Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 1993 Capital: Yerevan Population (2011): 3.1 million Area: 29,743 sq km Major Languages: Armenian, Russian Currency: Armenian Dram (AMD) GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 5,463 HDI Rank (2011): 86 of 187 Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 1,147 million Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): -3.2 migrants / 1,000 population Immigrants (2010): 10.5% Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 58.9% Population under 15 (2011): 20.1% Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.1%

Additional Resources Migration in Armenia : A Country Profile 2008 International Migration Law Database National Instruments: Armenia Sources and Definitions

Latest News

• Migration Data Collection Essential to Armenia's Migration Policy, IOM Report Finds
• IOM Supports New School Curriculum to Help Fight Human Trafficking in Armenia
• Supporting Armenian Authorities in Regional Counter-Trafficking Efforts
• IOM Hands Over Migrant Resource Centre to Armenian Government Authorities

Overview

Armenia's economic development coincides with significant migration flows from rural areas to cities and the capital, where work is found. A large number of Armenians are residing abroad as temporary workers. Remittances from overseas migrants and migrant workers are playing an important role in the country's development.

Human trafficking is a phenomenon that is growing in volume and, due to the feminization of migration, requires changes in the legal framework, geopolitics and attitude of society towards the crime. The government, supported by various international organizations, is putting more effort into combating trafficking especially through increased attention to border management.

All of IOM's activities promote the concept of safe migration through information campaigns, vocational training for students at boarding schools, and capacity building of border guards and mobile populations that are vulnerable to health issues.

Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management

IOM's main activities in this area include organizing the safe movement of persons for temporary and permanent resettlement abroad or return to their countries of origin. Pre-consular services for residents of Armenia applying for Canadian visas are also provided.  

Projects

• Services to the Residents of Armenia Applying for Canadian Temporary Resident Visas and Immigration to Canada under "Skilled Worker Category" and Visa for Work Permit
• Assisted Voluntary Return Programme
• Integrated Approach regarding Information on Return and Reintegration in Countries of Origin
• United States Refugee Program

Migration Health

IOM's activities on migration health aim to reduce and better manage the consequences migration-related diseases. The first planned health-related activity of IOM Armenia is reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS and STIs among mobile populations and their families. Although the reported prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Armenia low, the country's rather large mobile population is particularly vulnerable.

Projects

• Improving Awareness on HIV/AIDS and STI Risks for Migrant Population and Families

Migration and Development

IOM helps individuals (including asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, refugees and displaced persons) to become self-sufficient through micro-credit schemes, including micro-enterprise training, credit and employment opportunities. The aim is to lessen their dependence on humanitarian aid, reduce poverty reduction and ensure effective reintegration.

Projects

• Self-reliance and Integration through Micro-enterprise Development

Regulating Migration

Counter-Trafficking. IOM has implemented several large counter-trafficking projects in Armenia ranging from research and capacity building to victim assistance and public awareness. IOM contributes to the efforts of RA authorities to combat trafficking in women and children by reinforcing prevention activities, promoting the further criminalization of trafficking and introducing measures for the reintegration of victims of trafficking.

Projects

• Secondary School Education to Contribute to the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Regional Project
• Capacity Building and Public Awareness for Labour Migrant Support Points
• Combating Trafficking in Humans in Armenia: A Social Mobilization

Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building.

Through its technical cooperation programmes, IOM offers advisory services on migration or migration-related issues to the Government of the Republic of Armenia to assist it in developing, implementing, and managing migration policy and legislation to prevent irregular migration, facilitate regular migration, and provide assistance with various aspects of migrant processing.

Main Projects

• Further Expansion and Establishment of the Network of Border Management Information System: Republic of Armenia
• Integrated Solutions to Directly Access Interpol Criminal Information
• Capacity Building of Armenian Border Guards and Allied Services Personnel
• Support to the Armenian Government in Introduction of Identity and Travel Documents with Biometrical Parameters

Facilitating Migration

Labour Migration. IOM's labour migration activities focus on the regulation of labour movements and programmes to assist governments and migrants in the selection, recruitment, cultural orientation, training, travel, reception, integration and return of labour migrants. IOM also works on capacity building in labour migration, training government officials, representatives of trade unions, recruitment agencies and and NGOs involved in labour migration.

Projects

• Informed Migration – An Integrated Approach to Promoting Legal Migration through National Capacity Building and Inter-Regional Dialogue between the South Caucasus and the European Union
• Prevention of Irregular Migration from Armenia through Vocational Training and Creating Job Opportunities
• Revitalization of Shvanidzor, South Armenia: A Pilot Project on Rehabilitation of Water Systems

Migration Policy and Research

IOM Armenia carries out research in migration-related fields and contributes to research by IOM Headquarters, other IOM Units and Field Missions.

At the request of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and with funding from the Swedish Migration Board, IOM is assessing existing migration management capacity in Armenia.The assessment looks at the current policies, legislative bases, structures, procedures, technical capacity and equipment. The main purpose is to develop recommendations for a new management structure that can deal more effectively with the issues and challenges facing the country in the area of migration. This will provide guidance for designing parts of the National Plan of Action for Migration and Asylum.

Projects

• Capacity Building in Migration Management Programme: Armenia Assessment

Last updated:
Main text: February 2009
Facts and figures: April 2012