The social and economic upheavals that followed the earthquake of 1988 combined with the political collapse of the Soviet Union to create a catastrophic public health situation in Armenia.
Today the population of Armenia is about 3.5 million people. However, Armenian Diaspora worldwide totals more than 10 million: in the days of the genocide many Armenians were forced to leave their native land.
Through the centuries Armenian culture has developed in a contemporary, unusual and thriving way. Many aspects of the Armenian culture are based on the music,dance, literature, and geographical placement of the people.