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Compare Virgin Islands (2003) - Armenia (2005)

Compare Virgin Islands (2003) z Armenia (2005)

 Virgin Islands (2003)Armenia (2005)
 Virgin IslandsArmenia
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Age structure 0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)


15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)


65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214)


15-64 years: 67.5% (male 938,734/female 1,074,240)


65 years and over: 10.9% (male 131,519/female 193,744) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Airports 2 (2002) 16 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total: 11


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total: 29,800 sq km


land: 28,400 sq km


water: 1,400 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Birth rate 15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 11.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues: $428.1 million


expenditures: $491.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Yerevan
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Coastline 188 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
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
Currency US dollar (USD) -
Death rate 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $NA $905 million (June 2001)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador John M. EVANS


embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019


mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020


telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661, 527-001, 524-840


FAX: [374](1) 520-800
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN


chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Disputes - international none Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment
Economic aid - recipient $NA ODA $170 million (2000)
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment. Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector.
Electricity - consumption 957.9 million kWh (2001) 5.797 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2002)
Electricity - production 1.03 billion kWh (2001) 6.492 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Debed River 400 m


highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups black 78%, white 10%, other 12%


note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used drams per US dollar - 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)


head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May 2000)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program


election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Exports NA (2001) NA
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%, US 8.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE 4% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 22.9%


industry: 36.1%


services: 41.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2001 est.) 9% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
Highways total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
total: 8,431 km


paved: 8,161 km (includes 7,567 km of expressways)


unpaved: 270 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.3%


highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)
Illicit drugs - illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
Imports NA (2001) NA
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran 7.1%, UAE 6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%, Georgia 4.6%, France 4.5% (2004)
Independence - 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 15% (2002 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Infant mortality rate total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 23.28 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 28.51 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (1992) 3.5% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 2,870 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Labor force 49,000 (2002 est.) 1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,254 km


border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land: 17.55%


permanent crops: 2.3%


other: 80.15% (2001)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Legal system based on US laws based on civil law system
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)


elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007)


note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.59 years


male: 74.73 years


female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
total population: 71.55 years


male: 67.97 years


female: 75.75 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98.6%


male: 99.4%


female: 98% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Asia
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $135 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 6.5% (FY01)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: Armenian(s)


adjective: Armenian
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,871 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the People's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
Population 124,778 (July 2003 est.) 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 50% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 1.02% (2003 est.) -0.25% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix -
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways 0 km total: 845 km


broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)


note: some lines are out of service (2004)
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female


total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion


domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)


international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 65,000 (1997) 562,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 114,400 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Total fertility rate 2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 30% (2003 est.)
Waterways none -
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