YouTube monetization launches in Armenia

By Siranush Adamyan

Armenia has officially launched the YouTube Partner Program, making monetization available for users in the country for the first time. The announcement was made by Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Armenia’s minister of high-tech industry.

“Starting today, the YouTube Partner Program is launching in Armenia, meaning monetization is now available in our country,” the minister said on social media.

The launch means YouTube channels registered in Armenia can now earn revenue directly from the platform through advertisements, subscriptions, Super Chats, Shorts views, and other monetization tools. Until now, many Armenian creators had to rely on registrations in other countries or alternative mechanisms to monetize their content.

Technology specialist Arthur Papyan wrote on Facebook that YouTube monetization had officially launched in Armenia and outlined the minimum requirements for the first level of monetization eligibility.

According to Papyan, channels must have:

• at least 500 subscribers,

• at least three public uploads within the last 90 days,

• 3,000 public watch hours over the last 365 days,

• or 3 million Shorts views within the last 90 days.

Hayrapetyan first announced the program's preparatory phase in February. On May 11, both the ministry and YouTube’s official blog confirmed the launch.

The availability of monetization could have a significant impact on Armenia’s digital environment. It may create new revenue opportunities for Armenian-language content creators, independent media outlets, podcasts, educational channels, and entertainment projects.

In recent years, Armenia’s YouTube space has seen rapid growth, particularly in political commentary, technology, entertainment, and educational content. However, the absence of monetization limited many creators’ ability to turn content production into a sustainable business.

The launch could also encourage the creation of more high-quality Armenian-language content and help local audiences consume a greater share of domestically produced digital media.