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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 state-run and 1 public television channel; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; Turkish, Russian, and Iranian TV and radio broadcasts are available, especially in border regions; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; local relays of several international broadcasters had been available until late 2008 when their broadcasts were banned from FM frequencies (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.az

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

22,737 (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

Internet users [time series]

2.42 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 70

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.397 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 68

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

7.757 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 74

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 53 8% (31 December 2008) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the National Bank of Azerbaijan

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

20.03% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 19.76% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$15.96 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $10.18 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.221 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $3.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

36.5 (2001) country comparison to the world: 81 36 (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 approximately 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

18 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - exports [time series]

786 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

548 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

18.6 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Exchange rates [time series]

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8035 (2010), 0.8038 (2009), 0.8219 (2008), 0.8581 (2007), 0.8934 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$28.07 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $21.1 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 20.69%, India 10.67%, US 9.24%, France 8.15%, Germany 7.62%, Indonesia 6.63%, Canada 5.13% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$52.17 billion (2010 est.)

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

$90.15 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $86.93 billion (2009 est.) $79.54 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 61.4% services: 33.1% (2010 est.)

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

$11,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $10,600 (2009 est.) $9,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 9.3% (2009 est.) 10.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 6.1% highest 10%: 17.5% (2005)

Imports [time series]

$7.035 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $6.514 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Turkey 18.69%, Russia 16.98%, Germany 7.87%, Ukraine 7.3%, China 6.18%, UK 5.73% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 1.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

17.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Labor force [time series]

5.874 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 38.3% industry: 12.1% services: 49.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

10.12 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - exports [time series]

5.564 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - production [time series]

23 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Oil - consumption [time series]

136,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Oil - exports [time series]

528,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Oil - imports [time series]

2,848 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Oil - production [time series]

1.011 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

7 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Population below poverty line [time series]

11% (2009 est.)

Public debt [time series]

4.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 6.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$6.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $5.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$11.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $10.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$6.058 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $5.558 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$8.918 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $8.318 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$8.135 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $5.726 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$7.34 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 77 $6.519 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

0.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 6% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 86,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 112 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

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 (713 km)

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

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%) per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

14,550 sq km (2003)

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: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)

Location [time series]

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

30.3 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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)

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted 12 November 1995; modified by referendum 24 August 2002

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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 theWorld 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

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 the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol, while the eight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

International organization participation [time series]

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)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan) lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV note: adopted 1992; although originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, "Azerbaijan Marsi" did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union

National holiday [time series]

Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)

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

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

Azerbaijan Public Forum [Eldar NAMAZOV]; Karabakh Liberation Organization

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,336,611 females age 16-49: 2,329,275 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,753,878 females age 16-49: 1,958,408 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 84,441 female: 78,905 (2010 est.)

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

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 1,042,132/female 926,495) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 2,807,717/female 2,908,221) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 204,410/female 349,697) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.75 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Death rate [time series]

8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

1.9% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 171

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

7,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 46 male: 58.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.01 years country comparison to the world: 156 male: 62.86 years female: 71.67 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.2% (1999 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 28.5 years male: 26.9 years female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Population [time series]

8,303,512 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Population growth rate [time series]

0.805% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

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; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.124 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 52% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan; 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 and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified 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 continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia) IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate, prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 109

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 92 country comparison to the world: 54 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)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1,424 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Baku (Baki)

Railways [time series]

total: 2,918 km country comparison to the world: 57 broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways [time series]

total: 59,141 km country comparison to the world: 76 paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)