The Armenian Government is concerned over emigration from Armenia and is taking steps to reduce it, Premier Tigran Sargsyan told Armenian TV channels.

“Of course, we are concerned over the figures we get from the Migration Service. So we approved special programs to reduce migration and create favorable environment for our national that are willing to return,” the Premier said.

According to official information, 1,000,000 to 1.1 million people emigrated from Armenia from 1992 to July 2010. According to the Migration Service, 65% of the emigrants preferred Russia. Other most favored countries are the United States and Ukraine. Twice as many men as women seek to leave Armenia, most of them being 30 to 50 years old.