Azerbaijan Population: 8,372,373
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| Background | |
| Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked | |
| 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 |
| Area: | total: 86,600 sq km land: 82,629 sq km water: 3,971 sq km 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 Size comparison: slightly smaller than Maine |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km |
| 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 extremes: | lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite |
| Land use: | arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 14,300 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | droughts |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 8,372,373 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,029,931/female 912,639) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 2,896,785/female 2,993,092) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 195,853/female 344,073) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 28.8 years male: 27.2 years female: 30.6 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.846% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.116 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 51.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 56.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 67.36 years male: 63.2 years female: 72.01 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 3,600 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 200 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani |
| Ethnic groups: | Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region |
| 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; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower |
| Languages: | Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.2% (1999 census) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | name: Baku (Baki, Baky) geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
| Administrative divisions: | 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika) rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi (Nakhichevan) |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 89%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with smaller percentages note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - YAP 45.8%, CSP 1.6%, Motherland 1.4%, independents 48.2%, other 3.1%; seats by party - YAP 71, CSP 3, Motherland 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Creation 1, Hope Party 1, Social Welfare 1, Civil Unity 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, Justice 1, independents 42 |
| 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] note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Azerbaijan Public Forum [Eldar NAMAZOV]; Karabakh Liberation Organization |
| International organization participation: | ADB, BSEC, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew BRYZA embassy: 83 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337 FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671 |
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| Economy | |
| 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, spurred by growth in the construction, banking, and real estate sectors. In 2009, economic growth remained above 9% even as oil prices moderated and growth in the construction sector cooled. In 2010, economic growth slowed to 3.7%, although the impact of the global financial crisis was less severe than in many other countries in the region. The current global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain below their mid-2008 highs, highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and lackluster attempts to diversify its economy. Azerbaijan's oil production increased dramatically in 1997, when Azerbaijan signed the first production-sharing arrangement (PSA) with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. 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: 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 will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth to promote sustainable growth in non-energy sectors of the economy and spur employment. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $90.79 billion (2010 est.) $86.47 billion (2009 est.) $79.11 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $54.37 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5% (2010 est.) 9.3% (2009 est.) 10.8% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $10,900 (2010 est.) $10,500 (2009 est.) $9,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 5.2% industry: 60% services: 34.8% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 5.933 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 38.3% industry: 12.1% services: 49.6% (2008) |
| Unemployment rate: | 0.9% (2010 est.) 6% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 11% (2009 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.4% (2008) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 33.7 (2008) 36.5 (2001) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (2010 est.) 1.5% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 16.9% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $14.19 billion expenditures: $14.64 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 4.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 6.7% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats |
| Industries: | petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 2.6% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 22.55 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 18.8 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 812 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 596 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 1.041 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 104,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 651,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 1,439 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 7 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 16.52 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 10.59 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 5.93 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $15.04 billion (2010 est.) $10.18 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $26.48 billion (2010 est.) $21.1 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs |
| Exports - partners: | Italy 26.8%, US 8.4%, Germany 7.1%, France 6.7%, Czech Republic 4.9%, Russia 4.4% (2010) |
| Imports: | $6.746 billion (2010 est.) $6.514 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: | Turkey 17.7%, Russia 14.5%, Germany 9.9%, China 9.6%, UK 7.2%, Ukraine 7% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $6.409 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $3.221 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $8.879 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.318 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $5.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.558 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8035 (2010) 0.8038 (2009) 0.8219 (2008) 0.8581 (2007) 0.8934 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.397 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 69 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 7.757 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009 domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and is rapidly approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Nakhchivan international: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2009) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .az |
| Internet hosts: | 22,737 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 2.42 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 110 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 27 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2010) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1,424 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,918 km broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009) |
| Roadways: | total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2006) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 92 by type: cargo 27, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Panama 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Baku (Baki) |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010) |
| 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) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,354,249 females age 16-49: 2,334,632 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,773,993 females age 16-49: 1,964,012 (2010 est.) |
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