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Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a country in Asia, home to about 10.2 million people. Its capital is Baku (Baki, Baky).

It covers 86,600 square kilometres (33,436 square miles). That's about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania.

Map of Azerbaijan showing major cities and neighbouring countries — Map: UN OCHA

A little history

Azerbaijan – a secular 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.

Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s. In the late Soviet period, an ethnic-Armenian separatist movement sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. After decades of cease-fire violations and sporadic flare-ups, a second sustained conflict began in 2020 when Azerbaijan tried to win back the territories it had lost in the 1990s. After significant Azerbaijani gains, Armenia returned the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh; after a conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.

Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced the poverty rate and has directed some revenue from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993.

What's it like there?

The weather is dry, semiarid steppe.

Location: Southwestern Asia

Bordering the Caspian Sea

Between Iran and Russia

With a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Size: About three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania

Slightly smaller than Maine
Climate: Dry, semiarid steppe
Landscape: 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) to the west

Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Natural resources: Petroleum

Natural gas

Iron ore

Nonferrous metals

Bauxite
Land use: Agricultural land

57.8%

Arable land

25.3%

Permanent crops

3.3%

Permanent pasture

29.2%

Forest

14.4%

Other

27.7%

2023 estimate
Good to know: Both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

Agricultural land	57.8%
Arable land	25.3%
Permanent crops	3.3%
Permanent pasture	29.2%
Forest	14.4%
Other	27.7%

Who lives there?

About 10.2 million people live in Azerbaijan, and the biggest city is Baku.

Largest cities: Baku Capital 2,351,300

Sumgayit 427,000

Ganja 330,663

Khirdalan 196,200

Yevlakh 127,400

Mingachevir 106,048

Naxçıvan 97,200

Lankaran 89,300

Qaraçuxur 87,349

Lerik 87,000
Languages: Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%

Less than 1%: Russian

Avar

Talyshi

Turkish

Tatar

Sakhur

Tat

Ukrainian

Georgian

Hebrew

2019 estimate

Note: Russian is widely spoken
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Shia) 97.3%

Christian 2.6%

Other <0.1

Unaffiliated <0.1

2020 estimate

Note: Religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 94.8%, other 1.8%

Less than 1%: Talish

Russian

Avar

Sakhur

Tartar

Georgian

Jewish

Kurd

2019 estimate

Note: Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, was populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians; Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups
Where people live: Highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku

Apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Cities and towns: Urban population

57.6% of total population

2023

Rate of urbanization

1.38% annual rate of change

2020-25 estimate

Note: Data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Reading and writing: Total population

99.8%

Male

99.8%

Female

99.7%

2023 estimate
What people are called: Noun

Azerbaijani(s)

Adjective

Azerbaijani

Urban population	57.6% of total population 2023
Rate of urbanization	1.38% annual rate of change 2020-25 estimate

Total population	99.8%
Male	99.8%
Female	99.7%

Noun	Azerbaijani(s)
Adjective	Azerbaijani

Who's in charge?

Its government is a presidential republic.

Leaders: Head of state

President Ilham Aliyev (since 31 October 2003)

Head of government

Prime Minister Ali Asadov (since 8 October 2019)
Parliament: Legislature name

National Assembly (Milli Majlis)

Legislative structure

Unicameral

Number of seats

125 (all directly elected)

Electoral system

Plurality/majority

Scope of elections

Full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Most recent election date

9/1/2024

Parties elected and seats per party

New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68)

Independents (44)

Other (13)

Percentage of women in chamber

20.8%

Expected date of next election

November 2029
Courts: Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers)

Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis

Judges appointed for 10 years

Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president

Other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms

Subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002)

District and municipal courts
Constitution: History

Several previous

Latest adopted 12 November 1995

Amendment process

Proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly

Passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature

Constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended
Legal system: Civil law system
Who can vote: 18 years of age

Universal

Head of state	President Ilham Aliyev (since 31 October 2003)
Head of government	Prime Minister Ali Asadov (since 8 October 2019)

Legislature name	National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	125 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Plurality/majority
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	5 years
Most recent election date	9/1/2024
Parties elected and seats per party	New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68) Independents (44) Other (13)
Percentage of women in chamber	20.8%
Expected date of next election	November 2029

Highest court(s)	Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis Judges appointed for 10 years Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president Other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms
Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002) District and municipal courts

History	Several previous Latest adopted 12 November 1995
Amendment process	Proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly Passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature Constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended

How does it make a living?

In short: Upper-middle income, oil-dependent Caucasus economy

Minimal economic diversification and dominance of state-owned enterprises

Growth and fiscal consolidation supported by oil revenues, but risks remain from demand shocks

Potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire

Education investments to diversify and retain human capital
Industries: Petroleum and petroleum products

Natural gas

Oilfield equipment

Steel, iron ore

Cement

Chemicals and petrochemicals

Textiles
Farming: Milk

Wheat

Barley

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Watermelons

Onions

Apples

Maize

Cotton

2023

Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Exports: Crude petroleum

Natural gas

Refined petroleum

Plastics

Electricity

2023

Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Sells most to: Italy 37%

Turkey 19%

Israel 5%

Greece 4%

Russia 4%

2023

Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports: Cars

Crude petroleum

Refined petroleum

Broadcasting equipment

Garments

2023

Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Buys most from: Russia 17%

China 16%

Turkey 14%

Georgia 4%

Germany 4%

2023

Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Workforce: 5.02 million

2024 estimate

Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Electricity: Electrification - total population

100%

2022 estimate
Government budget: Revenues

$30.966 billion

Expenditures

$22.95 billion

2022 estimate

Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Electrification - total population	100% 2022 estimate

Revenues	$30.966 billion
Expenditures	$22.95 billion

Have a great day!

I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

The more we all learn about the world, the better a place it becomes. Thank you for your curiosity!

Baku Capital		2,351,300
Sumgayit		427,000
Ganja		330,663
Khirdalan		196,200
Yevlakh		127,400
Mingachevir		106,048
Naxçıvan		97,200
Lankaran		89,300
Qaraçuxur		87,349
Lerik		87,000

Muslim (predominantly Shia)		97.3%
Christian		2.6%
Other <0.1
Unaffiliated <0.1

Italy		37%
Turkey		19%
Israel		5%
Greece		4%
Russia		4%

Russia		17%
China		16%
Turkey		14%
Georgia		4%
Germany		4%