464 4.0 56,464 3.2 66,108 2.7 70,336 2.3 51,555 1.6 14,660 0.5 11,862 0.4 14,074 0.5
Assyrians 2,215 0.3 3,280 0.3 4,326 0.2 5,544 0.2 6,183 0.2 5,963 0.2 3,409 0.1 2,769 0.1 2,754 0.1
Ukrainians 2,286 0.3 5,496 0.4 5,593 0.3 8,390 0.3 8,900 0.3 8,341 0.3 1,633 0.1 1,176 0.0 1,005 0.0
Greeks 2,980 0.3 4,181 0.3 4,976 0.3 5,690 0.2 5,653 0.2 4,650 0.1 1,176 0.0 900 0.0 365 0.0
Georgians 274 0.0 652 0.1 816 0.0 1,439 0.1 1,314 0.0 1,364 0.0 694 0․0 974 0.0 223 0.0
Azerbaijanis 76,870 8.7 130,896 10.2 107,748 6.1 148,189 5.9 160,841 5.3 84,860 2.6 29 0․0
Jews 335 0.0 512 0.0 1,024 0.1 1,047 0.0 959 0.0 720 0.0 109 0․0 127[44] 0․0
Others 18,001 2.0 3,379 0.3 4,864 0.3 9,653 0.4 7,276 0.2 7,580 0.2 3,808 0.1 2,129 0.1 5,508 0.2
Total 880,464 1,282,338 1,763,048 2,491,873 3,037,259 3,304,776 3,213,011 3,018,854 2,932,731
1 Source: [1]. 2 Source: [2]. 3 Source: [3]. 4 Source: [4]. 5 Source: [5]. 6 Source: [6]. 7 Source: [7]. 8 Source: [8]
Ethnic map of Armenia

Ethnic groups of Armenia

  Armenian (98.1%)
  Yazidis (1.1%)
  Kurds (0.1%)
  Assyrians (0.1%)
  Russians (0.5%)
  Other (0.1%)

In 2002, ethnic minorities included Russians, Assyrians, Ukrainians, Yazidis, Kurds, Iranians, Greeks, Georgians, and Belarusians. There were also smaller communities of Vlachs, Mordvins, Ossetians, Udis, and Tats. Minorities of Poles and Caucasus Germans also exist, though they are heavily Russified.[45]

Languages

[edit]
Main article: Languages of Armenia

Armenian is the sole official language.

As per 2022 census data, Armenian is the most widely spoken language at 99%, Kurdish at 1%, Russian at 65% and English at 5%.[46]

Armenia is a member of La Francophonie, and hosted its annual summit in 2018.[47]

The largest communities of the Armenian diaspora, are fluent in Russian and English.

Religions

[edit]
Main article: Religion in Armenia

Most Armenians are Christians, primarily of the Apostolic Church rite. Armenia is considered the first nation to officially adopt Christianity, which was first preached in Armenia by two Apostles of Jesus, St. Bartholomew and St. Thaddeus in the 1st century. The Armenian Apostolic Church can trace its roots back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. The country formally adopted the Christian faith in 301 A.D. Over 90 percent of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenia also has a population of Catholics and Evangelical Protestants.

According to the 2022 Armenian census, number of adherents of primary religions in Armenia are the following: 2,793,042 (95.2%) Armenian Apostolic, 15,836 (0.5%) Evangelical, 14,349 (0.5%) Yazidism, 17,884 (0.6%) Armenian and Roman (Latin) Catholic, 6,316 (0.2%) Eastern Orthodox, 5,282 (0.2%) Jehovah's Witness, 2,000 (0.1%) Molokan (non-Orthodox Russians), 524 Assyrian Church of the East (Nestorian), 2,132 Paganism, 515 Islam, 118 Judaism. 17,501 (0.6%) people chose No Religion and 49,353 people chose (1.7%) No Response.[48]

Emigration

[edit]
Annual net migration rate (per 1000 population). Source data and projections (2019) from UN.

Compared to its neighbouring countries, Armenia has the highest share of immigrants (6.5 percent of total population, 2017 data).[21]

The estimated number of population net migration is −24.8 thousand persons, according to the Integrated living conditions survey of households of 2016; for urban population −13.8 thousand and for rural population −11.0 thousand persons.[1]

24.9% of households were involved in external and internal migration processes over the period of 2013– 2016. Migration directions were distributed as follows: 12% – internal, 10.5% – Republic of Artsakh, rest (76.4%) – international (of which 89.8% – Russia). Among household members of age 15 and above, who left their permanent residence in 2013–2016 for 3 months and longer and had not returned as of 2016, 11.9% were in Armenia, 13.0% in Artsakh, and 75.1% in other countries, predominantly in Russia. More than 54% of migrant household members of the age 15 years and above sent money and/ or goods to their families/relatives/friends within 12 months preceding the survey.[49]

According to 2019 UN data, the emigration rate averaged annually around 1.7 per 1000 inhabitants in years 2015–2020 and is expected to remain the same until year 2045. These are below average emigration rate of 11.5 per 1000 in years 2000–2010 and even below the emigration rate of 3.2 per 1000 in years 1980–1985.[50]

Migration during post-Soviet period

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It is estimated that 740,000-1,300,000 people left Armenia between 1988 and 2005.[51]

Economically recessed situation in Armenia during the 1990s enhanced the emigration of 125,000 refugees and displaced persons. Human and natural disasters also caused approximately 192,000 individuals to become internally displaced persons in Armenia. Among the disasters, the major impact was the 1988 Spitak earthquake.[51]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, borders that were once formal, now assumed real significance. Nonetheless, increased political, inter-ethnic, and social tensions prompted more and more people to migrate between Armenia and its neighbouring countries. As a result, approximately 100,000 persons or 3 percent of the country's population emigrated during the beginning of 1990s.[51]

Refugees and forcibly displaced persons started arriving to Armenia in spring 1988 and continued coming until late 1991. During this time, Armenia gave shelter to approximately 419,000 refugees and displaced persons, 360,000 of whom migrated from Azerbaijan. The rest immigrated from other regions of the former Soviet Union.[51]

419.000 people migrated to Armenia during the post-Soviet period

  Refugees from Azerbaijan (86%)
  Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh (7%)
  Persons Forcibly displaced (3%)
  Refugees from Shahumyan (bordering Nagorno-Karabakh) (4%)

Migration flows during the post-soviet period can be divided into 3 stages:

  • The first stage, prior to 1995, was characterized by mass emigration due to economic reasons, a drop in living standards, and a rapid deterioration in the delivery and quality of public utilities. It is estimated that over 800,000 people emigrated from Armenia during this period and that only 400,000 of them have returned since then.
  • During the second stage, from 1995 to 2001, emigration decreased, with most of those leaving to be labour migrants in search of better economic and social opportunities. 180,000 people (6 per cent of the population) emigrated from Armenia during these six years These emigrants tended to resettle abroad permanently and were later joined by relatives through family reunification.
  • The third stage, from 2002 to the present, is marked by a constant yearly increase in the number of persons travelling to and from Armenia. This stage was also characterized by a shift to a positive migration balance.[51]

According to government records, over 55 per cent of all emigrants are unmarried and 60 per cent are males between the ages of 20 and 44 (very few are children and even fewer are elderly people). Most have an educational level far higher than the national average and have no intention of returning to Armenia. Although no hard data exists, emigrant families appear to be even less likely to return.[51]

The emigration of the major part of the Armenian population has brought about important changes. For example, a decrease in the number of people of reproductive age in Armenia has led to a progressive drop in marriages and birth rates. There has also been a considerable change in the ethnic composition of the population in Armenia due to a higher rate of emigration among ethnic minorities.[51]

Immigration

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Wealth and poverty

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Inequality

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Out of 41 emerging economies, Armenia was among only four, which recorded rising inequality (measured by Gini coefficient) in years 2007–2015.[52]

Wealth

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According to Global Wealth Report, prepared by Credit Suisse, mean wealth per adult in Armenia in 2019 is estimated at $19,517 (rising 9 times from estimated $2,177 in year 2000). Mean wealth per adult in Armenia surpasses corresponding values for neighboring countries Georgia and Azerbaijan by over 50%, all CIS countries except Russia and Kazakhstan, and neighboring Iran. Growth rate of mean wealth per adult between 2000 and 2019 with the value of 9 times beats all neighboring countries, most of CIS countries as well as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[53][54]

Median wealth per adult is reported at $8,309 in 2019, above the world average, rising 9.6 times from $862 in year 2000.[53][54]

Between 2000 and 2019, average debts per adult grew 28.7 times to $1,261, or 6.5% of wealth per adult (below the 11.9% world average).[53][54]

55% of adults own less than $10,000, 42.7% — $10,000–$100,000, 2.2% — $100,000–$1 million and 0.1% — over $1 million. The share of adults owning less than $10,000 with the value of 55% is less than corresponding value in each of CIS countries, neighboring Iran and Turkey, as well as the world average. Gini coefficient for wealth is reported at 66.3%, less than 82.4% the European average and 88.5% the world average.[53][54]

Poverty

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See also: Social issues in Armenia

As much as 53.5% of the country's population was officially considered poor in 2004. Poverty fell significantly in the following years amid double-digit economic growth that came to an end with the onset of the global financial crisis in late 2008. It soared to almost 36% in 2010, one year after Armenia's Gross Domestic Product shrunk by over 14%. Afterwards, there was a decreasing trend throughout the last years reaching 23.5% in 2018, down from 25.7% in 2017.[55]

The poverty indicators in Shirak, Lori, Kotayk, Tavush and Armavir provinces are higher than the country average. The highest poverty rate in the country has been recorded in Shirak province, where 46% of the population is below the poverty line. To overcome poverty, Armenia would need AMD 63.2 billion, or an amount equal to 1.2% of GDP, in addition to the resources already allocated for social assistance, assuming that such assistance would be efficiently targeted to the poor.[33]

In terms of the international poverty line corresponding to US$1.25 in 2005 PPP, poverty in Armenia went down from 19.3% in the year 2001 to 1.5% in the year 2008 and remained nearly unchanged until the year 2015 moving in the range of 1.5% – 2.7%.[33]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The population in 1926 was later reported as 881,290 due to territorial adjustments that took place from 1926–1931.
  2. ^ The population in 1989 was later reported as 3,448,600.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Socio-economic situation of RA, January - March 2024" (PDF). n.d.
  2. ^ Korkotyan 1932, pp. 164–167.
  3. ^ Allerton Kilbourne Matossian 1962, p. 12.
  4. ^ Sarkisyanz 1975, p. 61.
  5. ^ a b Herzig & Kurkchiyan 2005, p. 113.
  6. ^ (in Russian) The All-Union Population Census of 1926. Demoscope.ru
  7. ^ 1. BRIEF HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE CENSUSES CONDUCTED PREVIOUSLY IN ARMENIA (PDF). Yerevan: Hayastani vichakagrakan komite. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2022.
  8. ^ "PART 8: POPULATION CENSUS" (PDF). Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. ^ Information from the 2001 Armenian National Census
  10. ^ "THE RESULTS OF 2011 POPULATION CENSUS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA (FIGURES OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA), trilingual / Armenian Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia". www.armstat.am. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  11. ^ Herzig & Kurkchiyan 2005, p. 46.
  12. ^ Herzig & Kurkchiyan 2005, p. 47.
  13. ^ a b Herzig & Kurkchiyan 2005, p. 66.
  14. ^ Bloxham 2005, p. 48.
  15. ^ Hovhannisian 2019, p. 242.
  16. ^ Pipes 1959, p. 48.
  17. ^ Korkotyan 1932, p. 183.
  18. ^ Herzig & Kurkchiyan 2005, pp. 115–117.
  19. ^ Mirzoyan 2009, p. 138.
  20. ^ Постановление N 754 Совета министров СССР «О мероприятиях по переселению колхозников и другого азербайджанского населения из Армянской ССР в Кура-Араксинскую низменность Азербайджанской ССР» от 10 марта 1948 г.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Ranking all countries – Sustainable Society Index". Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  23. ^ "Armenian 2011 census data, chapter 5" (PDF). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  24. ^ "World Development Indicators – Google Public Data Explorer". n.d. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  25. ^ "World Development Indicators – Google Public Data Explorer". n.d. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  26. ^ d_zykin (2 January 2016). "Продолжительность жизни по республикам СССР". Журнал Летучего Мыша: каждому свое и подобное к подобному. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  27. ^ "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". n.d. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  28. ^ "The DHS Program – Quality information to plan, monitor and improve population, health, and nutrition programs". dhsprogram.com.
  29. ^ "Map". Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Armenia Demographics Profile". indexmundi.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  31. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". United Nations.
  32. ^ h"Demographic Yearbook – 2020". New York: United Nations Statistics Division. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  33. ^ a b c "Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia, 2017, Part 1: Poverty Profile in 2008–2016" (PDF). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Share of rural population in Europe (animation)". n.d. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  35. ^ B.R. Mitchell. International historical statistics 1750–2005: Africa. Asia and Oceania
  36. ^ "Demographic Yearbook". United Nations Statistics Division.[not specific enough to verify]
  37. ^ "Statistical Committee of Armenia". armstat.am.
  38. ^ "Демоскоп Weekly – Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". demoscope.ru.
  39. ^ "The Demographic Handbook of Armenia, 2019 / Statistical Committee of Armenia". armstat.am.
  40. ^ Baten, Jörg (2016). A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present. Cambridge University Press. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-107-50718-0.
  41. ^ "Socio-Economic Situation of RA, January-August 2024 (in Armenian and Russian)".
  42. ^ "Statistical Yearbook of Armenia, 2023".
  43. ^ "The Demographic Handbook of Armenia, 2023".
  44. ^ "ԱԶԳԱՅԻՆ ՓՈՔՐԱՄԱՍՆՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԸ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՈՒ". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  45. ^ Garnik Asatryan and Victoria Arakelova, The Ethnic Minorities of Armenia Archived 8 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Routledge, part of the OSCE, 2002
  46. ^ "The Main Results of RA Census 2022 / Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia". www.armstat.am. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  47. ^ "La Francophonie Ministerial Conference kicks off with moment of silence in honor of late Charles Aznavour". n.d.
  48. ^ "The Main Results of RA Census 2022 / Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia". www.armstat.am. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  49. ^ "The Demographic Handbook of Armenia, 2017 – Migration" (PDF). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  50. ^ "World Population Prospects – Population Division". United Nations. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g Migration Perspectives in Eastern Europe and Central Asia - 2006.
  52. ^ "World Development Report 2019" (PDF). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  53. ^ a b c d "Global wealth report". Credit Suisse. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  54. ^ a b c d "Global wealth databook 2019" (PDF). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  55. ^ "Armenian Government Reports Further Drop In Poverty" azatutyun.am

Bibliography

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