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Countries that Recognize the Armenian Genocide 2023

According to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 2,133,190 Armenians lived in the Ottoman empire (modern-day Turkey) in 1914. By 1922, approximately 1,745,390 had been murdered by the Turkish government, leaving only 387,800 Armenians still alive. This mass slaughter of Armenians, which took place amid the chaos of World War I, was later dubbed the Armenian genocide.

All told, some 33 countries currently recognize the Armenian genocide. In addition, scholars believe that many other countries would likely recognize the genocide as well if not for political concerns. For instance, US presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all declined the opportunity to formally recognize the Armenian genocide, claiming it would harm the country's relationship with Turkey. President Joe Biden eventually signed a resolution (which had passed the House 405–11 and the Senate unanimously in 2019) recognizing the Armenian genocide in 2021.

On the other hand, the countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan reject the notion that the killings qualify as a genocide. The Turkish government, in particular, maintains that most Armenians were simply relocated rather than killed and that such actions were necessary to preserve the country because the Armenians were planning to revolt and secede. Most historians outside of Turkey rebuff this logic, pointing to additional mass killings of Armenians in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1909, and 1920-1923.

Countries that Recognize the Armenian Genocide:

CountryYears RecognizedCountryYears Recognized
Argentina1993, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015Libya2019
Armenia1988Lithuania2005
Austria2015Luxembourg2015
Belgium1998, 2015Netherlands2004, 2015, 2018
Bolivia2014Paraguay2015
Brazil2015Poland2005
Bulgaria2015Portugal2019
Canada1996, 2002, 2004, 2006Russia1995, 2005, 2015
Chile2007, 2015Slovakia2004
Cyprus1975, 1982, 1990Sweden2010
Czech Republic2017, 2020Switzerland2003
France1998, 2001Syria2020
Germany2005, 2016United States2019, 2021
Greece1996Uruguay1965, 2004, 2015
Italy2000, 2019Vatican City / Holy See2000, 2015
Latvia2021Venezuela2005
Lebanon1997, 2000

Causes and after effects of the Armenian genocide

The Armenian genocide was organized and conducted by the ruling CUP (Committee of Union and Progress) government, a Muslim sect which rose to power in Turkey in the 1900s and ruled the country from 1913-1918. The CUP's motives in conducting the Armenian Genocide are a matter of some debate to this day, and many scholars maintain that no single cause prompted it. However, the CUP's antagonistic feelings toward non-Muslim cultures—including not only the Christian and Catholic Armenians, but other Christian, Jewish, and Zionist peoples—is widely believed to have played a significant role.

Overall, the Armenian genocide resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.7 million Armenians. Those who were not killed outright were subjected to "death marches" and hard labor, where many were beaten and slowly starved. A large number of Armenians who survived, particularly women and children, were forcefully converted to Islam and integrated into Muslim society. The genocide also wiped out thousands of years of Armenian culture.

Several additional organizations and non-national governments have also recognized the Armenian Genocide. These include the Catholic church, all 50 US state governments, and the Council of Europe.

Country by country profiles:

Uruguay

Uruguay officially recognized the Armenian genocide in 1965, becoming the first country to do so.

Belgium

In 1998, the Belgian parliament officially approved a resolution that recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The vote passed by a large majority, which also carried with it increased pressure for the Turkish government to officially recognize and condemn the actions of their predecessors. In Belgium, to deny the facts of the Armenian genocide and its place in history carries with it a punishment of 45,000 euros, as well as up to a year in prison.

Brazil

A destination country for many Armenian refugees, Brazil took in a large number of Armenian diaspora, whose descendants remain in Brazil to this day. In 2015, in response to mounting public pressure, Brazil officially adopted a resolution that recognized the Armenian genocide. Although Brazil hosts a large number of Armenian diaspora, growing public pressure has only been noticed in the last few years.

Bulgaria

Inspired by Brazil, Bulgaria passed an extremely similar law in the following months. The Bulgarian parliament went a step further and officially declared April 24 "Victims Remembrance Day", a national holiday to remember those who lost their lives during the genocide.

Lebanon

Keeping with the above pace, Lebanon officially recognized April 24 as a remembrance day for the Armenian genocide. It is a national holiday that calls on the people of Lebanon to remember the acts of the Ottoman Empire towards the Armenian people and culture. On May 12, 2000, the government officially commemorated the 82nd anniversary of the genocide.

Download Table Data

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Country
Years Recognized
Argentina1993,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2015
Armenia1988
Austria2015
Belgium1998,2015
Bolivia2014
Brazil2015
Bulgaria2015
Canada1996,2002,2004,2006
Chile2007,2015
Cyprus1975,1982,1990
Czech Republic2017,2020
France1998,2001
Germany2005,2016
Greece1996
Italy2000,2019
Latvia2021
Lebanon1997,2000
Libya2019
Lithuania2005
Luxembourg2015
Netherlands2004,2015,2018
Paraguay2015
Poland2005
Portugal2019
Russia1995,2005,2015
Slovakia2004
Sweden2010
Switzerland2003
Syria2020
United States2019,2021
Uruguay1965,2004,2015
Vatican City2000,2015
Venezuela2005
showing: 33 rows

Which countries recognize the Armenian Genocide?

The countries that recognize the Armenian Genocide are Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela.

How many countries recognize the Armenian Genocide?

There are currently 33 countries that recognize the Armenian Genocide.

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