Number of Armenian citizens leaving country hits record

According to official data, more than 46,900 Armenian citizens received Russian citizenship last year, Report informs, citing Armenian media.

This is a record high in recent years. In general, in 2017-2021, almost 153,800 Armenian citizens (5.2% of the permanent population of Armenia) received Russian passports.

"The main reasons for the emigration of our residents are well known - mass unemployment or low incomes that do not even provide a minimum standard of living. Significant inflation (7.2% last year) and particularly double-digit inflation in agriculture (11.2%) also played a role," News.am said.

It also includes the dire consequences of the 44-day war and the tense situation in the government. Many are leaving Armenia due to uncertainty about the country's future.

"The geography of the emigration of Armenians is not limited to Russia. It's just now much easier to live and work in Russia legally than in Western countries," the agency noted.

"If the proportion of residents over 65 is more than 7%, the country's population is considered elderly. On the one hand, the aging of the population indicates a positive change in life expectancy, but on the other hand, it leads to serious social and economic problems. In particular, the opportunities to increase pensions are limited, which leads to the need to raise taxes.

"The process of "population aging" has not bypassed Armenia. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, last year in Armenia, people over 64 exceeded 10% of the total population," the research shows.