Armenia is a country of firsts: first to adopt Christianity as a state religion, first to build a state church and even the first to make chess a mandatory school subject. Its history goes back further than Rome, and its culture is based on resilience and innovation. For those seeking a unique destination on a teen tour travel program, Armenia offers ancient monasteries to explore and a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage. Key Facts About Armenia Details Population(2025) 2,952,365 Official Language Armenian Currency Armenian Dram Capital Yerevan Main Religion Christianity Area 1,484 sq mi(29,743 km²) Here are eight fascinating facts about Armenia that highlight its history, identity, and global impact. >> REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR Passport Validity 8 Fun Facts About Armenia The founding of Armenia predates the founding of Rome by 29 years Armenia built the world’s first state church in 303 AD after adopting Christianity in 301 AD The Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million Armenians during the Armenian genocide 68% of the world’s Armenians live outside their ancestral homeland Armenia’s unique 36-letter alphabet preserves its national identity UNESCO recognizes seven items of Armenian culture and three locations as World Heritage Sites Armenia became the first nation to require chess in schools, producing 44 grandmasters Armenia built a democratic modern republic from Soviet ruins 1. The founding of Armenia predates the founding of Rome by 29 years Rome was founded in 753 BC, but in 782 BC, King Argishti I of Urartu built the Erebuni fortress. The fortress evolved into Yerevan, modern Armenia’s capital. Like Rome, the empire expanded before contracting again. At its height, the empire of ancient Armenia, under Tigranes the Great, stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and encompassed parts of modern-day Turkey, Iran, Syria and Lebanon. >>LEARN MORE ABOUT: Student Travel Programs to Asia 2. Armenia built the world’s first state church in 303 AD after it decided to adopt Christianity in 301 AD Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion under Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos. In 303 AD, Armenians constructed Holy Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat, Armenia, establishing the world’s first state-built Christian church. Today, Holy Etchmiadzin serves as the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church and holds UNESCO World Heritage status. 94% of Armenia’s 3 million citizens identify as Christian. Address: Vagharshapat, 1101, Armenia Hours: The cathedral is typically open daily, but specific hours may vary. Check closer to your visit. The site generally open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. >>Explore All Our Student Travel Programs! 3. The Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million Armenians during the Armenian genocide, forcing survivors into a global diaspora The Russian empire annexed Eastern Armenia, but Western Armenia remained under Ottoman rule. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire began systematic deportations and mass killings of its Armenian population during World War I. Ottoman forces destroyed Armenian communities across Western Armenia and forced survivors to march into the Syrian desert. This dark moment in Armenian history decimated much of Armenia’s population and destroyed its cultural sites. This is one of those not-so-fun facts about Armenia. 4. 68% of the world’s Armenians live outside their ancestral homeland Unfortunately, the Armenian genocide was not a one off for ethnic Armenians. In the 4th century AD, Armenian communities emerged beyond Greater Armenia’s borders within the Byzantine, Achaemenid, and Sassanid empires. The Seljuk invasions of the 11th century forced 150,000 Armenians to relocate to Cyprus, the Balkans, and Italy. Regional conflicts continued displacing Armenians in the post-World War II era, with Iran’s 1978 Islamic Revolution and Lebanon’s 1975 Civil War forcing new migrations.
5. Armenia’s unique 36-letter alphabet preserves its national identity Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet in 405 AD. The 36-letter alphabet helped Armenia develop its own literary tradition separate from the dominant Roman, Greek and Persian influences. Eastern Armenian is Armenia’s official language, while Western Armenian predominates in ethnic Armenian diaspora communities. 6. UNESCO recognizes seven items of Armenian culture and three locations as World Heritage Sites The Armenian language earned global recognition in 2019 when UNESCO registered its letter art. Armenian culture gained key listing with recognition of lavash making. Modern Armenia exports $200 million of Armenian brandy to 25 countries. That might be the next item added to the list. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Year Listed Duduk music and performance 2008 Khachkar cross-stone craftsmanship 2010 Daredevils of Sassoun epic 2012 Lavash bread-making tradition 2014 Kochari group dance 2017 Armenian letter art 2019 Gyumri blacksmith tradition 2023 UNESCO World Heritage Sites UNESCO World Heritage Sites Year Listed Location Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries 1996 Lori Province Geghard Monastery and Azat Valley 2000 Kotayk Province Etchmiadzin Cathedral Complex and Zvartnots 2000 Armavir Province 7. Armenia became the first nation to require chess in schools; the country has produced 44 grandmasters Armenian schools made chess mandatory for all students ages 6-8 in 2011, investing $1.5 million to train teachers and supply equipment. Today, 98% of Armenian children study chess for 2 hours weekly. Armenia has the highest number of grandmasters per capita in the world with more than one million people and ranks 6th overall behind only Russia, USA, China, India and Ukraine (International Chess Federation, accessed December 12, 2024) 8. Armenia built a democratic modern republic from Soviet ruins In 1991, Armenia declared independence while the Soviet Union fell. The new Armenian republic adopted a parliamentary system in 1995. After independence, Armenia has maintained ties to Russia while developing partnerships with Western nations. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and two years later Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. CEPA allows Armenia to trade with the EU without offending its Russian allies. Reference International Chess Federation UNESCO