Country roads, take me to Yerevan
Like many other countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, Armenia ranks relatively high by the percentage of people living in the capital city. More than a third of its 2.7 million population lives in the capital city of Yerevan.
Since Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union, many regional towns and villages have suffered an exodus of the local population. Youth from rural parts are particularly prone to leaving for Yerevan in the hope of finding better educational and employment opportunities.
Moving to the overpopulated capital poses various challenges for young Armenians. However, the country’s disproportionate development and Yerevan’s dominance in Armenia’s economy, education, and cultural scene often leave the youth with no choice but to leave their hometowns.
Additionally, Yerevan's relatively progressive lifestyle and tolerance towards under-represented groups attract many marginalised Armenians to the capital.
Back when I was a student at Yerevan State University, I remember being shocked after finding out that most of my class wasn’t from the capital. The majority of my classmates lived most of their lives in Armenia’s other regions and Nagorno-Karabakh, but moved to Yerevan because all of Armenia’s best universities are located in the capital.
Most of them had trouble finding affordable accommodation in the city and some were living with relatives. With the influx of Russians to Yerevan after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the recent increase in migrant workers and expats in the city, rent in Yerevan has skyrocketed, making it even harder for many domestic migrants to find affordable accommodation.
Aside from financial challenges, integrating into Yerevan and building relationships in the capital city were also difficult for many of my classmates. In general, Yerevan’s fast-paced and dynamic environment, coupled with its increasingly international atmosphere, stands in contrast with the uniformity and steadfastness of Armenia’s small towns and villages. Therefore, many Armenians who move to the capital soon learn to navigate between financial obstacles and sociocultural challenges to fit in Yerevan’s big city life.
Despite these challenges, most, if not all of my classmates, ended up staying in Yerevan after graduation since their hometowns promised no opportunities for professional growth.