Armenia

Yerevan serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Armenia, positioned in Western Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Gyumri, Vanadzor — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Yerevan, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, was built in its modern form by Soviet architect Alexander Tamanian in the 1920s using pink tuff stone quarried from the surrounding volcanic plateaus — and the Cascade complex of terraced gardens and staircases ascending the northern hills contains one of the Caucasus's most significant collections of contemporary art.

With a population of approximately 2.8M, Armenia is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Armenian, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Armenia is reached via the dialling code +374. Armenians maintain one of the world's most diaspora-conscious identities — the 1915 Genocide dispersed Armenian communities to Lebanon, France, Argentina and California, and the descendants of those communities have sustained language schools, churches and political advocacy organisations across a century of displacement.

Armenia spans 29,743 km², in the Western Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 40.0°N, 45.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the Armenian dram (֏), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Armenia's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+04:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

Football / Wrestling holds a special place in the heart of Armenia's national identity. Armenian wrestling traces an unbroken tradition through Greco-Roman competition — Artur Aleksanyan has won consecutive Olympic gold medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and the country's combat sports culture produces world champions in boxing, sambo and judo at a rate disproportionate to its 3-million population.

The highest point in Armenia is Mount Aragats, rising to 4,090 metres above sea level. Mount Ararat — the snow-capped volcanic massif visible from Yerevan and featured on the national coat of arms — lies entirely within Turkey following the 1921 Treaty of Kars, making the defining natural symbol of Armenian identity a daily view of foreign-held land, a geographic wound that structures national consciousness.