Azerbaijan

total: 1,890,913 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2018 est.)

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; note - all broadcast media is pro-government, and most private broadcast media outlets are owned by entities directly linked to the government

.az

total: 8,017,120 | percent of population: 79.8% (July 2018 est.)

general assessment: after the oil sector, the telecommunications sector contributes the most to the GDP; more competition will allow for falling prices and the strengthening of the 4G TD-LTE standard and the migration to 5G; Azerbaijan has moderate mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration compared to other Asian nations (2020) | domestic: teledensity of some 17 fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to 107 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhchivan) (2019) | international: country code - 994; the 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 (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

total subscriptions: 1,686,316 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16.65 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions: 10,835,974 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106.99 (2019 est.)

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

revenues: 9.556 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 10.22 billion (2017 est.)

-1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fitch rating: BB+ (2016) | Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017) | Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2016)

$1.685 billion (2017 est.) | -$1.363 billion (2016 est.)

$17.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $13.83 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

70.3 (2020)

Prior to the decline in global oil prices since 2014, Azerbaijan's high economic growth was attributable to rising energy exports and to some non-export sectors. 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 expected completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. First gas to Turkey through the SGC is expected in 2018 with project completion expected by 2020-21. Declining oil prices caused a 3.1% contraction in GDP in 2016, and a 0.8% decline in 2017, highlighted by a sharp reduction in the construction sector. The economic decline was accompanied by higher inflation, a weakened banking sector, and two sharp currency devaluations in 2015. Azerbaijan’s financial sector continued to struggle. In May 2017, Baku allowed the majority state-owed International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), the nation’s largest bank, to default on some of its outstanding debt and file for restructuring in Azerbaijani courts; IBA also filed in US and UK bankruptcy courts to have its restructuring recognized in their respective jurisdictions. Azerbaijan has made limited progress with 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. The government has, however, made efforts to combat corruption, particularly in customs and government services. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress, including the need for more foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics remains important, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is seeking new markets for non-oil/gas exports - mainly in the agricultural sector - with Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, the US, and others. It is also improving Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat for use as a regional transportation and logistics hub. Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to develop export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to improve the business environment and diversify the economy. In late 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms that identified key non-energy segments of the economy for development, such as agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the long-awaited Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, began limited service.

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - | 1.723 (2017 est.) | 1.5957 (2016 est.) | 1.5957 (2015 est.) | 1.0246 (2014 est.) | 0.7844 (2013 est.)

$15.15 billion (2017 est.) | $13.21 billion (2016 est.)

oil and gas roughly 90%, machinery, foodstuffs, cotton

Italy 23.2%, Turkey 13.6%, Israel 6.1%, Russia 5.4%, Germany 5%, Czech Republic 4.6%, Georgia 4.3% (2017)

calendar year

$48.104 billion (2019 est.)

$159.167 billion (2019 est.) | $155.712 billion (2018 est.) | $153.411 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

household consumption: 57.6% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 11.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 6.1% (2017 est.) | industry: 53.5% (2017 est.) | services: 40.4% (2017 est.)

$5,863 (2019 est.) | $5,792 (2018 est.) | $5,767 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

0.1% (2017 est.) | -3.1% (2016 est.) | 0.6% (2015 est.)

24.6% of GDP (2017 est.) | 22.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 27.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: 3.4% | highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)

$9.037 billion (2017 est.) | $9.004 billion (2016 est.)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Russia 17.7%, Turkey 14.8%, China 9.9%, US 8.3%, Ukraine 5.3%, Germany 5.1% (2017)

-3.8% (2017 est.)

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

2.6% (2019 est.) | 2.3% (2018 est.) | 12.8% (2017 est.)

4.939 million (2019 est.)

agriculture: 37% | industry: 14.3% | services: 48.9% (2014)

4.9% (2015 est.)

54.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$6.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $7.142 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

23.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

5% (2017 est.) | 5% (2016 est.)

35.6 million Mt (2017 est.)

718,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

798,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

7 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

20.24 billion kWh (2016 est.)

265 million kWh (2015 est.)

84% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

114 million kWh (2016 est.)

7.876 million kW (2016 est.)

23.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

10.34 billion cu m (2017 est.)

8.042 billion cu m (2017 est.)

2.095 billion cu m (2017 est.)

16.96 billion cu m (2017 est.)

991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

100,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

46,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

5,576 bbl/day (2015 est.)

138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

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

about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Middle East :: Azerbaijan Print Image Description about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine

dry, semiarid steppe

0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)

mean elevation: 384 m | lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m | highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m

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; surface and underground water are polluted by untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off

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

40 30 N, 47 30 E

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

14,277 sq km (2012)

total: 2,468 km | border countries (5): Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km

agricultural land: 57.6% (2016 est.) | arable land: 22.8% (2016 est.) / permanent crops: 2.7% (2016 est.) / permanent pasture: 32.1% (2016 est.) | forest: 11.3% (2016 est.) | other: 31.1% (2016 est.)

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

Asia

none (landlocked)

droughts

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

highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the county, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population

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

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

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: does not observe daylight savings time | etymology: the name derives from the Persian designation of the city "bad-kube" meaning "wind-pounded city" and refers to the harsh winds and severe snow storms that can hit the city note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent only: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995 | amendments: 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; amended 2002, 2009, 2016

conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan | conventional short form: Azerbaijan | local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi | local short form: Azarbaycan | former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic | etymology: the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges

chief of mission: Ambassador Earle LITZENBERGER (since 12 March 2019) | telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300 | embassy: 111 Azadliq Prospekti, Baku AZ1007 | mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 | FAX: [994] (12) 488-3330

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

chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017) | head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) | 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 7-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum expanded presidential terms from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice-president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president | election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9% | note: OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing

three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an 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

presidential republic

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

highest courts: 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

civil law system

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 9 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 70, CSP 3, AVP 1, CUP 1, Democratic Enlightenment 1, PDR 1, Great Order 1, VP 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, independent 41, vacant 4

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

Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)

flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green

Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI] Civil Unity Party or CUP [Sabir HAJIYEV] Great Order Party Islamic Party of Azerbaijan [Mavsum SAMADOV] Musavat [Arif HAJILI] Popular Front Party [Ali KARIMLI] Motherland Party or AVP [Fazail AGAMALI] National Renaissance Party Party for Democratic Reforms (PDR) Social Democratic Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV] Social Prosperity Party [Khanhusein KAZIMLI] Unity Party (VP) [Tahir KARIMLI] Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV] Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]

18 years of age; universal

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. Azerbaijan remains involved in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh was a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed which sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. The 1994 ceasefire continues to hold, although violence continues along the line of contact separating the opposing forces, as well as the Azerbaijan-Armenia international border. The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains the subject of international mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, which works to help the sides settle the conflict peacefully. The OSCE Minsk Group is co‑chaired by the United States, France, and Russia. In the 25 years following its independence, Azerbaijan succeeded in significantly reducing the poverty rate and has directed revenues from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a problem, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the Aliyev family since Heydar ALIYEV became president in 1993 and was succeeded by his son, President Ilham ALIYEV in 2003. Following two national referendums in the past several years that eliminated presidential term limits and extended presidential terms from 5 to 7 years, President ALIYEV secured a fourth term as president in April 2018 in an election that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms are underway to diversify the country’s non-oil economy and additional reforms are needed to address weaknesses in government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors, and the court system.

Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs: State Border Service (includes Coast Guard), Internal Security Troops (2020)

the Azerbaijan military has approximately 67,000 total active personnel; 56,000 Army; 2,500 Navy; 8,500 Air Force) (2019 est.)

120 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)

the inventory of the Azerbaijan military includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of arms to Azerbaijan, followed by Israel and Turkey (2020)

4% of GDP (2019) | 3.6% of GDP (2018) | 3.8% of GDP (2017) | 3.7% of GDP (2016) | 5.5% of GDP (2015)

18-35 years of age for compulsory 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)

0-14 years: 22.84% (male 1,235,292/female 1,095,308) | 15-24 years: 13.17% (male 714,718/female 629,494) | 25-54 years: 45.29% (male 2,291,600/female 2,330,843) | 55-64 years: 11.41% (male 530,046/female 634,136) | 65 years and over: 7.29% (male 289,604/female 454,769) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Middle East :: Azerbaijan Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Azerbaijan. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

14.5 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

4.9% (2013)

54.9% (2011)

6.7% (2017)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio: 43.4 | youth dependency ratio: 33.7 | elderly dependency ratio: 9.7 | potential support ratio: 10.3 (2020 est.)

improved: urban: 100% of population | rural: 87.4% of population | total: 94.1% of population | unimproved: urban: 0% of population | rural: 12.6% of population | total: 4.9% of population (2017 est.)

2.5% of GDP (2018)

Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.) | note: the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians

0.1% (2019 est.)

<500 (2019 est.)

9,700 (2019 est.)

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)

total: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 22.3 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.) | note: Russian is widely spoken

total population: 73.6 years | male: 70.5 years | female: 76.9 years (2020 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.9% | female: 99.7% (2017)

2.341 million BAKU (capital) (2020)

26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 32.6 years | male: 31.1 years | female: 34.2 years (2020 est.)

23.8 years (2017 est.)

noun: Azerbaijani(s) | adjective: Azerbaijani

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

19.9% (2016)

3.45 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

10,205,810 (July 2020 est.)

highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the county, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population

0.77% (2020 est.)

Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.) | note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower

improved: urban: 100% of population | rural: 89.1% of population | total: 95.1% of population | unimproved: urban: 0% of population | rural: 10.9% of population | total: 4.9% of population (2017 est.)

total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 14 years (2019)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.13 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

1.88 children born/woman (2020 est.)

total: 13.4% | male: 11.4% | female: 15.8% (2015 est.)

urban population: 56.4% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 1.58% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | note: includes Nagorno-Karabakh | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (2020) | note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

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

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

IDPs: 351,000 (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) (2019) | stateless persons: 3,585 (2019)

23 (2020)

total: 30 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 5 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) | under 914 m: 3 (2017)

total: 7 (2013) | under 914 m: 7 (2013)

4K (2016)

1 (2012)

total: 305 | by type: general cargo 40, oil tanker 48, other 217 (2019)

number of registered air carriers: 42 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,279,546 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 44.09 million mt-km (2018)

89 km condensate, 3890 km gas, 2446 km oil (2013)

major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

total: 2,944 km (2017) | broad gauge: 2,944.3 km 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified) (2017)

total: 24,981 km (2013)