Map of Azerbaijan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved seven-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.


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Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States

Area
Total area total: 86,600 km²
Land: 86,100 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maine
Note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Land boundaries: total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Climate: dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea

Elevation

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina

Land use
Arable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 4%
Meadows and pastures: 25%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 53%

Irrigated land: 14,010 km² (1990)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: landlocked


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Population: 7,789,886 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.32% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Azerbaijani(s)
Adjective: Azerbaijani

Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)
Note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)

Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
Note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual practicing adherents are much lower

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 33% (female 1,241,952; male 1,315,313)
15-64 years: 61% (female 2,437,810; male 2,307,496)
65 years and over: 6% (female 303,926; male 183,389) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.32% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 22.05 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.32 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
Current issues natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Current issues international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.09 years
Male: 67.4 years
Female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
Total population: 97%
Male: 99%
Female: 96%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
Conventional short form: Azerbaijan
Local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Local short form: none
Former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type: republic

Capital: Baku (Baki)

Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika; Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimb Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu

Dependent areas

Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May

Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution

Legal system: based on civil law system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993); election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote
Head of government: Acting Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9 October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV, Samed SADYKOV, Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and confirmed by the Mejlis

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly Milli Mejlis: elections last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next expected to be held September 1995 for the National Assembly); seats for Supreme Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the Supreme Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25, opposition elements 25
Note: since June 1993 ALIYEV has rotated in several supporters to replace Popular Front adherents

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
In the us chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
From the us embassy: Azadliq Prospect 83, Baku
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [9] (9,412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37
From the us FAX: [9] (9,412) 98-37-55

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan accounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former Soviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -22% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats

Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Industrial production growth rate: -25% (1994)

Labor force: 2.789 million
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 32%
By occupation industry and construction: 26%
By occupation other: 42% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 0.9% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of other unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1994)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $167.5 million
Expenditures: $234.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $366 million to non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994)
Commodoties: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)
Partners: mostly CIS and European countries

Imports: $296 million from non-FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994)
Commodoties: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)
Partners: European countries

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,500 (April 1995), 4,168 (end of December 1994)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 17.5 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 2,270 kWh (1994)

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 710,000 telephones; 90 telephones/1000 persons (1991); 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991); domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate
Local: a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system (Bakcel) in the Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994
Intercity: NA
International: connections to other former USSR republics by cable and microwave and to other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT link installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish financial assistance with access to 200 countries through Turkey; since August 1993 an earth station near Baku has provided direct communications with New York through Russia's Stationar-11 satellite

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 70.5 billion rubles, 10% of GDP (1993 budget allocation; note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 69
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 17
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 33

Airports with paved runways
Over 3047 m: 2
2438 to 3047 m: 6
15-24 to 2437 m: 17
914 to 1523 m: 3
Under 914 m: 1

Airports with unpaved runways
914 to 1523 m: 7
Under 914 m: 33

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe