Armenian people, just like many other nations in the world, are known for their unique character. This character is very hard to describe but not impossible to understand. Also, like in any other nation, typical Armenian people have both good and bad qualities.
If you are interested in observing Armenian people and Armenian population, if you are searching for some useful information about Armenians, their history, physical and psychological characteristics, then this is for you.
We will help you understand what makes Armenian and Armenia stand out among other nations in the world.
Armenian People of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora
Generally speaking, Armenians are the nation, the ethnic group that has been native to the Armenian Highlands for more than 5000 years. They call themselves “hay” and their country “Hayastan”.
Armenian people are the main population of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (almost 3 million people). Armenians also constitute the Armenian Diaspora, which is spread throughout the world.
Armenian Population Number
Nowadays, according to different statistics, there are almost 9-10 million Armenian people in the world. What is unique about Armenian people is that only a small part of them, nearly 3 million people, make up the population of the Republic of Armenia. Because of certain historical developments and events, a very large number of Armenians are spread all over the world, composing the 5-6 million Armenian Diaspora.
Armenian Population Composition (Sex/Age Ratio)
The sex ratio of Armenian population between male and female persons differs, depending on age. Armenian total population sex ratio is 0.89 male/female. The ratio at birth is 1.14 male/female. At the ages of 0-14 years old: 1.15 male/female, from 15 to 24 years old, the ratio between males and females is 1.03. The ratio for 25-54 years old males and females makes up 0.92. For older population the ratio comes as follows: for 55-64 years old it is 0.93, and 65+ it is 0.59.
Most of the Armenian population belongs to the age group between 25-54 years old (that is almost 43.5 % of the country’s population). According to 2014 estimations, teenagers (up to 14 years old) make up the 19 % of the population. 15.2% of Armenian population consists of 15-24 years old young persons. A lesser percent is constituted by older population: 55-64 years old, 11.7% and older than 65 years old persons, 10.5%
National Minorities Within Armenian Population
Armenia is a homogeneously populated country, as Armenians make up most of the country’s population (98%).
Ethnic minorities that comprise a very small part of Armenian population (only 2%) include Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Yazidis, Kurds, Georgians, Iranians, Assyrians, Greeks. There are also other, smaller national minority communities (for example, Mordvins, Tats, Ossetians, Udis).
For centuries, there have been small Armenian communities (mostly religious and trading ones) throughout the world: in India, Iran, Georgia, Syria, Egypt, many other Asian and European states.
But especially after 1915, as a direct result of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian people scattered all over the world more intensively.
Number of Armenian Diaspora
The term Armenian Diaspora describes the Armenian people’s communities that are outside the present-day Republic of Armenia. There are over 6 million Armenians, who represent the Diaspora, formed mainly as a result of the Genocide of Armenian people.
Nowadays, the largest Armenian Diasporas exist in the Russian Federation, the USA, France, Brazil, Ukraine, Iran, Georgia, Lebanon, and Syria.
Armenian Diaspora Role and Significance
We can surely say that Armenian Diaspora is considered to be one of the most influential and the largest ones in the world. Historically, regardless of their location, Armenians have had a huge contribution to economic, cultural, as well as political matters and developments of the countries of their residence.
There has also been a mutual cultural exchange. Armenians, living in different corners of the planet have not only spread Armenian cultural values and best traditions throughout the world, but also constantly adopted their host country’s culture, language, respected their national traditions, and tried their best to contribute to the host country’s well-being as well.
Armenian People History
Origin of Armenians
Armenians, as mentioned earlier, are the nation, populating the Armenian Highlands for more than 5000 years. It’s notable, that Armenian people do not call themselves “Armenians”, rather, they call themselves “hay”, and their country “Hayastan”.
They consider their patriarch to be Hayk, who, according to the legend, founded the Armenian nation, by leading Armenians to victory over Bel, the tyran of Babylon.
Religion of Armenian people
Armenians are known to the world as the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. There are Armenian followers to various Christian churches (Apostolic, Evangelical, Latin Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, other denominations), but the most widely spread church among Armenians is the Armenian Apostolic church (92.5% of Armenian Christians).
Armenian Language and Armenian’s Specific Alphabet
The only official language of the Republic of Armenia is Armenian, which is widely spoken among Armenians (97.7%). There are also other languages used by Armenian population quite fluently: Russian, due to the decades of being under the Soviet rule, and, recently, English, which tends to become a popular language, especially among youth.
It is important to mention that national minorities living in Armenia preserve their own languages (for example, Kurdish: 1%, Russian: 0.9%, and others: 0.4%).
Armenia is also a member of the “La Francophonie”, as there is a small percentage of people studying and teaching French.
Among diaspora, the largest communities of ethnic Armenians are mostly fluent in English and Russian, since the largest Armenian Diasporas live in either in the USA and European countries, or post-Soviet countries (mostly in Russia).
Armenians are also known for having a unique alphabet that was created in 405 by Mesrop Mashtots. Since then, Armenian people have been using their letters without any significant changes. They are very proud to have their own alphabet, which like the Armenian language itself, is different from any other alphabet in the world.
Armenian People Characteristics
For non-Armenian people it might be interesting to know some distinguishing characteristic features of Armenian people. So, what are the main physical and mental features that make Armenians different from other nationalities? Let’s find out together!
Physical Characteristics of Armenian People
If you know some Armenians, you may have come to conclusion that there are certain features common for all the Armenians. Representatives of this nation belong to the Europid and Armenoid race types.
Generally, Armenians have white skin, mostly dark eye and hair color, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes. Their height is usually higher than the average.
Armenians are mostly known to the world with their aquiline nose, that is probably the most typical and outstanding part of their face and personality on the whole!
Armenians’ Psychological Qualities
Armenians’ Good Qualities
If you haven’t interacted with Armenian people yet, you should definitely know they are very hospitable and hardworking. For centuries and thousands of years, Armenians have been known for worshiping and respecting their family, especially the elderly people in the family. In a word, family unity makes up the most crucial part of each Armenian person’s life.
Armenians also have good sense of humor, which is very specifically developed in this nation.
Armenian people are good at organizing crowded parties, family occasions and having fun, never sparing any expenses for food/drink abundance.
Negative aspects of Armenian people’s character
Speaking about Armenian people’s character and not mentioning its bad aspects would not be fair. Armenians do have such qualities as well. For example, you would be surprised to learn that Armenian people are good at exaggerating things or extending reality. They make little things seem larger and much more complicated than they really appear.
Sometimes Armenians may also be very competitive and jealous: for example, whenever they see someone else reaching significant achievements, they do their best to compete this person and do or gain something even greater.
So, as you can see, normally there are some good and some bad qualities of Armenian people character. But it is very important to know that Armenians are a quite honest, hardworking, hospitable and family oriented nation.
During their history, Armenians haven’t invaded any other nation’s territory, but have always been forced to protect their own physical existence and independence from different invaders.
Armenian people always respect other nations and foreigners, because they are more likely to live in peace and harmony with others, than go into conflicts with them.
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