Western Asia · Asia

Armenia

Discover Armenia - the world's first Christian nation, where ancient monasteries cling to volcanic highlands, cognac rivals the French, and a 3,000-year civilization endures.

Where Is Armenia?

Armenia is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Yerevan.

Where Armenia isWestern Asia · Capital Yerevan

Capital Yerevan
Population 3.09M
Area 29,743 km²

Armenia claims one of those distinctions that nobody can take away: it was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion, in 301 CE - a full decade before Rome. This tiny, landlocked nation wedged between Turkey, Georgia, Iran, and Azerbaijan has been at the crossroads of empires for over 3,000 years, and it shows. Ancient monasteries perch on cliff edges with views of snow-capped Mount Ararat, which Armenians consider their spiritual symbol even though it sits just across the border in Turkey.

The Armenian alphabet, created in 405 CE by the monk Mesrop Mashtots, is one of the great intellectual achievements of the ancient world - and Armenians are still fiercely proud of it. This is a country of volcanic highlands, apricot orchards (the Latin name for apricot literally means "Armenian plum"), and brandy so good that Winston Churchill reportedly drank it daily. The Armenian diaspora, scattered by genocide and centuries of upheaval, outnumbers the homeland population several times over, yet Armenian identity remains remarkably intact. A language, an alphabet, a church, and an unbroken sense of who they are - Armenia endures.

At a glance

Language

Armenian

Currency

Armenian Dram (AMD)

Calling Code

+374

Drives On

Right

Internet

.am

Timezone

AMT (UTC+4)

Script

Armenian

Government

Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Independence

1991

By population

Largest cities in Armenia

Yerevan

Capital and cultural heart built from pink volcanic tuff, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities dating to 782 BCE

1,080,000

Gyumri

Second largest city known for its dark humor, 19th-century architecture, and resilient spirit after the devastating 1988 earthquake

120,000

Vanadzor

Third city nestled in a valley of the northern highlands, surrounded by forests and known for its chemical industry heritage

80,000

Dilijan

Mountain resort town called the Armenian Switzerland, surrounded by forested national park and home to a restored craftsmen quarter

18,000

People

Famous people from Armenia

Charles Aznavour
Music
Franco-Armenian singer-songwriter who sold over 180 million records, often called France's Frank Sinatra
Aram Khachaturian
Music
Composer of the Sabre Dance and the Spartacus ballet, one of the most celebrated Soviet-era composers
Tigran Petrosian
Sport
World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969, known as Iron Tigran for his virtually impenetrable defensive style
Sergei Parajanov
Film
Visionary filmmaker whose The Color of Pomegranates is considered one of the most beautiful films ever made
William Saroyan
Literature
Armenian-American writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940 and the Academy Award for Best Story

Food

Traditional cuisine of Armenia

Khorovats: Armenian barbecue of marinated pork, lamb, or chicken grilled over wood or charcoal, the centerpiece of every family gathering
Lavash: Paper-thin flatbread baked in a tonir clay oven, UNESCO-listed as intangible cultural heritage and a staple of every meal
Dolma: Grape leaves or vegetables stuffed with spiced meat and rice, served warm with garlic yogurt on the side
Ghapama: Baked pumpkin stuffed with rice, dried fruits, nuts, and honey, a festive dish traditionally served at New Year celebrations
Armenian Cognac: Brandy aged in Caucasian oak barrels, so admired by Churchill that he reportedly ordered 400 bottles a year from Yerevan

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Armenia

Mount AraratMountain: Armenia's national symbol at 5,137 meters, visible from Yerevan but located across the Turkish border - where Noah's Ark allegedly landed
Lake SevanLake: One of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world at 1,900 meters, called the Jewel of Armenia with its ancient island monastery
Tatev MonasteryLandmark: 9th-century monastery perched on a cliff edge in a dramatic gorge, reached by the world's longest reversible aerial tramway
Dilijan National ParkNational Park: Dense forested highlands of the Lesser Caucasus, home to brown bears, lynx, and medieval monasteries hidden among the trees
Garni GorgeCanyon: Basalt canyon with stunning columnar formations called the Symphony of Stones, resembling a massive natural pipe organ

Sport

Sports in Armenia

Chess: Armenia has won three Chess Olympiad gold medals, an astonishing achievement for a country of three million people
Wrestling: Multiple Olympic medals in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, deeply rooted in Armenian highland traditions
Weightlifting: Consistently produces Olympic and World Championship medalists despite the country's small population

Facts

Did you know?

Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 CE, making it the first country in the world to make it the state religion
The Armenian alphabet has 39 letters and was created in 405 CE by a monk named Mesrop Mashtots specifically for the Armenian language
The word apricot comes from the Latin prunus armeniaca, meaning Armenian plum - Armenians have cultivated them for over 3,000 years
Armenia has more chess grandmasters per capita than almost any country in the world, and chess is taught as a mandatory school subject
Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark supposedly landed, is the national symbol of Armenia even though it is located in Turkey
The Yerevan Brandy Company's cognac was Winston Churchill's favorite - he reportedly consumed a bottle a day for decades

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