Armenia's population is around 3 million, though emigration — long a feature of Armenian life — means the true figure is hard to pin down. The diaspora is enormous: estimates suggest 7–10 million Armenians live outside the country, concentrated in Russia, the USA, France, and Lebanon. The relationship between Armenia and its diaspora is close, sometimes tense, and constantly negotiated.
Around 98% of the population is ethnically Armenian. The largest minority groups are Yezidis (a Kurdish-speaking religious minority, concentrated in the Aragatsotn and Ararat regions) and Russians. Following the 2023 events in Nagorno-Karabakh, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from that region relocated to Armenia, adding to the population but also to social and economic pressure.
Religion
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church and the world's oldest state church, established in 301 AD. Around 94% of Armenians identify with it. The church has its own liturgy, calendar, and distinctive architecture — the cross-dome church with a conical spire is one of the defining images of the country. Echmiadzin, the seat of the Catholicos (the church's spiritual leader), functions as a kind of religious capital.
Religion is woven into everyday life and national identity. Animal sacrifice (matagh) is still practised at some churches on feast days and Sundays.
Character
Armenians are proud of their history, resilient in the face of adversity, and generally warm to visitors. Hospitality is taken seriously — being invited for food or drink is common, and refusing is considered impolite. The 1915 Genocide, in which an estimated 1–1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces, shapes national consciousness profoundly; awareness of this is part of understanding the country.
Yerevan has a cosmopolitan, educated urban culture quite different from the more traditional countryside. The café scene is genuine, the restaurants are good, and there is a lively arts and music scene. Outside the capital, life moves more slowly and Russian is more useful than English.