Armenian Diaspora - Armenian's Across the Globe

Armenian Diaspora

Armenians have reached and settled in every corner of the world and enriched each and every community they have joined. The Armenia Diaspora refers to the dispersion of Armenian people living outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenian Genocide
Despite establishing communities across the globe since ancient times it was in more recent history that the world wide dispersion of Armenian citizens became so prominent, when he Armenian Genocide occurred in 1915. During this period (click here to read more about the Armenian Genocide) Armenians were forced from their traditional homeland in what is now eastern Turkey (but was referred to as Western Armenia by Armenians) and were steadily decimated by Turkish forces in a direct attempt to eradicate a whole race of people, under direct orders from Istanbul.

Global Dispersion
The population of Armenia is approximately 3 million, however, the worldwide population of people who can claim direct Armenian heritage is estimated to be 7 million with the largest populations found in Russia, the United States, France, Argentina, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Canada, Ukraine, Greece, and Australia.

Reduction in Population
It is strange to think that less than half of the world’s Armenian population lives in the Armenian homeland. On the other hand, prior to the First World War (and subsequently the Armenian Genocide) the population of the country was six times larger than it is now. However, it is worth noting that prior to the First World War Armenian citizens lived in a much larger country that included the eastern regions of Turkey, northern parts of Iran, southern parts of Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Nakhichevan regions of Azerbaijan.

Russian Armenian's
The vast majority of Armenians living outside of the Republic of Armenia reside in Russia and the United States of America. Russian Armenians represent one of the largest ethnic minorities in Russia and the largest community of Armenians living outside of Armenia. Whilst the official figures from Russia indicate the Armenian population to be 1, 182,388 Armenians living within their borders, unofficial estimates push that number to nearer 2 Million. The Armenian community in Russia is not confined to a specific area or city as Russian Armenians have integrated very well and can now be found in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai and as far East as Vladivostok. Armenians are so well thought of by the Russian people that the Russian government are actively encouraging Armenians to settle in the country and are offering resettlement grants to help people immigrate to the country.

American Armenian's
Armenians living in the United States of America are the second largest community of Armenians living outside the Republic of Armenia, second only to those living in Russia. The American Armenian community began to establish when Armenians fled the Hamidian Massacres in the late nineteenth century and later the Armenian Genocide after World War One. However, in more recent years Armenians from Middle Eastern countries have migrated and settled in North America. Additionally, since independence and uncertainty after the collapse of the Soviet Union many more Armenians moved to the US permanently. Interestingly, the American Armenian community is the most politically active (and influential) of the Armenian Diaspora.

Popularity
With so many Armenians living outside of the homeland the culture and heritage of the Armenian people can be found in every quarter of the globe. Their hospitality and kindness is world renowned which no doubt contributes to the popularity of Armenia and the Armenian people, the world over.