Armenia: Six things you may not know

Armenians have been making headlines by shutting down cities with major protests. How much do you know about this landlocked former Soviet republic in the southern Caucasus? Here are six facts to get you started (and possibly boost a future pub quiz score).

1. More Armenians live outside the republic than in it

The country’s population is around three million but millions more live abroad. There are big diasporas in the United States, Russia and France. Many recent Armenian migrants go to Russia for its proximity and because many speak Russian.

2. Mount Ararat ‎is considered a national symbol

Even though it is in Turkey…

A view looking across the Armenian capital city of Yerevan towards Mount Ararat

The snow-capped mountain (5,165m; 16,945ft) dominates the horizon in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and is named in the Bible as the place Noah’s Ark grounded after the flood.

3. It is one of the earliest Christian civilisations

Armenians light candles on the eve of Orthodox Christmas inside a cathedral in Yerevan on 5 January 2018

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in the early 4th Century and its Church is completely autonomous from other Christian Churches of the world.

4. Learning chess is compulsory

Old men playing chess in the park in Armenia

Since 2011, all children in Armenia from six to eight years old have had compulsory chess lessons.

The country has produced numerous grandmasters and it currently has more than 3,000 qualified trained chess teachers in its schools.

Read how the lessons are paying off for one boy

5. It is proud of its brandy

During World War Two, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sent Winston Churchill several dozen cases of Armenian brandy as a present. Many years later, in 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave David Cameron a bottle of Armenian brandy recalling the story.

6. Many famous people have Armenian roots

These include French composer Charles Aznavour; Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov; US singer Cher and celebrity Kim Kardashian West, who tweeted her support for the latest protests.