- Country name
- conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic
etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the local name for the country, Hayastan, comes from Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; the name Armenia was first recorded in a rock inscription from A.D. 521 in modern-day Iran - Government type
- parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system
- Capital
- name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name origin is unclear; it may derive from the name of a local ethnic group, or from the ancient fortress of Erebuni that was built on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C. - Administrative divisions
- 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
- Legal system
- civil law system
- Constitution
- history: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995
amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, the National Assembly, and a referendum with at least 25% registered-voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable - International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years - Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds, if needed, for a single 7-year term; prime minister indirectly elected by majority vote in two rounds, if needed, by the National Assembly
most recent election date: 3 March 2022
election results: 2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (independent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-02018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN (indpendent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10
expected date of next election: 2029 - Legislative branch
- legislature name: National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 107 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 6/20/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Civil Contract Party (71); Armenia Alliance (29); I Have the Honour Alliance (7)
percentage of women in chamber: 38.3%
expected date of next election: June 2026 - Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Appeals Court (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges – with both civil and administrative specializations); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; judges can serve until age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70
subordinate courts: criminal and civil appellate courts; administrative appellate court; first instance courts; specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts - Political parties
- Armenia Alliance or HDArmenian National Congress or ANCBright Armenia or BACivil Contract or KPHanrapetutyun Party or HPHeritageI Have Honor Alliance (formerly known as the Republican Party of Armenia) PUDOrinats Yerkir or OYProsperous Armenia or PAP
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Narek MKRTCHYAN (since 19 September 2025)
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
email address and website: armembassyusa@mfa.amhttps://usa.mfa.am/en/
consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA) - Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Kristina A. KVIEN (since 21 February 2023)
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
mailing address: 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374] (10) 464-700
FAX: [374] (10) 464-742
email address and website: acsyerevan@state.govhttps://am.usembassy.gov/ - International organization participation
- ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- Independence
- 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
- Flag
- description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orangemeaning: red stands for the blood shed for liberty, blue for the Armenian skies and hope, and orange for the land and the courage of the workers who farm it
- National symbol(s)
- Mount Ararat, eagle, lion
- National color(s)
- red, blue, orange
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
history: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics - National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley; Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin