Armenia is a landlocked country in western Asia, bordered by Turkey and Azerbaijan, among others. Its history includes rule by the Ottoman and Iranian empires, an ethnic genocide of their people by Turkey during World War I, as well as being incorporated into the USSR for most of the 20th century. The modern Republic of Armenia became independent in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Armenian diaspora contributes heavily to its economic development, which now includes a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy.
With Yerevan as its capital, Armenia has a population of 2,951,745, with more than 8 million Armenians living abroad. The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity, whose roots go back to the 1st century. Armenians have their own distinctive alphabet and language.
