2015 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

82,629 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

total

86,600 sq km

water

3,971 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

dry, semiarid steppe

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

highest point

Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

lowest point

Caspian Sea -28 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,384 cu m/yr (2010)

total

12.21 cu km/yr (4%/18%/78%)

Geographic coordinates

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

14,250 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km

total

2,468 km

Land use

arable land 22.8%; permanent crops 2.7%; permanent pasture 32.1%

agricultural land

57.6%

forest

11.3%

other

31.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

34.68 cu km (2011)

Age structure

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

16.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 5-17 (2005 est.)

percentage

7%

total number

144,397

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.4% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51.1% (2006)

Death rate

7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.8%

potential support ratio

12.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

38%

youth dependency ratio

30.3%

Drinking water source

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 expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.14% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

400 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

24.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

26.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

25.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.54 years (2015 est.)

male

69.19 years

total population

72.2 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2015 est.)

male

99.9%

total population

99.8%

Major urban areas - population

BAKU (capital) 2.374 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

32.2 years (2015 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

30.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Azerbaijani

noun

Azerbaijani(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.2% (2014)

Physicians density

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

9,780,780 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.96% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other

note

religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Sanitation facility access

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)

female

12 years (2012)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.11 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

15.6% (2013 est.)

male

12%

total

13.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.56% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

54.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

66 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);

cities

Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

40 23 N, 49 52 E

name

Baku (Baki, Baky)

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995; amended 2002, 2009 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Azerbaijan

conventional short form

Azerbaijan

former

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Azarbaycan Respublikasi

local short form

Azarbaycan

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert CEKUTA (since 16 February 2015)

embassy

111 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007

FAX

[994] (12) 488-3320

mailing address

American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050

telephone

[994] (12) 488-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Elin SULEYMANOV (since 5 December 2011)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 337-5911

telephone

[1] (202) 337-3500

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly

chief of state

President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)

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%

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

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

note

OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards

Flag description

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

republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

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

civil law system

Legislative branch

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)

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

elections

last held on 1 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV

name

"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)

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

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

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$23.84 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$23.46 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.19% (31 December 2014 est.)

14.43% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$10.43 billion (2014 est.)

$12.05 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$9.833 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$9.219 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.7 (2008)

36.5 (2001)

Economy - overview

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

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

$28.26 billion (2014 est.)

$31.7 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and gas 90%, machinery, foodstuffs, cotton

Exports - partners

Italy 22%, Indonesia 9.2%, Germany 8.8%, Israel 8.1%, France 7% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

43.3%

government consumption

10.9%

household consumption

46.3%

imports of goods and services

-26.2%

investment in fixed capital

25.8%

investment in inventories

-0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.7%

industry

58.3%

services

36% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,800 (2014 est.)

$17,300 (2013 est.)

$16,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2014 est.)

5.8% (2013 est.)

2.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$74.15 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$165.9 billion (2014 est.)

$161.4 billion (2013 est.)

$152.6 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

38.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

39.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

44.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27.4% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.4%

Imports

$9.332 billion (2014 est.)

$10.32 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners

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

0.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2014 est.)

2.4% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.841 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

38.3%

industry

12.1%

services

49.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

6% (2012 est.)

Public debt

8.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

8.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$15.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$15.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$24.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$20.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$11.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$9.007 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$59.02 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$50.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$16.36 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$16.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.4% (2014 est.)

5% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

35.14 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

811,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

845,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

7 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

17.79 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

680 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

85% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

14.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

141 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.114 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

22.99 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

10.91 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.29 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

18.2 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

99,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

36,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

807.1 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

131,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.az

Internet users

percent of population

60.3% (2014 est.)

total

5.8 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2010)

Telephone system

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)

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

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

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

19 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.8 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

109 (2014 est.)

total

10.6 million

Television broadcast stations

10 (2010)

Airports

37 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

13

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

4

over 3,047 m

5

total

30

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

7 (2013)

total

7

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

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)

total

90

Pipelines

condensate 89 km; gas 3,890 km; oil 2,446 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

Railways

broad gauge

2,068 km 1.520-m gauge (1,240 km electrified) (2014)

total

2,068 km

Roadways

paved

26,789 km

total

52,942 km

unpaved

26,153 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,334,632 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,354,249

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,964,012 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,773,993

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

71,024 (2010 est.)

male

76,923

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

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)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

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

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

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)