festivites
Armenia celebrates several traditional and religious holidays throughout the year. Here are some of them:
1. New Year's Day (January 1): Celebrated with fireworks, feasting, and gift-giving, much like in other countries.
2. Armenian Christmas (January 6-7): The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6-7, with church services and family gatherings.
3. Vardavar (July/August): A pagan holiday that marks the start of summer, Vardavar is celebrated by dousing each other with water. It is a fun, light-hearted festival where people take to the streets with buckets, hoses, and water balloons.
4. Easter (March/April): Armenians celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar, which usually falls a few weeks after the Western Easter. The holiday is marked with church services, feasting, and public celebrations.
5. Independence Day (September 21): This national holiday commemorates Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Celebrations include parades, concerts, and cultural events.
6. Yerevan International Film Festival (October): This annual film festival showcases independent films from around the world and attracts filmmakers and movie buffs from all over.
7. All Saints' Day (November 1): Known as "Surp Sarkis," this holiday is celebrated by visiting cemeteries and lighting candles at the graves of loved ones. It is a day to remember those who have passed away and honor their memory.
These holidays and festivals reflect the rich cultural heritage of Armenia and are celebrated with enthusiasm and joy by Armenians both in Armenia and around the world.
seasons
Armenia has four distinct tourist seasons:
1. Spring Season (March-May): This is a great time to visit Armenia for nature lovers as the countryside is blooming with wildflowers. The weather is mild but can be unpredictable with occasional rainfall. Recommendations include visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Geghard Monastery and Lake Sevan.
2. Summer Season (June-August): This is peak tourist season in Armenia with warm and sunny weather. It's an ideal time for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and exploring historic cities like Yerevan. However, it can get quite crowded, so it’s recommended to book accommodations and tours in advance.
3. Autumn Season (September-November): This is another good time to visit Armenia when the weather is cooler, and the landscapes are painted with vibrant fall colors. It's also the grape harvest season, so visitors can enjoy local wine festivals. Recommendations include visiting Dilijan National Park and Tatev Monastery.
4. Winter Season (December-February): This is the low season in Armenia due to cold temperatures and snow. However, it's a great time to experience winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and sledding at resorts like Tsaghkadzor. Recommendations include visiting Garni Temple and the Armenian Genocide Memorial.
visa
Here are some special visa rules for visiting Armenia:
1. Visa-free entry: Citizens of certain countries can enter Armenia without a visa for a limited period, usually up to 90 days within a six-month period. These countries include the United States, Canada, EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, and many others.
2. Electronic visa (e-Visa): Citizens of most other countries can apply for an e-Visa online before traveling to Armenia. The cost for an e-Visa is $6 USD for a single-entry visa and $13 USD for a multiple-entry visa.
3. Visa-on-arrival: Some nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport or border checkpoint in Armenia. This includes citizens of Iran, India, China, and a few other countries. The fee for a visa on arrival is $60 USD for a single-entry visa and $70 USD for a multiple-entry visa.
It's important to note that visa requirements and fees can change, so it's always best to check with the Armenian embassy or consulate in your country before making travel plans.
souvenirs
Here are some popular souvenirs to buy from Armenia, along with their average price and where to buy them:
1. Armenian brandy - Prices vary depending on the brand and quality, but a bottle of good Armenian brandy can range from $20 to $200 or more. You can find it at supermarkets, wine stores, or duty-free shops.
2. Khachkar replica - A small replica of a khachkar (Armenian cross-stone) can cost between $5 to $50, depending on its size and complexity. You can find them in souvenir shops or markets, such as Vernissage in Yerevan.
3. Traditional embroidery - Embroidered items such as tablecloths, shawls, or bags can range from $10 to $50 or more, depending on their quality and intricacy. Look for them in souvenir shops or markets like Vernissage.
4. Pomegranate-themed gifts - As pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and abundance in Armenian culture, you can find various products featuring this motif, such as ceramics, jewelry, or keychains. Prices range from $5 to $30 or more. Check out gift shops or markets like Gum Market in Yerevan.
5. Lavash bread - A pack of dried lavash bread can cost around $1 to $5, depending on its size and quantity. You can find it in supermarkets or food markets, such as GUM market or Sasuntsi Davit Market.
Note that prices may vary depending on the location and vendor, so it's always a good idea to compare prices before buying.
If you have 1 week
Wonderful! Armenia is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. Here's a week-long itinerary that I suggest you should consider during your stay:
Day 1: Start your trip by exploring the capital city of Yerevan, which is also known as the "Pink City." Visit the Republic Square, which is surrounded by stunning buildings such as the National Gallery of Armenia and the History Museum of Armenia. Take a stroll through the Cascade complex, an outdoor art museum with unique sculptures and breathtaking views of the city.
Day 2: Head out to Garni Temple, a remarkable Hellenistic temple located in the Kotayk province. This 1st-century AD temple offers visitors a glimpse into the ancient Pagan beliefs of the region. Afterward, explore the nearby Geghard Monastery, which is carved entirely out of a mountain.
Day 3: Enjoy a day trip to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. The lake offers numerous recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing. Visit Sevanavank monastery, which is located on an island in the middle of the lake, for a unique spiritual experience.
Day 4: Explore the southern region of Armenia by visiting Tatev Monastery, which is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Vorotan River Gorge. You can reach the monastery by taking a scenic cable car ride over the gorge. Afterward, visit the nearby Devil's Bridge, a natural stone arch formation.
Day 5: Visit the town of Dilijan, which is known as the "Switzerland of Armenia" due to its picturesque scenery. Stroll down Sharambeyan Street and admire the beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture. Visit the Dilijan National Park, which offers hiking trails, forests, and wildlife.
Day 6: Head to the northern region of Lori and visit the medieval Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. These monasteries offer impressive examples of Armenian ecclesiastical architecture from the 10th to the 13th century.
Day 7: End your trip by visiting Khor Virap monastery, which offers stunning views of Mount Ararat. According to tradition, this is also the place where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of Armenia.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Armenia and create unforgettable memories!
If you have 2 weeks
Great to hear that you are in Armenia! This country has a rich cultural history and plenty of natural beauty to explore. Here's a two-week itinerary for you:
Week 1:
Day 1-3: Yerevan
Start your trip by exploring the vibrant capital city of Yerevan. Visit the Republic Square, an important landmark with stunning architecture, and the Cascade Complex, where you can take in panoramic views of the city. Don't miss out on the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, which serves as a reminder of the country's tragic past.
Day 4: Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery
Take a day trip to the nearby Garni Temple, a first-century Hellenistic temple with impressive columns and stone carvings. Afterwards, head to the Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built into a cliff face.
Day 5-7: Dilijan
Experience the natural beauty of Armenia by visiting the town of Dilijan. Explore the lush forests, mountain trails, and serene lakes of Dilijan National Park. Take a stroll through the historic Old Town of Dilijan, filled with traditional Armenian architecture and cozy cafes.
Week 2:
Day 8-9: Lake Sevan
Pay a visit to Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Enjoy the views from the peninsula of Sevanavank Monastery or take a dip in the cool waters of the lake.
Day 10-12: Tatev Monastery and Khndzoresk Village
Head south to visit the incredible Tatev Monastery, accessible via the Wings of Tatev, the longest non-stop double-track cable car in the world. Also, visit the abandoned cave village of Khndzoresk, to see how people used to live in caves, experience hiking in the natural beauty of the region.
Day 13-14: Gyumri
End your trip by visiting Armenia's second-largest city, Gyumri. Explore its charming streets, filled with traditional architecture, galleries and museums. Take a stroll through the Kumayri Historic District, known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings.
[🔒CLASSIC] That's my suggested itinerary for you! I hope it provides a good mix of historical, cultural, and natural attractions that will make for an unforgettable two weeks in Armenia. Enjoy your trip!
Culture
Armenian music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop, and extensive Christian music.
Instruments like the duduk, dhol, zurna, and kanun are commonly found in Armenian folk music. Artists such as Sayat Nova are famous due to their influence in the development of Armenian folk music. One of the oldest types of Armenian music is the Armenian chant which is the most common kind of religious music in Armenia. Many of these chants are ancient in origin, extending to pre-Christian times, while others are relatively modern, including several composed by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. Whilst under Soviet rule, the Armenian classical music composer Aram Khatchaturian became internationally well known for his music, for various ballets and the Sabre Dance from his composition for the ballet Gayane.
The Armenian Genocide caused widespread emigration that led to the settlement of Armenians in various countries in the world. Armenians kept to their traditions and certain diasporans rose to fame with their music. In the post-genocide Armenian community of the United States, the so-called "kef" style Armenian dance music, using Armenian and Middle Eastern folk instruments (often electrified/amplified) and some western instruments, was popular. This style preserved the folk songs and dances of Western Armenia, and many artists also played the contemporary popular songs of Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries from which the Armenians emigrated.
Richard Hagopian is perhaps the most famous artist of the traditional "kef" style and the Vosbikian Band was notable in the 1940s and 1950s for developing their own style of "kef music" heavily influenced by the popular American Big Band Jazz of the time. Later, stemming from the Middle Eastern Armenian diaspora and influenced by Continental European (especially French) pop music, the Armenian pop music genre grew to fame in the 1960s and 1970s with artists such as Adiss Harmandian and Harout Pamboukjian performing to the Armenian diaspora and Armenia; also with artists such as Sirusho, performing pop music combined with Armenian folk music in today's entertainment industry.
Other Armenian diasporans that rose to fame in classical or international music circles are world-renowned French-Armenian singer and composer Charles Aznavour, pianist Sahan Arzruni, prominent opera sopranos such as Hasmik Papian and more recently Isabel Bayrakdarian and Anna Kasyan. Certain Armenians settled to sing non-Armenian tunes such as the heavy metal band System of a Down (which nonetheless often incorporates traditional Armenian instrumentals and styling into their songs) or pop star Cher. In the Armenian diaspora, Armenian revolutionary songs are popular with the youth. These songs encourage Armenian patriotism and are generally about Armenian history and national heroes.
Yerevan Vernissage (arts and crafts market), close to Republic Square, bustles with hundreds of vendors selling a variety of crafts on weekends and Wednesdays (though the selection is much reduced mid-week). The market offers woodcarving, antiques, fine lace, and the hand-knotted wool carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus speciality. Obsidian, which is found locally, is crafted into assortment of jewellery and ornamental objects. Armenian gold smithery enjoys a long tradition, populating one corner of the market with a selection of gold items. Soviet relics and souvenirs of recent Russian manufacture – nesting dolls, watches, enamel boxes and so on – are also available at the Vernisage.
Across from the Opera House, a popular art market fills another city park on the weekends. Armenia's long history as a crossroads of the ancient world has resulted in a landscape with innumerable fascinating archaeological sites to explore. Medieval, Iron Age, Bronze Age and even Stone Age sites are all within a few hours drive from the city. All but the most spectacular remain virtually undiscovered, allowing visitors to view churches and fortresses in their original settings.
The National Art Gallery in Yerevan has more than 16,000 works that date back to the Middle Ages, which indicate Armenia's rich tales and stories of the times. It houses paintings by many European masters as well. The Modern Art Museum, the Children's Picture Gallery, and the Martiros Saryan Museum are only a few of the other noteworthy collections of fine art on display in Yerevan. Moreover, many private galleries are in operation, with many more opening every year, featuring rotating exhibitions and sales.
On 13 April 2013, the Armenian government announced a change in law to allow freedom of panorama for 3D works of art.
Cinema in Armenia was born on 16 April 1923, when the Armenian State Committee of Cinema was established by a decree of the Soviet Armenian government.
However, the first Armenian film with Armenian subject called "Haykakan Sinema" was produced earlier in 1912 in Cairo by Armenian-Egyptian publisher Vahan Zartarian. The film was premiered in Cairo on 13 March 1913.
In March 1924, the first Armenian film studio; Armenfilm (Հայֆիլմ "Hayfilm," Арменкино "Armenkino") was established in Yerevan, starting with a documentary film called Soviet Armenia.
Namus was the first Armenian silent black-and-white film, directed by Hamo Beknazarian in 1925, based on a play of Alexander Shirvanzade, describing the ill fate of two lovers, who were engaged by their families to each other since childhood, but because of violations of namus (a tradition of honor), the girl was married by her father to another person. The first sound film, Pepo was shot in 1935 and directed by Hamo Beknazarian.
A wide array of sports are played in Armenia, the most popular among them being wrestling, weightlifting, judo, association football, chess, and boxing. Armenia's mountainous terrain provides great opportunities for the practice of sports like skiing and climbing. Being a landlocked country, water sports can only be practised on lakes, notably Lake Sevan. Competitively, Armenia has been successful in chess, weightlifting and wrestling at the international level. Armenia is also an active member of the international sports community, with full membership in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It also hosts the Pan-Armenian Games.
Prior to 1992, Armenians would participate in the Olympics representing the USSR. As part of the Soviet Union, Armenia was very successful, winning plenty of medals and helping the USSR win the medal standings at the Olympics on numerous occasions. The first medal won by an Armenian in modern Olympic history was by Hrant Shahinyan (sometimes spelled as Grant Shaginyan), who won two golds and two silvers in gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. To highlight the level of success of Armenians in the Olympics, Shahinyan was quoted as saying:
"Armenian sportsmen had to outdo their opponents by several notches for the shot at being accepted into any Soviet team. But those difficulties notwithstanding, 90 percent of Armenian athletes on Soviet Olympic teams came back with medals."
Armenia first participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona under a unified CIS team, where it was very successful, winning three golds and one silver in weightlifting, wrestling and sharp shooting, despite only having five athletes. Since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Armenia has participated as an independent nation.
Armenia participates in the Summer Olympic Games in boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, judo, gymnastics, track and field, diving, swimming and sharp shooting. It also participates in the Winter Olympic Games in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and figure skating.
Football is also popular in Armenia. The most successful team was the FC Ararat Yerevan team of the 1970s who won the Soviet Cup in 1973 and 1975 and the Soviet Top League in 1973. The latter achievement saw FC Ararat gain entry to the European Cup where – despite a home victory in the second leg – they lost on aggregate at the quarter final stage to eventual winner FC Bayern Munich. Armenia competed internationally as part of the USSR national football team until the Armenian national football team was formed in 1992 after the split of the Soviet Union. Armenia have never qualified for a major tournament although recent improvements saw the team to achieve 44th position in the FIFA World Rankings in September 2011. The national team is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia. The Armenian Premier League is the highest level football competition in Armenia, and has been dominated by FC Pyunik in recent seasons. The league currently consists of eight teams and relegates to the Armenian First League.
Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have produced many successful footballers, including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Youri Djorkaeff, Alain Boghossian, Andranik Eskandarian, Andranik Teymourian, Edgar Manucharyan and Nikita Simonyan. Djokaeff and Boghossian won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France, Teymourian competed in the 2006 World Cup for Iran and Manucharyan played in the Dutch Eredivisie for Ajax. Mkhitaryan has been one of the most successful Armenian footballers in recent years, playing for international clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Arsenal and currently for A.S. Roma.
Wrestling has been a successful sport in the Olympics for Armenia. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Armen Nazaryan won the gold in the Men's Greco-Roman Flyweight (52 kg) category and Armen Mkrtchyan won the silver in Men's Freestyle Paperweight (48 kg) category, securing Armenia's first two medals in its Olympic history.
Traditional Armenian wrestling is called Kokh and practised in traditional garb; it was one of the influences included in the Soviet combat sport of Sambo, which is also very popular.
The government of Armenia budgets about $2.8 million annually for sports and gives it to the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports, the body that determines which programs should benefit from the funds.
Due to the lack of success lately on the international level, in recent years, Armenia has rebuilt 16 Soviet-era sports schools and furnished them with new equipment for a total cost of $1.9 million. The rebuilding of the regional schools was financed by the Armenian government. $9.3 million has been invested in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor to improve the winter sports infrastructure because of dismal performances at recent winter sports events. In 2005, a cycling centre was opened in Yerevan with the aim of helping produce world class Armenian cyclists. The government has also promised a cash reward of $700,000 to Armenians who win a gold medal at the Olympics.
Armenia has also been very successful in chess, winning the World Champion in 2011 and the World Chess Olympiad on three occasions.
Armenian cuisine is closely related to eastern and Mediterranean cuisine; various spices, vegetables, fish, and fruits combine to present unique dishes. The main characteristics of Armenian cuisine are a reliance on the quality of the ingredients rather than heavily spicing food, the use of herbs, the use of wheat in a variety of forms, of legumes, nuts, and fruit (as a main ingredient as well as to sour food), and the stuffing of a wide variety of leaves.
The pomegranate, with its symbolic association with fertility, represents the nation. The apricot is the national fruit.
Television, magazines, and newspapers are all operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations which depend on advertising, subscription, and other sales-related revenues. The Constitution of Armenia guarantees freedom of speech and Armenia ranks 61st in the 2020 Press Freedom Index report compiled by Reporters Without Borders, between Georgia and Poland. Armenia's press freedom rose considerably following the 2018 Velvet Revolution.
As of 2020, the biggest issue facing press freedom in Armenia is judicial harassment of journalists, specifically defamation suits and attacks on journalists' right to protect sources, as well as excessive responses to combat disinformation spread by social media users. Reporters Without Borders also cites continued concerns about lack of transparency regarding ownership of media outlets.
Religion
Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, an event traditionally dated to AD 301.
The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity. Its roots go back to the 1st century AD, when it was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles – Thaddaeus and Bartholomew – who preached Christianity in Armenia between AD 40–60.
Over 93% of Christians in Armenia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is in communion only with the churches comprising Oriental Orthodoxy—of which it is itself a member.
Catholics also exist in Armenia, both Latin rite and Armenian rite. The latter group, the Armenian Catholic Church, is headquartered in Bzoummar, Lebanon. Of note are the Mechitarists (also spelled "Mekhitarists" Մխիթարեան), a congregation of Benedictine monks in the Armenian Catholic Church, founded in 1712 by Mekhitar of Sebaste. They are best known for their series of scholarly publications of ancient Armenian versions of otherwise lost ancient Greek texts.
The Armenian Evangelical Church has several thousand members throughout the country.
Other Christian denominations in Armenia are the Pentecostal branches of Protestant community such as the Word of Life, the Armenian Brotherhood Church, the Baptists (which are known as one of the oldest existing denominations in Armenia, and were permitted by the authorities of the Soviet Union), and Presbyterians.
Armenia is also home to a Russian community of Molokans which practice a form of Spiritual Christianity originated from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Yazidis, who live in the western part of the country, practice Yazidism. The world's largest Yazidi temple, Quba Mêrê Dîwanê, was completed in 2019 in the village of Aknalich. There are also Kurds who practice Sunni Islam.
There is a Jewish community in Armenia diminished to 750 persons since independence with most emigrants leaving for Israel. There are currently two synagogues in Armenia – in the capital, Yerevan, and in the city of Sevan located near Lake Sevan.
Demographics
Armenia has a population of ( est.) and is the third most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. There has been a problem of population decline due to elevated levels of emigration after the break-up of the USSR. In the past years emigration levels have declined and some population growth is observed since 2012.
Armenia has a relatively large external diaspora (8 million by some estimates, greatly exceeding the 3 million population of Armenia itself), with communities existing across the globe. The largest Armenian communities outside of Armenia can be found in Russia, France, Iran, the United States, Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, Australia, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Poland, Ukraine and Brazil. 40,000 to 70,000 Armenians still live in Turkey (mostly in and around Istanbul).
About 1,000 Armenians reside in the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, a remnant of a once-larger community. Italy is home to the San Lazzaro degli Armeni, an island located in the Venetian Lagoon, which is completely occupied by a monastery run by the Mechitarists, an Armenian Catholic congregation. Approximately 139,000 Armenians live in the de facto independent country Republic of Artsakh where they form a majority.
Ethnic Armenians make up 98.1% of the population. Yazidis make up 1.2%, and Russians 0.4%. Other minorities include Assyrians, Ukrainians, Greeks (usually called Caucasus Greeks), Kurds, Georgians, Belarusians, and Jews. There are also smaller communities of Vlachs, Mordvins, Ossetians, Udis, and Tats. Minorities of Poles and Caucasus Germans also exist though they are heavily Russified. , there are an estimated 35,000 Yazidis in Armenia.
During the Soviet era, Azerbaijanis were historically the second largest population in the country, numbering 76,550 in 1922, and forming about 2.5% in 1989. However, due to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, virtually all of them emigrated from Armenia to Azerbaijan. Conversely, Armenia received a large influx of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, thus giving Armenia a more homogeneous character.
According to Gallup research conducted in 2017 Armenia has one of the highest migrant acceptance (welcoming) rates in eastern Europe.
Armenians have their own distinct alphabet and language, which is the only official language. The alphabet was invented c. AD 405 by Mesrop Mashtots and consists of thirty-nine letters, three of which were added during the Cilician period. The main foreign languages that Armenians know are Russian and English. Due to its Soviet past, most of the old population can speak Russian quite well. According to a 2013 survey, 95% of Armenians said they had some knowledge of Russian (24% advanced, 59% intermediate) compared to 40% who said they knew some English (4% advanced, 16% intermediate and 20% beginner). However, more adults (50%) think that English should be taught in public secondary schools than those who prefer Russian (44%).
Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, an event traditionally dated to AD 301.
The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity. Its roots go back to the 1st century AD, when it was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles – Thaddaeus and Bartholomew – who preached Christianity in Armenia between AD 40–60.
Over 93% of Christians in Armenia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is in communion only with the churches comprising Oriental Orthodoxy—of which it is itself a member.
Catholics also exist in Armenia, both Latin rite and Armenian rite. The latter group, the Armenian Catholic Church, is headquartered in Bzoummar, Lebanon. Of note are the Mechitarists (also spelled "Mekhitarists" Մխիթարեան), a congregation of Benedictine monks in the Armenian Catholic Church, founded in 1712 by Mekhitar of Sebaste. They are best known for their series of scholarly publications of ancient Armenian versions of otherwise lost ancient Greek texts.
The Armenian Evangelical Church has several thousand members throughout the country.
Other Christian denominations in Armenia are the Pentecostal branches of Protestant community such as the Word of Life, the Armenian Brotherhood Church, the Baptists (which are known as one of the oldest existing denominations in Armenia, and were permitted by the authorities of the Soviet Union), and Presbyterians.
Armenia is also home to a Russian community of Molokans which practice a form of Spiritual Christianity originated from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Yazidis, who live in the western part of the country, practice Yazidism. The world's largest Yazidi temple, Quba Mêrê Dîwanê, was completed in 2019 in the village of Aknalich. There are also Kurds who practice Sunni Islam.
There is a Jewish community in Armenia diminished to 750 persons since independence with most emigrants leaving for Israel. There are currently two synagogues in Armenia – in the capital, Yerevan, and in the city of Sevan located near Lake Sevan.
Healthcare in Armenia has undergone significant changes since independence in 1991. Initially, the Soviet healthcare system was highly centralized and provided free medical assistance to all citizens. After independence, the healthcare system underwent reform and primary care services have been free of charge since 2006. Despite improvements in accessibility and the implementation of an Open Enrollment program, out-of-pocket health expenditures remain high and corruption among healthcare professionals remains a concern. In 2019, healthcare became free for all citizens under the age of 18 and the number of people receiving free or subsidized care under the Basic Benefits Package was increased.
After a significant decline in earlier decades, crude birth rates in Armenia slightly increased from 13.0 (per 1000 people) in the year 1998 to 14.2 in 2015; this timeframe also showed a similar trajectory in the crude death rate, which grew from 8.6 to 9.3. Life expectancy at birth at 74.8 years was the 4th-highest among the Post-Soviet states in 2014.
Cities:
