Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; 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 (2010)
Internet country code [time series]
.az
Internet users [time series]
total: 5.8 million | percent of population: 60.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 10, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2010)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 Naxcivan (Nakhichevan) | 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)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 1.8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 10.6 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
10 (2010)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
fruit, vegetables, grain, rice, grapes, tea, cotton, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Budget [time series]
revenues: $23.46 billion | expenditures: $23.84 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-0.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
Central bank discount rate [time series]
5% (31 December 2012) | 5.25% (31 December 2011) | note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the National Bank of Azerbaijan | country comparison to the world: 75
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
14.19% (31 December 2014 est.) | 14.43% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Current account balance [time series]
$10.43 billion (2014 est.) | $12.05 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26
Debt - external [time series]
$9.833 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $9.219 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
33.7 (2008) | 36.5 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 100
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Azerbaijan's high economic growth has been 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. 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 source 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.
Exchange rates [time series]
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - | 0.7844 (2014 est.) | 0.7844 (2013 est.) | 0.79 (2012 est.) | 0.7897 (2011 est.) | 0.8027 (2010 est.)
Exports [time series]
$28.26 billion (2014 est.) | $31.7 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Exports - commodities [time series]
oil and gas 90%, machinery, foodstuffs, cotton
Exports - partners [time series]
Italy 22%, Indonesia 9.2%, Germany 8.8%, Israel 8.1%, France 7% (2014)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$74.15 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$165.9 billion (2014 est.) | $161.4 billion (2013 est.) | $152.6 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 68
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 46.3% | government consumption: 10.9% | investment in fixed capital: 25.8% | investment in inventories: -0.1% | exports of goods and services: 43.3% | imports of goods and services: -26.2% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 5.7% | industry: 58.3% | services: 36% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$17,800 (2014 est.) | $17,300 (2013 est.) | $16,300 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 94
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2.8% (2014 est.) | 5.8% (2013 est.) | 2.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Gross national saving [time series]
38.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 39.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 44.5% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.4% | highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)
Imports [time series]
$9.332 billion (2014 est.) | $10.32 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners [time series]
Russia 14.3%, Turkey 14%, UK 10.7%, Germany 7.7%, China 7.6%, US 6.1%, Ukraine 4.6% (2014)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Industries [time series]
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.4% (2014 est.) | 2.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Labor force [time series]
4.841 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
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
Population below poverty line [time series]
6% (2012 est.)
Public debt [time series]
8.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 8.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$15.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $15.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Stock of broad money [time series]
$24.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $20.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$11.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $9.007 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$59.02 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $50.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$25.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $18.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$16.36 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $16.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
31.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.4% (2014 est.) | 5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
35.14 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Crude oil - exports [time series]
811,300 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Crude oil - production [time series]
845,900 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
7 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - consumption [time series]
17.79 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - exports [time series]
680 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
85% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
14.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - imports [time series]
141 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
7.114 million kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - production [time series]
22.99 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
10.91 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - exports [time series]
7.29 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - production [time series]
18.2 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
99,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
36,700 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
807.1 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
131,600 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Geography
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 | country comparison to the world: 113
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: 12.21 cu km/yr (4%/18%/78%) | per capita: 1,384 cu m/yr (2010)
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]
14,250 sq km (2010)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 2,468 km | border countries (5): Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 57.6% | arable land 22.8%; permanent crops 2.7%; permanent pasture 32.1% | forest: 11.3% | other: 31.1% (2011 est.)
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]
Asia
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) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Total renewable water resources [time series]
34.68 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
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
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995; amended 2002, 2009 (2015)
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 | note: the name translates as "The Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert CEKUTA (since 16 February 2015) | embassy: 111 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 | mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 | telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300 | FAX: [994] (12) 488-3320
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Elin SULEYMANOV (since 5 December 2011) | 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); note - RASIZADE was previously prime minister from 20 July 1996 to 4 August 2003 | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 9 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); 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 (YAP) 84.5%, Jamil HASANLI (National Council of Democratic Forces) 5.5%, other 10% | note: 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 and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent 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 law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairman, and at least 24 judges in plenum sessions); 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; judge tenure NA; 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;
Legal system [time series]
civil law system
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 1 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 72, CSP 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Social Democratic Party 1, Social Prosperity 1, Unity Party 1, Democratic Enlightenment 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, Motherland 1, Civil Unity 1, Great Undertaking Party 1, independent 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)
National symbol(s) [time series]
flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI] | Civil Unity Party or CUP [Sabir HAJIYEV] | Democratic Enlightenment [Elshan MUSAYEV] | Democratic Reforms Party [Asim MOLLAZADE] | Great Undertaking [Fazil MUSTAFA] | Musavat [Arif HAJILI] | Popular Front Party [Ali KARIMLI] | Motherland Party or AVP [Fazail AGAMALI] | Social Democratic Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV] | Social Prosperity Party [Khanhusein KAZIMLI] | Unity Party [Tahir KARIMLI] | Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV] | Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Club-125 [Ilhamia RZAYEVA] | Ireli Youth Movement [MirHasan SEYIDOV] | National Council of Democratic Forces [Jamil HASANLI] | NIDA Youth Movement [Turgut GAMBAR, Zaur GURBANLI] | Positive Change Youth Movement [Bakhtiyar HAJIYEV] | Republican Alternative or REAL [Ilgar MAMMADOV (in jail)]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 ethnic Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous republic within Soviet Azerbaijan after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the territory's status. 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, as well as the court system.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 2,354,249 | females age 16-49: 2,334,632 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,773,993 | females age 16-49: 1,964,012 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 76,923 | female: 71,024 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Army, Navy, Air, and Air Defense Forces (2010)
Military expenditures [time series]
5.1% of GDP (2014) | 4.7% of GDP (2013) | 4.64% of GDP (2012) | 4.67% of GDP (2011) | 4.64% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 6
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-35 years of age for cumpulsory military service; service obligation 18 months or 12 months for university graduates; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 17 year olds are considered to be on active service at cadet military schools (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 22.72% (male 1,190,101/female 1,031,632) | 15-24 years: 16.69% (male 847,738/female 784,379) | 25-54 years: 45.17% (male 2,158,226/female 2,259,284) | 55-64 years: 9.06% (male 409,137/female 477,078) | 65 years and over: 6.37% (male 237,547/female 385,658) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
16.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 144,397 | percentage: 7% | note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2005 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
8.4% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 75
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
51.1% (2006)
Death rate [time series]
7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 38% | youth dependency ratio: 30.3% | elderly dependency ratio: 7.8% | potential support ratio: 12.9% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 94.7% of population | rural: 77.8% of population | total: 87% of population | urban: 5.3% of population | rural: 22.2% of population | total: 13% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.4% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 158
Ethnic groups [time series]
Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezgian 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% | note: the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.14% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
8,400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
5.6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 128
Hospital bed density [time series]
4.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 25.68 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 24.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Languages [time series]
Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 72.2 years | male: 69.19 years | female: 75.54 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.9% | female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
BAKU (capital) 2.374 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Median age [time series]
total: 30.5 years | male: 28.9 years | female: 32.2 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Azerbaijani(s) | adjective: Azerbaijani
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
22.2% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 71
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Population [time series]
9,780,780 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Population growth rate [time series]
0.96% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Religions [time series]
Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <.1, unaffiliated <.1 (2010 est.) | note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 91.6% of population | rural: 86.6% of population | total: 89.3% of population | urban: 8.4% of population | rural: 13.4% of population | total: 10.7% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 12 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 13.8% | male: 12% | female: 15.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 54.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability; residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan; local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian
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]
IDPs: 622,892 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2014) | stateless persons: 3,585 (2014)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
37 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 108
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
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 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 7 | 7 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
1 (2012)
Merchant marine [time series]
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) | country comparison to the world: 53
Pipelines [time series]
condensate 89 km; gas 3,890 km; oil 2,446 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea
Railways [time series]
total: 2,068 km | broad gauge: 2,068 km 1.520-m gauge (1,240 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 59
Roadways [time series]
total: 52,942 km | paved: 26,789 km | unpaved: 26,153 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 74