2019 Edition

Background

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.

Area

Land

82,629 sq km

Total

86,600 sq km

Water

3,971 sq km

Area Comparative

about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

dry, semiarid steppe

Coastline

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

Elevation

Highest Point

Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m

Lowest Point

Caspian Sea -28 m

Mean Elevation

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

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

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

14,277 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

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

Total

2,468 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

57.6% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

22.8% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.7% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

32.1% (2016 est.)

Forest

11.3% (2016 est.)

Other

31.1% (2016 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

Population Distribution

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

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

23.05% (male 1,233,424 /female 1,082,007)

15 24 Years

14.03% (male 743,142 /female 666,550)

25 54 Years

45.44% (male 2,247,545 /female 2,317,630)

55 64 Years

10.67% (male 493,555 /female 578,440)

65 Years And Over

6.81% (male 262,989 /female 421,234) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

4.9% (2013)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

54.9% (2011)

Current Health Expenditure

6.9% (2016)

Death Rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

8 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

12.4 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

40.2 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

32.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

77.8% of population

Improved Total

87% of population

Improved Urban

94.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

22.2% of population

Unimproved Total

13% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

5.3% of population

Education Expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.1% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<500 (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

8,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

22 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

23 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

76.4 years

Male

70 years

Total Population

73 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

99.7% (2016)

Male

99.9%

Total Population

99.8%

Major Urban Areas Population

2.313 million BAKU (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

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

Median Age

Female

33.4 years

Male

30.2 years

Total

31.7 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

23.2 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Azerbaijani

Noun

Azerbaijani(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

19.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.45 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

10,046,516 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.83% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

86.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

89.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

91.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

13.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

10.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

8.4% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

14 years (2017)

Male

13 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.14 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.11 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.97 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.62 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.08 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.98 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.89 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

15.8% (2015 est.)

Male

11.4%

Total

13.4%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.58% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

56% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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

Daylight Saving Time

does not observe daylight savings time

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 Only

yes

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

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 (2017)

History

several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Azerbaijan

Conventional Short Form

Azerbaijan

Etymology

the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges

Former

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Local Long Form

Azarbaycan Respublikasi

Local Short Form

Azarbaycan

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Earle LITZENBERGER (since 12 March 2019)

Embassy

111 Azadliq Prospekti, Baku AZ1007

Fax

[994] (12) 488-3330

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); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017)

Election Results

Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%

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

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)

Flag Description

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

Government Type

presidential 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, 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)

Judicial Branch

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

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 69, CSP 2, AVP 1, Civil Unity 1, CUP 1, Democratic Enlightenment 1, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Undertaking Party 1, National Renaissance Party 1, Social Democratic Party 1, Social Prosperity Party 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, independent 43, invalid 1; composition - men 104, women 21, percent of women 16.8%

Elections

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

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV

Name

"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)

National Holiday

Republic Day (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] Islamic Party of Azerbaijan [Mavsum SAMADOV] Musavat [Arif HAJILI] Popular Front Party [Ali KARIMLI] Motherland Party or AVP [Fazail AGAMALI] National Renaissance Party Social Democratic Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV] Social Prosperity Party [Khanhusein KAZIMLI] Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV] Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

10.22 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

9.556 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

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

Central Bank Discount Rate

10 March 2017

15%

14 September 2016

15%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

12.56%

31 December 2017

12.7%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.363 billion

2017

$1.685 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$13.83 billion

31 December 2017

$17.41 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2001

36.5

2008

33.7

Economy Overview

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.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.7844

2014

1.0246

2015

1.5957

2016

1.5957

2017

1.723

Currency

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$13.21 billion

2017

$15.15 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

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

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

48.7% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

11.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

57.6% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-42% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

23.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

6.1% (2017 est.)

Industry

53.5% (2017 est.)

Services

40.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$40.67 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$18,500

2016

$17,700

2017

$17,500

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$177.6 billion

2016

$172.1 billion

2017

$172.2 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

0.6%

2016

-3.1%

2017

0.1%

Gross National Saving

2015

27.3% of GDP

2016

22.7% of GDP

2017

24.6% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

27.4% (2008)

Lowest 10

3.4%

Imports

2016

$9.004 billion

2017

$9.037 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports Partners

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-3.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

12.6%

2017

13%

Labor Force

5.118 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

37%

Industry

14.3%

Services

48.9% (2014)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

4.9% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

2016

50.7% of GDP

2017

54.1% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$7.142 billion

31 December 2017

$6.681 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$5.06 billion

31 December 2017

$6.202 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$17.05 billion

31 December 2017

$19.6 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$73.83 billion

31 December 2017

$79.53 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$13.44 billion

31 December 2017

$13.31 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$5.06 billion

31 December 2017

$6.202 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

23.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

5%

2017

5%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

35.6 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

718,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

798,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

7 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

20.24 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

265 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

84% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

114 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

7.876 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

23.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

10.34 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

8.042 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

2.095 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

16.96 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

100,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

46,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

5,576 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

18 (2017 est.)

Total

1,805,214

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

Internet Country Code

.az

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

78.2% (July 2016 est.)

Total

7,720,502

Telephone System

Domestic

teledensity of some 17 fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to 102 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhchivan) (2018)

General Assessment

more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market; Azerbaijan has moderate mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration compared to other Asian nations; Pre-5G network operating on the TD-LTE standard (2018)

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)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

17 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

1,688,325

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

102 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

10.127 million

Airports

37 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

13 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

5 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

4 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

5 (2017)

Total

30 (2017)

Under 914 M

3 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

Total

7 (2013)

Under 914 M

7 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

4K (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 48, oil tanker 48, other 217 (2018)

Total

313

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

41,954,600 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

1,803,112 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

35 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

2 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

Railways

Broad Gauge

2,944.3 km 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified) (2017)

Total

2,944 km (2017)

Roadways

24,981 km (2013)

Military And Security Forces

Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

4.56% of GDP

2015

5.61% of GDP

2016

3.64% of GDP

2017

3.72% of GDP

2018

3.77% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

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)

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

344,000 (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) (2018)

Stateless Persons

3,585 (2018)