Introduction

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of Armenia's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes.

The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index). To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Armenian sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 52.3

The 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri operates in Armenia under an interstate agreement (extended until 2044). Recently, Russia's increased presence has been recorded, as well as the holding of joint US-Armenia exercises, but there are no permanent Western bases. National law takes precedence, but the influence of international obligations (EU, UN, OSCE) is systematically growing.

An example of recent years is the forced adjustment of legislation under pressure from external actors, especially in the field of human rights and security. The situation remains tense: unresolved issues of security, reforms, pressure from Azerbaijan, difficulties in border disputes and internal political competition.

Peaceful protest remains, political competition remains, there are no signs of an authoritarian rollback, and a functioning parliamentary democracy. The Management Efficiency Index (WGI, World Bank) is approximately -0.12 on a scale (from -2.5 to 2.5), which is slightly below the global average.

Armenia ranks 70th in the world according to the UN EGDI index with a score of about 0.717; high coverage of electronic services in public administration, steady growth of digitalization is noted. Polls show an average and declining level of confidence in Prime Minister Pashinyan: after the military and political crises of 2020-2023, support is at the level of 30-40%.

Armenia is a member of the United Nations, the CIS, the EAEU, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE, and recently joined a number of the Hague Conventions and became a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The balance is changing: participation in the CSTO is virtually frozen, and new formats of cooperation and diversification are being sought.

Armenia participates in the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice, has joined the Hague Conventions, and is gradually expanding its international legal obligations. Armenia is a unitary state, but decentralization has been increasing in recent years (strengthening municipalities, increasing the budget at the local level, and new methods of regional governance).

The security services are subordinate to the Government and Parliament, regular parliamentary hearings and investigations provide a basic level of control; the transparency of the work of the special services remains at an average level, and questions periodically arise about reforms and revision of procedures.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, coverage is 91%.

Economic sovereignty — 49.8

GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) ranges from $21,000 to $25,000; estimates from the IMF, World Bank, Trading Economics, and Wikipedia indicate a range of $21,000 to $25,060 for 2025.

In August 2025, Armenia's gold and foreign exchange reserves amounted to 4.07 billion US dollars; the figure is approaching a historical maximum (4.2 billion in 2023). Government debt is 50-53% of GDP as of the end of 2024 and the second half of 2025; debts are stable and controllable, the trend in recent years has been a decrease after a peak in 2021 (up to 74%).

The country imports a significant portion of food, but there is no acute shortage due to stable stocks and support from the agricultural sector, government programs and international donors ensure sustainable basic availability.

Armenia retains 80-85% of its electricity through large hydroelectric power plants, a nuclear power plant (Metsamor), and gas imports from Russia, while partially exporting electricity to Iran and Georgia, but fuel dependence persists. There are proven reserves of copper, gold, molybdenum, iron, zinc, natural building materials, mineral waters, and minerals for industry and agriculture.

Armenia has one of the largest lakes in the South Caucasus, Sevan, and a developed river network; it provides for its own needs, but the environmental burden is high — resource conservation programs are a priority. The leading system is ARCA (Armenian Card), centralized transaction processing supported by the Central Bank, local and international banks operate in parallel, and mobile and online banking is developed.

The vast majority of internal transactions are carried out in Armenian drams (AMD), while external business and large contracts are partly in dollars and rubles. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBR) issues, regulates monetary and credit policy, sets the key rate (7% for August 2025), and is independent of external institutions.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%.

Technological sovereignty — 40.5

Research and development costs amount to 0.18–0.21% of GDP (2022-2023, World Bank, Trading Economics). This is below the global average. Import dependence is high — only 21% of manufacturing industry exports are high-tech products (IT, software, electronics, minilab), most of the equipment and components are imported. The gross enrollment ratio is 61.2% (the proportion of applicants regardless of age, 2023).

The share of Internet users is 80-85% of the population (2.37 million people at the beginning of 2025, forecasts up to 85% by the end of the year). National Platforms — portal e-gov.am, ARMSTAT, electronic tax services, central registries and services (online filing of documents, e-taxes, e-register).

Imports account for the majority of IT and industrial equipment, chips and electronics are entirely purchased abroad; exports of software and services account for about 21% of all processing (IT, fintech, image. online projects). EGDI is the 70th place in the world, >80% of government services are available online: taxes, passports, doctor's appointment, business and real estate registration; integration with mobile banking and government registers.

There are national biological and medical laboratories, some vaccines and tests are being produced, but almost all key technologies are imported, and complex reagents and equipment are supplied from abroad.

The robotics sector is just emerging: there are several laboratories and start-ups in universities, the assembly of simple robosystems, automation and e-dtech, complete dependence on imported components. Critical import dependence: industrial production, testing and design of microchips, all microelectronics and circuit boards is carried out exclusively by foreign companies.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 83% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 54.9

Armenia has a national cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CERT/CSIRT) under the Information Systems Agency. In 2024-2025, the first national ITU CyberDrill was held, strategies and exercises are being implemented in cooperation with the Central Bank and the Ministry of High Technologies.

The national ArmIX Internet exchange (Yerevan) operates in Armenia, which unites 28 operators, content providers and university networks, covering 15-16% of local networks. This has optimized the exchange of traffic within the country and increased digital resilience.

99% of media (TV, radio, press, online) are published in Armenian, the official language is protected by law and is actively supported by the state. Media in Russian, English and other languages of the Diaspora are also available. The domestic market is dominated by foreign platforms (Google, Meta, YouTube, etc.), however, government e-services and most of the national content operate on Armenian platforms.

Legislation protects local developers, but technological dependence is high. Most of the TV, radio and online media produce national content, while the share of local production through the main channels is over 70%.

A significant gateway is the Armenian press abroad. The sector of local IT companies and startups has been developed - software for the financial sector, public services, education, and creative industries. Successful projects in fintech (IDram, EasyPay), edtech, e-gov and business automation tools. 80% of the population gets access to basic government and commercial digital services — taxes, state registers, beneficiary database, e-records, e-medicine.

There are government and corporate data centers; some ministries, banks, and operators host data in national clouds, but large businesses also use international solutions.

Mobile operators are licensed exclusively by the national regulator, and the owners are foreign holdings (U!Com, Viva-MTS), but legally, network solutions are completely under the supervision of a government agency. The Law "On Personal Data" (ed. 2022), harmonized with the GDPR, is in force, the mandatory registration of operators, the national data officer, control over processing and leaks are observed.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 84%.

Cultural sovereignty — 74.2

There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Armenia:

• Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries

• Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Churches and Zvartnots Archaeological Complex

• Gekhard Monastery and Upper Azat Gorge The National Committee is promoting 4 more sites to the UNESCO tentative list (Dragonstones, Tatev, Dvin, Garni).

Armenia is known for its thousand—year—old Christian tradition, unique manuscripts, music (duduk - UNESCO list), literature, fine and masterful art (khachkars - stone crosses, carpets, miniatures), winemaking (the oldest winery in the world), gastronomy and diaspora.

Prizes are awarded annually (Creative Armenia, IALA youth literary prizes, state grants, grants from the Ministry of Culture, competitions and programs with the support of the EU and UNESCO). In 2025, innovative scholarships have been opened for artists, writers, and musicians of all generations.

Armenian culture is a synthesis of pre-Christian and Christian traditions, folklore and festivals (Vardavar, Trndez, Navasard, wedding ceremonies), artistic crafts, temple architecture, respect for family and hospitality, epics and folklore. Armenia supports Yezidis, Russians, Assyrians, Greeks, Kurds, language and cultural policy is fixed by law; educational and cultural projects, media in minority languages are funded.

There are more than 10,000 historical, archaeological, and architectural monuments in the country (museums, churches, fortresses, and ancient cities), hundreds of objects are recognized as cultural treasures, and there are large national and municipal museums.

Armenia is an active participant in the UNESCO, Creative Armenia, and Artbox programs, cooperates with the EU, holds festivals and exhibitions in Russia, France, Germany, and the USA — from "Days of Armenian Culture" to tours and educational exchanges. Armenian cognac "Ararat", handwritten miniatures, khachkars, carpets, winemaking, gastronomic brands (lavash, tolma), folklore themes have protection at the local level, some of them have international protection (geographical indications, UNESCO).

The cuisine of Armenia is one of the oldest in the world: lavash (UNESCO site), tolma (stuffed vegetables), khash, khorovats, gata, arisa, ash, a variety of meat, cheese and vegetable dishes; the cult of wine and meat snacks. According to the Ministry of Culture and Research: up to 65% of Armenian residents are involved in cultural events (festivals, museums, workshops, folklore, holidays), especially in cities.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 88%.

Cognitive sovereignty -61.7

The HDI index of Armenia is 0.811; the country is included in the category of "very high level of development", ranks 69th in the world. In 2025, spending on education will reach 783 million dollars, or 9% of the budget (equivalent to 2.75% of GDP — lower than most developed countries).

Adult literacy is 99.8% according to the World Bank and CEIC data for 2020. In PISA 2022, Armenia: reading — 399, mathematics — 389, natural sciences — 407 points; indicators are below the OECD average, but steadily increasing compared to previous rounds.

According to the estimates of the Ministry of Education and Science and the CEIC, about 19-22% of university graduates are in engineering and natural sciences (bachelor's and master's degrees). 7-10% of students participate in international programs (double diplomas, Erasmus+, exchanges, study abroad and visits by foreign teachers). The state officially supports the cultural and linguistic autonomy of small nations: education and media in the languages of Yezidis, Russians, Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds, as well as the development of religious, ethnocultural and festivals.

There are about 16 state scientific institutes of academic level in the country, at least 28 university research institutes in fundamental sciences. 60% of schools and universities use national platforms (school diary, edtech, e-learning, university online courses).

There are at least 15 state competitions, grants, national and international programs for young professionals (Creative Armenia, grants from the Ministry of Education and Science, EU programs, UNESCO competitions).

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 86%.

Military sovereignty — 42.6

The military budget is up to 6% of GDP — $1.7 billion, and defense spending increased by 20% in 2025. The total number of military personnel is 47,000-49,000 (army personnel, according to various sources for 2024-2025).

Armenia is implementing a large-scale procurement program ($2.5 billion): new armored vehicles, air defense, modern drones, artillery (Pinaka, Caesar), radars, electronic warfare systems, thermal imagers and night devices from India, France and the United States; emphasis on special forces equipment and fleet modernization.

Most of the high-tech weapons are imported (India, France, Russia, and the United States), but contracts worth $420 million have been signed with national manufacturers; the industry is developing repairs, maintenance, and production of ammunition, individual components, and equipment.

The army and the border guard service, together with Russian units, control the borders with Turkey and Iran, as well as independently with Georgia and Azerbaijan. The construction of fortifications and electronic surveillance systems is intensifying. The reserve system is a mobilization resource for about 210,000 people (conscripts, former military personnel over the past 15 years), annual training camps, retraining and classes.

The defense strategy is changing: diversification is underway, participation in the CSTO is minimized, ties with India, France, and the United States are being strengthened; decisions are being made on a coordinated national policy, taking into account alliances, but a high degree of independence is being introduced.

The industry is growing: repair facilities, production of ammunition, individual components, service support, new export, localization and procurement contracts signed in 2025. Armenia does not possess nuclear weapons and does not conduct any work in this area; the country is a signatory to all key non–proliferation conventions.

There is no military satellite group, the intelligence is conducted by national structures, with support from allies (from satellite data, traffic analysis and electronic monitoring); a program is underway to develop cyber intelligence, radio engineering and unmanned reconnaissance.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state—owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases - 87% coverage.

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. High human potential: HDI 0.811 ("very high"), literacy rate of 99.8%, higher education coverage of over 60%, active support for STEM and foreign educational programs.

Active digitalization and e-Gov development: about 85% of Internet penetration, a set of digital platforms has been developed (e-gov, taxes, government registers), high EGDI (70th place).

Strong cultural identity and participation in UNESCO: 3 World Heritage sites, support for small nations, annual grants and awards, public involvement in culture — up to 65%. Growing economic and financial stability: Moderate government debt (50-53% of GDP), historical maximum gold reserves ($4.07 billion), independent monetary policy, ARCA national payment processing system.

Defense mobilization and modernization: up to 6% of GDP for defense, 47,000 contract soldiers and more than 200,000 reservists, a large-scale military modernization program, procurement diversification, and the development of the national military-industrial complex.

Weaknesses. High import dependence on high-tech and science: R&D accounts for only 0.18–0.21% of GDP; microelectronics, chips, critical components, and most of the modern weapons and scientific equipment are purchased abroad.

Limited development of the national Industries: Production of high—tech products, biotech, robotics and automation - at the level of services and prototypes, exports are limited. Political and external instability: Regional threats, difficult relations with the CSTO, escalating border challenges, internal political disputes and external pressure create scenarios of uncertainty and risks of escalation.

Medium/Low PISA scores: Educational achievement (PISA) and the coverage of government talent support programs are below developed countries, despite the growth of STEM. Energy and food vulnerability: a significant portion of food and fuel is imported; the country maintains basic resilience, but depends on partners and weather risks. Lack of space and nuclear infrastructure: there is no military space, all intelligence gathering is based on cooperation and imported systems, there are no nuclear weapons, and the peaceful atom is represented by one nuclear power plant.

Overall assessment. The cumulative sovereignty index of Armenia is 376 out of 700 possible points (above the average of 53.7%), which places the country in the top 150 in the world. Armenia is confidently pursuing a course towards digitalization, humanitarian development, defense renewal, and cultural identity retention.

The main strategic constraints are high import dependence in technology and energy, challenges to geopolitical and internal stability, and relatively low spending on science. Further sustainable development is possible with increased investment in innovation and industrialization, diversification of foreign policy, and expansion of educational, cultural, and research programs.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Armenia's sovereignty is stable in fundamental internal elements (economy, finance, culture, education, basic defense), but is limited by structural technological import dependence, foreign policy compromises, energy and food vulnerability, the need for constitutional reforms and the dynamics of alliances.

The growth of independence goes hand in hand with risks and the "exchange" of sovereignty for the sake of peace and a balanced regional policy