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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

1 state-owned radio broadcast station

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991 est.) domestic: telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system in the Baku area is operational international: cable and microwave radio relay connections to former Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service to New York)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

710,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 note: domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat satellite through a receive-only earth station

Televisions [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Budget [time series]

revenues: $565 million expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 manat = 100 gopik

Debt - external [time series]

$100 million (of which $75 million to Russia)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient : ODA, $14 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,000 million ($185 million in disbursements); wheat from Turkey

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-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. A major short-term obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with the nations of Europe, Turkey, Iran and the UAE.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

5.24 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

2,200 kWh (1996 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

16.63 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

manats per US$1 - 4,230 (November 1996), 4,375 (April 1996), 4,500 (April 1995), 4,168 (end of December 1994)

Exports [time series]

total value : $700 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $11.9 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26% industry : 30% services: 44% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,550 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.2% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $900 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities : machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-8% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

20% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 2.789 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42% (1990)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate [time series]

dry, semiarid steppe

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point : Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

10,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 11% other : 41% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu

Constitution [time series]

adopted 12 November 1995

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form : none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH embassy: Azadliq Prospekti 83, Baku mailing address : use embassy street address telephone: [9] (9412) 96-03-35

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790 telephone : [1] (202) 842-0001

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since NA November 1996); First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV (since NA), Samed SADYKOV (since NA), Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA), Elchin EFENDIYEV (since NA) 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 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Heydar ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 97%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 842-0004

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[9] (9412) 96-04-69

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Baku (Baki)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 May

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman]; Musavat Party [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; National Independence Party [Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Araz ALIZADE, chairman]; Communist Party [Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman]; People's Freedom Party [Yunus OGUZ, chairman]; Independent Social Democratic Party [Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen]; New Azerbaijan Party [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman]; Boz Gurd Party [Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman]; Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party [Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman]; Islamic Party of Azerbaijan [Ali Akram, chairman]; Ana Veten Party [Fazail AGAMALIYEV]; Azerbaijan Democratic Party [Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV]; Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Proprietors or DPOP [Makhmud MAMEDOV]; Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity Party [Sabir RUSTAMHANLI]; Azerbaijan Republic Reform Party [Fuad ASADOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan (unregistered) [Sayad SAYADOV]; Equality of the Peoples Party [Faukhraddin AYDAYEV]; Independent Azerbaijan Party [Nizami SULEYMANOV]; Labor Party of Azerbaijan [Sabutai HAJIYEV]; Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan [Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA]; National Enlightenment Party [Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV]; National Liberation Party [Panak SHAKHSEVEV]; Peasant Party [Firuz MUSTAFAYEV]; Radical Party of Azerbaijan [Malik SHARIFOV]; United Azerbaijan Party [Kerrar ABILOV]; Vetan Adzhagy Party [Zakir TAGIYEV]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Sadval, Lezgin movement

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

33.5 billion manats (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 1,982,747 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 1,596,087 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 69,524 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 1,302,759; female 1,247,868) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,315,272; female 2,446,087) 65 years and over: 6% (male 186,699; female 298,791) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.89 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Infant mortality rate [time series]

80.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.52 years male : 59.27 years female: 67.99 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun : Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

7,797,476 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.78% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual practicing adherents are much lower

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.77 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs [time series]

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates to Western Europe THE BAHAMAS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

69 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 29 over 3,047 m : 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 40 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 57,770 km paved: 54,188 km unpaved: 3,582 km (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Baku (Baki)

Railways [time series]

total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)