Azerbaijan Population: 9,590,159
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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 in 1923 as an autonomous region within Soviet Azerbaijan 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. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia, is the framework established to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Corruption in the country is widespread, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced and infrastructure investment has increased substantially in recent years due to revenue from oil and gas production, reforms have not adequately addressed weaknesses in most government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors. In January 2012, Azerbaijan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term. |
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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 (2003) |
| 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: | 9,590,159 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 22.6% (male 1,164,189/female 1,006,483) 15-24 years: 18.3% (male 905,277/female 849,642) 25-54 years: 44.9% (male 2,092,945/female 2,209,623) 55-64 years: 7.9% (male 350,068/female 410,765) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 229,244/female 371,923) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 29.5 years male: 27.9 years female: 31.3 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.017% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.3 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 28.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.32 years male: 68.38 years female: 74.68 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.92 children born/woman (2013 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: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2010 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: | 66 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular); rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax |
| 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 perceived 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, Avaz TEMIRKHAN]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Open Society Party [Sulhaddin AKBAR, 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; Forum of Intelligentsia [Rustam IBRAHIMBEYOV]; Public Chamber; Republican Alternative (REAL) [Ilgar MAMMADOV]; N!DA Youth Movement [Turgut GAMBAR, Zaur GURBANLI]; Positive Change Youth Movement [Bakhtiyar HAJIYEV]; Ireli Youth Movement [Rauf MERDIYEV]; Ol! Youth Movement [Vugar SALAMLI] |
| 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 in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Elin SULEYMANOV 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 Richard L. MORNINGSTAR 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 2006-10 was attributable to large and growing oil and gas exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, including construction, banking, and real estate. In 2012, economic growth slowed to 2.2%. Continued production declines in the oil sector were offset by strong growth in the non-oil sector. However, the non-oil sector growth may be driven primarily by government investment, which may not be sustainable if oil production continues to decline. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk, and the Baku-Supsa pipelines remain the main economic driver, but efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. The eventual completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another, albeit, smaller soiurce of revenue from gas exports. 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, Azerbaijan's ability to negotiate export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to use its energy wealth to promote growth and spur employment in non-energy sectors of the economy. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $98.16 billion (2012 est.) $94.57 billion (2011 est.) $94.48 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $71.04 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.8% (2012 est.) 0.1% (2011 est.) 5% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $10,700 (2012 est.) $10,400 (2011 est.) $10,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 5.7% industry: 59.5% services: 34.7% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 6.206 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 38.3% industry: 12.1% services: 49.6% (2008) |
| Unemployment rate: | 1% (2012 est.) 6% (2011 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): 7.4% (2012 est.) 8.1% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $23.25 billion expenditures: $25.55 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 5.4% of GDP (2012 est.) 5.5% of GDP (2011 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: | -5.2% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 20 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 13.48 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 380 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 110 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 16.68 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 9.921 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 6.755 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $12.3 billion (2012 est.) $17.15 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $30.58 billion (2012 est.) $34.49 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs |
| Exports - partners: | Italy 32.6%, France 13.3%, US 7.6%, Germany 6.3%, Indonesia 5.4%, Czech Republic 5.3% (2011) |
| Imports: | $10.78 billion (2012 est.) $10.17 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals |
| Imports - 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: | $9.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $10.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $4.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.056 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $11.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $10.35 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $6.923 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.323 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.7839 (2012 est.) 0.7897 (2011 est.) 0.8027 (2010 est.) 0.8038 (2009) 0.8219 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.684 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 64 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 10.12 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephone 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 now exceeds 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 (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .az |
| Internet hosts: | 46,856 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 2.42 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 37 (2012) country comparison to the world: 109 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 30 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| 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: 52,942 km paved: 26,789 km unpaved: 26,153 km (2006) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 90 by type: cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 47, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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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