Armenia

Geographical Information: Armenia is a landlocked country located in the Southern Caucasus, bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and Republic of Georgia. It is located in the mountainous region straddling Europe and Asia. The official language is Armenian.

Learn more about Armenia

Culture

Government

• Armenia is a democratic republic.

• The executive branch of government includes a democratically elected president and a prime minister appointed by the president based on majority support in National Assembly.

• The legislative branch of government is represented by the 131 seat National Assembly (Parliament). The National Assembly is controlled by a coalition of four political parties: the Republican Party, the Prosperous Armenia party, the Rule of Law party, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

• The judicial branch of government includes the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation.

Religion

• Christianity was introduced to Armenia in the 1st century AD by the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus, and Armenia is known to be the first nation to formally adopt Christianity as its official religion.

• Currently, almost 95% of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

• Small percentages of Armenians belong to other Christian denominations, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship), and Islam.

Ethnicities

• Armenian: 97.9%

• Yezidi (Kurd): 1.3%

• Russian: .5%

• Other: .3%

Food

• Armenian cuisine is considered to combine the best of Persian (Iranian), Greek, and Turkish styles.

• The subtropical to sub-temperate climate of Armenia allows for the production of a wide variety of crops that contribute to its vibrant and delectable cuisine. Commonly grown produce includes pine nuts, almonds and walnuts; rice, wheat and corn; beans and lentils; fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums, quinces, cherries, lemons, and grapes; eggplants, aubergines, pumpkins, peas, and olives. Additionally, milk and cheese is produced from goats, cattle, and sheep.

• It is common for produce to be eaten fresh and in season, as well as dried, smoked, and pickled for consumption in the winter months. Common meat dishes include kyufta (meatballs) dolma (grape leaves stuffed with mutton, rice, onions, greens, herbs and spices), and baskyrtat (thin strips of boiled beef mixed with walnuts and coriander, covered in matsun[dairy]). Traditional Armenian bread called lavash, which is an unleavened wheat cake, is a popular bread product.

• Armenia is also famous for its wine and brandy. In particular, Armenian cognac is considered to be among the best in the world.

• Armenia is well-known for its culture of hospitality, which is rooted in ancient tradition. Upon visiting an Armenian home, it is typical to be offered something to eat or drink. Social gatherings are commonly focused around dining on multiple courses of elaborately prepared food. An empty plate or glass is often remedied quickly by a generous host, though it is acceptable to politely refuse or leave a small bit of uneaten food for the guest to signal that they are finished. Alcohol such as cognac, vodka, or red wine is commonly served during meals.

Industry and Economy

• The major sectors of Armenian economy include industry, construction, agriculture, trade, transport and communication.

• Main components of Armenian industry include energy/gas/water production and distribution, food processing and packaging, metallurgy, mining, jewelry and diamond processing, and chemical and pharmaceutical production. Main exports include precious and semi-precious stones, precious and non-precious metals and finished products, foodstuffs, mining products, light industry items, machinery and equipment.

Education and Literacy

• According to the 2006 census, Armenian males complete an average of 11 years of formal education and females complete an average of 12 years of formal education.

• Secondary education in Armenia consists of 3 levels: Elementary School (grades 1-3), Basic School (grades (4-8), and High School (grades 9-10).

• High School graduates have the option of continuing their education by attending either a specialized and technical secondary institution or a state or private university. There are 15 state institutions for higher education and 75 private universities. 9)

• The literacy rate in Armenia is 99.4%. A slight differential places males at a literacy rate of 99.7% and females at a literacy rate of 99.2%.

View of Disability

A survey conducted in Armenia by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) explored knowledge and attitudes among the general population regarding mental health problems. It was determined that many of the respondents considered mental illness to be something that is frightening and shameful. There is a stigma associated with mental illness that may lead families to hide the fact that a family member is mentally ill. It is noted that family members of individuals with mental illness may have the perception that they will have a difficult time marrying if it is known that mental illness runs in their family. The authors note that the need for mental health services in Armenia is high, though the demand for services is low due to this stigma, causing many mental health professionals to have to leave the country to find employment. The following story is excerpted from this article.

• ‘L’ is a 15-year old girl. She is mentally ill and shows signs of autism. She attended school for 1 year, but is no longer welcomed because the teacher considers her a bad student who cannot be taught anything. Her parents have decided that they do not want to spend any money to buy medication for L or to let her visit a psychiatrist or psychologist. For them, L is a punishment from God. Her future is uncertain as she will not be able to have a job. At the moment her parents still support her, because she is still a minor, but the day she becomes an adult, nobody knows what will become of L.

Immigration

Since independence from the Soviet Union, the immigration rate of Armenians to other countries has been significant. Of the eight million Armenians worldwide, an estimated 60% live outside Armenia. An estimated one million Armenians have immigrated to both the United States and Russia. Large Armenian communities also exist in Georgia, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, and Canada.

The first Armenian known to have settled in the United States is Martin the Armenian, who arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1618. Presently, approximately half of over one million Armenians living in the United States reside in California, mostly in the cities of Glendale, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The second largest Armenian population in the United States resides in New York.

The presence of an Armenian community in Oregon can be traced back to the 1880's when a small group of Armenians formed a church in Portland. Currently, the Armenian community in the area consists of at least 300 known families in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Armenian community of Oregon is primarily located in the city of Portland.

Armenian organizations in the area include the Armenian Community of Oregon (A.C.O) and the Armenian Apostolic Church of Oregon.

Useful Links:

• A detailed history of Armenian immigration patterns