A Practical Guide to the Way of Life in Armenia

Life in Armenia

Healthcare in Armenia

While it does have a free, public healthcare system that is funded by social security contributions, many expatriates living in Armenia choose to use the private system instead. This is because, although it has improved in recent years, the public system is not of the same standard as many other nations’. In addition, it may be hard to find a doctor that speaks English, and the facilities are poor, especially outside of the capital city. Therefore, expatriates living in Armenia are advised to take out comprehensive medical insurance, and leave the country for major operations wherever possible. Many of the best private healthcare facilities are located in Yerevan, the capital city.

Transportation in Armenia

Expatriates living in Armenia will be able to drive using the driving license from their home country, provided that they also have an international driving permit. Whilst the roads in Yerevan, the capital city, and other urban areas will be of a good quality, this is not always true of rural areas.

Armenia also has an extensive rail network covering 825 km (513 mi) across the country that also has links to neighboring nations, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey. Yerevan, the capital city, also has a metro system.

Education in Armenia

Although Armenia has a free public school system that the children of expatriates will be able to attend without charge, many expatriates and foreigners living in Armenia instead send their children to an international school, or to school in their home country. This is due to the language of instruction in Armenia is Armenian, whilst English is only taught as a second language. In addition, the quality of schooling outside of the capital city and other urban areas can vary.

The main international schools in Armenia are the QSI International School and Dilijan International School, both of which are based in Yerevan, the capital city. Armenia also has a public university system, but again courses are taught in Armenian; the main public universities are Yerevan State University and the Yerevan Architecture and Civil Engineering Institute. There is also the American University of Armenia, a private university that teaches in English.