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Introduction |
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Background: |
Azerbaijan - a
nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population - 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 the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of
its territory and must support some 571,000 internally displaced
persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous
and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's
undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
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Geography |
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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
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Geographic
coordinates: |
40 30 N, 47 30 E
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Map references: |
Asia
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Area: |
total:
86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 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
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Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller
than Maine
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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
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Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked);
note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
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Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
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Climate: |
dry, semiarid
steppe
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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
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Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
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Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural
gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
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Land use: |
arable land:
19.63%
permanent crops: 2.71%
other: 77.66% (2001)
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Irrigated land: |
14,550 sq km (1998
est.)
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Natural hazards: |
droughts
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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 as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants
used in the production of cotton
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Environment -
international agreements: |
party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography -
note: |
both the main area
of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
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People |
Top |
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Population: |
7,911,974 (July
2005 est.)
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Age structure: |
0-14 years:
26.4% (male 1,063,731/female 1,028,684)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,533,762/female 2,665,381)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 245,758/female 374,658)
(2005 est.)
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Median age: |
total: 27.53
years
male: 26.09 years
female: 29 years (2005 est.)
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Population
growth rate: |
0.59% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate: |
20.4 births/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Death rate: |
9.86 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Net migration
rate: |
-4.64 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality
rate: |
total: 81.74
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth: |
total
population: 63.35 years
male: 59.24 years
female: 67.66 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility
rate: |
2.44 children
born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult
prevalence rate: |
less than 0.1%
(2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1,400 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths: |
less than 100 (2001
est.)
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Nationality: |
noun:
Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
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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
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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
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Languages: |
Azerbaijani (Azeri)
89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
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Government |
Top |
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Country name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
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Government type: |
republic
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Capital: |
Baku (Baki)
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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
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Independence: |
30 August 1991
(from Soviet Union)
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National
holiday: |
Founding of the
Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
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Constitution: |
adopted 12 November
1995
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Legal system: |
based on civil law
system
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal
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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 Abbas ABBASOV
(since 10 November 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
and confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a
five-year term; election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be
held October 2008); prime minister and first deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the
National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent
of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%
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Legislative
branch: |
unicameral National
Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA
November 2005)
note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected
on the basis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were
elected based on proportional balloting; as a result of a 24
August 2002 national referendum on changes to the constitution,
all 125 members of the next parliament will be elected from
single mandate constituencies
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2,
Musavat Party 2, CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1
note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to
take their seats
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court
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Political
parties and leaders: |
Azerbaijan Popular
Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" faction; Mirmahmud
MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; Civic Solidarity
Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz
MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV];
Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for Azerbaijan
or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV];
Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat
[Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [vacant];
Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar
MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or
SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form
new parties
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Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Sadval, Lezgin
movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic;
Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF)
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International
organization participation: |
AsDB, BSEC, CE,
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
(observer)
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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
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Economy |
Top |
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Economy -
overview: |
Azerbaijan's number
one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through
1997 but has registered an increase every year since.
Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with
foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to
long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed
to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the
first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating
Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the
formidable problems of the former 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 are slowly being replaced.
One obstacle to economic progress is the need for stepped up
foreign investment in the non-energy sector. A second obstacle
is 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
pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its
oil wealth.
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GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $30.01 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real
growth rate: |
9.8% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per
capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $3,800 (2004 est.)
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GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture:
14.1%
industry: 45.7%
services: 40.2% (2002 est.)
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Labor force: |
5.09 million (2004
est.)
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Labor force - by
occupation: |
agriculture and
forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001)
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Unemployment
rate: |
1.2% (official
rate) (2004 est.)
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Population below
poverty line: |
49% (2002 est.)
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Household income
or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
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Distribution of
family income - Gini index: |
36 (1995)
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices): |
4.6% (2004 est.)
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Investment
(gross fixed): |
65.1% of GDP (2004
est.)
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Budget: |
revenues:
$2.715 billion
expenditures: $2.801 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
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Public debt: |
18.9% of GDP (2004
est.)
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Agriculture -
products: |
cotton, grain,
rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs,
sheep, goats
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Industries: |
petroleum and
natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron
ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
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Industrial
production growth rate: |
4% (2004 est.)
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Electricity -
production: |
17.55 billion kWh
(2002)
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Electricity -
production by source: |
fossil fuel:
89.7%
hydro: 10.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity -
consumption: |
17.37 billion kWh
(2002)
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Electricity -
exports: |
505 million kWh
(2002)
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Electricity -
imports: |
1.558 billion kWh
(2002)
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Oil -
production: |
312,800 bbl/day
(2004 est.)
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Oil -
consumption: |
140,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
NA
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Oil - imports: |
NA
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Oil - proved
reserves: |
589 million bbl (1
January 2002)
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Natural gas -
production: |
5.72 billion cu m
(2001 est.)
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Natural gas -
consumption: |
6.72 billion cu m
(2001 est.)
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Natural gas -
exports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas -
imports: |
1 billion cu m
(2001 est.)
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Natural gas -
proved reserves: |
62.3 billion cu m
(1 January 2002)
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Current account
balance: |
$-2.899 billion
(2004 est.)
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Exports: |
$3.168 billion
f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports -
commodities: |
oil and gas 90%,
machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
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Exports -
partners: |
Italy 31.1%, Czech
Republic 14.5%, Germany 9.4%, Turkey 6.1%, Russia 6%, Georgia
5.3%, France 4.9% (2004)
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Imports: |
$3.622 billion
f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Imports -
commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
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Imports -
partners: |
UK 13.9%, Russia
13.1%, Turkey 11.5%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 5.3%, China 5%, US
4.7%, Italy 4.5%, Ukraine 4.3% (2004)
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Reserves of
foreign exchange and gold: |
$875 million (2004
est.)
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Debt - external: |
$1.832 billion
(2004 est.)
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Currency (code): |
Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
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Currency code: |
AZM
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Exchange rates: |
Azerbaijani manats
per US dollar - 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82
(2002), 4,656.58 (2001), 4,474.15 (2000)
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year
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Communications |
Top |
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Telephones -
main lines in use: |
923,800 (2002)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
870,000 (2002)
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Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and
modernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is
low (2002)
domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and
other industrial centers - about 700 villages still without
public telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a
modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan
international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system
of cable and microwave is still serviceable; a satellite
connection to Turkey enables Baku to reach about 200 additional
countries, some of which are directly connected to Baku by
satellite providers other than Turkey (1997)
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Radio broadcast
stations: |
AM 10, FM 17,
shortwave 1 (1998)
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Radios: |
175,000 (1997)
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Television
broadcast stations: |
2 (1997)
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Televisions: |
170,000 (1997)
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Internet country
code: |
.az
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Internet hosts: |
586 (2004)
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Internet Service
Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000)
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Internet users: |
300,000 (2002)
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Transportation |
Top |
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Railways: |
total: 2,957
km
broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km
electrified) (2004)
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Highways: |
total:
28,030 km
paved: 25,890 km
unpaved: 2,130 km (2002)
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Pipelines: |
gas 4,451 km; oil
1,518 km (2004)
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Ports and
harbors: |
Baku (Baki)
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Merchant marine: |
total: 81
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWT
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8,
petroleum tanker 41, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 2
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
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Airports: |
50 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with
paved runways: |
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with
unpaved runways: |
total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)
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Heliports: |
2 (2004 est.)
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Military |
Top |
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Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air and
Air Defense Forces
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Military
manpower - military age and obligation: |
18 years of age for
compulsory and voluntary military service; law passed December
2001 raises maximum conscription age from 28 to 35 (December
2001)
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Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 18-49:
1,961,973 (2005 est.)
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Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 18-49:
1,314,955 (2005 est.)
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Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
82,358 (2005 est.)
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Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$121 million (FY99)
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Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
2.6% (FY99)
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Transnational Issues |
Top |
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Disputes -
international: |
Armenia supports
ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the
early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan -
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic
Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia;
about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in
Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through
Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
and Russia ratify Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on
equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even
one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon
exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with
Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in
the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve
the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas
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Refugees and
internally displaced persons:: |
IDPs:
571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)
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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
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