Armenia was the first nation to formally adopt Christianity, early in the 4th century. Despite periods of autonomy over the centuries, Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. After a brief period of independence following the first World War, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in 1922. Seventy years later, following the break-up of the U.S.S.R., Armenia regained its independence in 1991, but was involved in a dispute with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the  territory of Nagorno-Karabkah, which led to war. By May 1994, when a ceasefire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Armenia has seen a growth in emigration over the past 15 years as the country opened up to the rest of Europe.

The Armenian national broadcaster started showing the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, and made its contest debut in Athens in 2006, when uptempo ethic song "Without Your Love" sung by André finished 8th, helped by the large Armenia diaspora. This result automatically qualified Armenia for the 2007 final in Helsinki, when they once again finished 8th, with Hayko performing the ballad "Anytime You Need". Initially that result meant that Armenia was automatically qualified for the 2008 final, but a review of the rules may mean that only 2007 Eurovision winners and Eurovision's "Big 4" are guaranteed finalists in 2008 and Armenia will join all other entrants, in the semi-final in Belgrade. 

Official name: Republic of Armenia

Total area: 29,800 km².

Population: 3.1 million (2005)

Capital city: Yerevan

Major languages: Armenian, Russian

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 72 years 

Monetary unit: 1 dram = 100 lumas

GNI per capita: US $1,470 (World Bank, 2006)

Human Development Index ranking: 80th

Internet domain: .am

International dialling code: +374

 

1956-2005: Did not enter

2006: "Without Your Love" - André (8th)

2007: "Anytime You Need" - Hayko (8th)

 

Hayko performing in 2007. 

Eurovision broadcaster: Channel 1 (Public Television & Radio Armenia)
EBU membership: 2005

First entry: 2006
Number of entries: 2
Number of winners: -
Top 3 finishes: -
Top 10 finishes: 2 
Best result: 8th ("Without Your Love" in  2006 and "Anytime You Need" in 2007)  
Number of last place finishes: -
Highest score: 138 (2007)

Lowest Score: 129 (2006)
Number of contests hosted: -

Most points awarded to: Russia: 24, Greece & Ukraine: 16
Most points received from: Belgium, Russia & Turkey: 22 
Least points awarded to: Armenia did not vote for 16 countries in 2006 and 2007.
Least points received from: Armenia did yet to receive votes from 22 countries in 2006 and 2007..

Where Armenia's 12 points have gone : Russia: 2

Where Armenia's 12 points have come from : One each from Belgium, Georgia, Russia and Turkey 

Armenia favours^ : France: 25%, Belarus: 7%, FYR Macedonia: 6%

Armenia is favoured by^ : Georgia : 9%, Belgium, Russia & Turkey : 8%

Average points awarded to the Eurovision winner: 3.5

Points Ratio#: 2.30

* Only points awarded and received in finals since 1975 are included.
^ Bias is is based on the Euronation Friend index. Percentages are based on the points awarded in the finals.
# Points ratio is points received in Eurovision finals divided by points awarded. A ratio of 1.00 would mean that a country has recived the same number of votes as it has given. The higher the number the better a country has done.