Date of independence, or formation date: 1991
Date when current borders were established: 1991
National day: Sept 21
Vehicle country identifying code: ARM
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +4
International telephone dialling code: +374
Internet country identifying code: .am

Landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus mountains, Armenia is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It was the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion, early in the 4th century. Keen to deepen links with the rest of the CIS, Armenia has kept to a path of radical economic reform, including privatization. The confrontation with Azerbaijan over the exclave of Nagorno Karabakh has dominated national life since 1988.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004