Map of Azerbaijan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Background: Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994 when a cease-fire took hold ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous and the government which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from oil production the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled. In January 2011 Azerbaijan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.


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Location: Southwestern Asia bordering the Caspian Sea between Iran and Russia with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N 47 30 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 113
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: dry semiarid steppe

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

Elevation

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas iron ore nonferrous metals bauxite

Land use

Irrigated land: 14,300 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 30.3 km³ (1997)

Natural hazards: droughts

Geography
Note: both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked


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Population: 9,493,600 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 91
Growth rate: 1.017% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 114
Below poverty line: 11% (2009 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Azeri 90.6% Dagestani 2.2% Russian 1.8% Armenian 1.5% other 3.9% (1999 census)

Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 90.3% Lezgi 2.2% Russian 1.8% Armenian 1.5% other 3.3% unspecified 1% (1999 census)

Religions: Muslim 93.4% Russian Orthodox 2.5% Armenian Orthodox 2.3% other 1.8% (1995 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.017% (2012 est.)
Rank: 114

Birth rate: 17.3 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 115

Death rate: 7.13 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 126

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 72

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air soil and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills from the use of DDT pesticide and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 70

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 140

Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 138

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.794 physicians/1000 population (2007)

Hospital bed density: 7.93 beds/1000 population (2007)

Sanitation facility access:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 111
People living with hivaids: 3,600 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 125
Deaths: fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 113

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.4% (2006)
Rank: 71

Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 140

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: republic

Capital

Administrative divisions: 66 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular) 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);

Dependent areas

Independence: 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

National holiday: Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan 28 May (1918)

Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995; modified by referendum 24 August 2002

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court the president proposes judges of all the courts to the Parliament which appoints them; Supreme Court; Economic Court

Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI]; Civil Unity Party [Sabir HACIYEV]; Classic People's Front of Azerbaijan [Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU]; Democratic Reform Party [Asim MOLLAZADE]; Great Creation Party [Fazil Gazanfaroglu MUSTAFAYEV]; Hope (Umid) Party [Iqbal AGAZADE]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAYILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR chairman]; Open Society Party [Rasul GULIYEV in exile in the US]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)]; Social Welfare Party [Hussein KAZIMLI]; United Popular Azerbaijan Front Party or AXCP [Ali KARIMLI]; Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]

International organization participation: ADB BSEC CD CE CICA CIS EAPC EBRD ECO EITI (compliant country) FAO GCTU GUAM IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OAS (observer) OIC OPCW OSCE PFP SELEC (observer) UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top) red and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage red stands for modernization and progress and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol while the eight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world

National symbols: flames of fire

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-08 was attributable to large and growing oil exports but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth including construction banking and real estate although most of this increase was tied to growth in the hydrocarbon sector. In 2011 economic growth slowed to 0.1% largely because oil production reached a plateau. Real GDP growth improved in 2012 reaching about 40% but the current global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain volatile highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and lackluster attempts to diversify its economy. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. Natural gas from fields under development in Azerbaijan by an international consortium is the only gas currently available for the geopolitically important Southern Corridor project which aims to improve European energy security. However Azerbaijan has made only limited progress on instituting market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth particularly in non-energy sectors. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress including the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region Azerbaijan's ability to negotiate export routes for its growing gas production and its ability to manage its energy wealth to promote growth and spur employment in non-energy sectors of the economy.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 75

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 88

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 111

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 goats

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: -5.2% (2011 est.)
Rank: 162

Labor force: 6.206 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 65

Unemployment rate: 6% (2011 est.)
Rank: 7

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 11% (2009 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 36.5 (2001)
Rank: 93

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -3.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 110

Taxes and other revenues: 32.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 83

Public debt: 5.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 148

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 8.1% (2011 est.)
Rank: 176

Central bank discount rate: 5.25% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 66

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 19% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 19

Stock of narrow money: $11.22 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 68

Stock of broad money: $13.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 89

Stock of domestic credit: $12.72 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 91

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: $17.15 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 26

Exports: $34.49 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 64
Commodities: oil and gas 90% machinery cotton foodstuffs
Partners: Italy 32.6% France 13.3% US 7.6% Germany 6.3% Indonesia 5.4% Czech Republic 5.3% (2011)

Imports: $10.17 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 91
Commodities: machinery and equipment oil products foodstuffs metals chemicals
Partners: Turkey 18.1% Russia 15.4% China 7.8% Germany 7.2% UK 6.1% Ukraine 4.6% Italy 4.2% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $10.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 74

Debt external: $4.056 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 129

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $10.35 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 81

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $6.323 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 57

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 20 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 73
Consumption: 13.48 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 78
Exports: 380 million kWh (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 65
Imports: 110 million kWh (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 92
Installed generating capacity: 5.798 million kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 71
Generation sources fossil fuels: 82.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 90
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 38
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 17.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 99
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 102

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 987,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 21
Crude oil exports: 821,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 16
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 150
Crude oil proven reserves: 7 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 21

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 161,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 63
Products consumption: 168,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 65
Products exports: 63,950 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products exports rank: 54
Products imports: 1426 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 188

Natural gas
Production: 16.68 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 36
Consumption: 9.921 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 47
Exports: 6.755 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 28
Imports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 152
Proven reserves: 849.5 billion m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 28

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 35.12 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 73

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.684 million (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 64
Mobile cellular: 10.12 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 76

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; local relays of several international broadcasters had been available until late 2008 when their broadcasts were banned from FM frequencies (2010)

Internet
Country code: .az
Hosts: 46,856 (2012)
Hosts rank: 98
Users: 2.42 million (2009)
Users rank: 70

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 54

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 37 (2012)
Rank: 108

Heliports: 1 (2012)

Pipelines: condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1424 km (2010)

Railways
Rank: 57

Roadways
Rank: 77

Waterways

Merchant marine
Rank: 53

Ports and terminals: Baku (Baki)


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Disputes international: Azerbaijan Kazakhstan and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability; residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan; local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous undemarcated Armenian Azerbaijani and Georgian borders; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe