2024 Edition Primary

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. Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s. In the late Soviet period, an ethnic-Armenian separatist movement sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. After decades of cease-fire violations and sporadic flare-ups, a second sustained conflict began in 2020 when Azerbaijan tried to win back the territories it had lost in the 1990s. After significant Azerbaijani gains, Armenia returned the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh; after a conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced the poverty rate and has directed some revenue from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. 

Area

land

82,629 sq km

note

note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the final status of the region has yet to be determined

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

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

14,649 sq km (2020)

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% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)

forest

11.3% (2018 est.)

other

31.1% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km

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 country, 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

22.3% (male 1,269,241/female 1,104,529)

15-64 years

68.7% (male 3,659,441/female 3,656,493)

65 years and over

9% (2024 est.) (male 401,551/female 558,984)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.9% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

4.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.9% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Azerbaijan’s citizenry has over 80 ethnic groups. The far eastern part of the country has the highest population density, particularly in and around Baku. Apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population. Approximately 57% of the country’s inhabitants lives in urban areas.  While the population is continuing to grow, it is in the early stages of aging. The declining fertility rate – which has decreased from about 5.5 children per woman in the 1950s to less than the 2.1 replacement level in 2022 – combined with increasing life expectancy has resulted in the elderly making up a larger share of Azerbaijan’s populace. The percentage of elderly residents and the slowed growth and eventual shrinkage of the working-age population could put pressure on the country’s pension and healthcare systems. 

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.7

potential support ratio

10.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.2

youth dependency ratio

34.7

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 93.3% of population

improved: total

total: 97.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 6.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.9% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, was populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians; Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: Russian is widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.6 years

male

73.5 years

total population

75.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2019)

male

99.9%

total population

99.8%

Major urban areas - population

2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

36 years

male

32.8 years

total

34.3 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

24 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Azerbaijani

noun

Azerbaijani(s)

Net migration rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2016)

Physician density

3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

5,320,006 (2024 est.)

male

5,330,233

total

10,650,239

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.43% (2024 est.)

Religions

Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)

note

note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: NA

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: (2020 est.) NA

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2021)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.15 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female

at birth

1.15 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

0.1% (2020 est.)

male

47.9% (2020 est.)

total

24% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh

rate of urbanization

1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.6% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

66 districts (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

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

geographic coordinates

40 23 N, 49 52 E

name

Baku (Baki, Baky)

note

note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world

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

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 Mark LIBBY (since 18 January 2024)

email address and website

BakuACS@state.govhttps://az.usembassy.gov/

embassy

111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku

FAX

[994] (12) 488-3330

mailing address

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 Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

email address and website

azerbaijan@azembassy.ushttps://washington.mfa.gov.az/en

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

2024: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2%; on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV reappointed prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-12018: 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; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 7 February 2024 (next to be held in 2031); 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 extended the presidential term 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; however, no additional vice presidents have been appointed since the constitutional amendment was passed

head of government

Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)

note

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

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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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, current 116; 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 68, CSP 3, Justice, Law, Deomcracy Party 2, Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party 1, Azerbaijan National Independence Party 1, Democratic Reforms Party 1, Great Azerbaijan Party 1, Great Order Party 1, Motherland Party 1, National Front Party 1, Republican Alternative Party1, independents 44

elections

last held on 1 September 2024 (next to be held in 2029)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV

name

"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)

note

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki; Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and "Koc Yolu" Transhumance Route

total World Heritage Sites

5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)

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

Civic Solidarity Party or VHPDemocratic Reforms Party DiPGreat Order Party or BQPMotherland Party or AVPParty for Democratic Reforms or DIPRepublican Alternative Party or REALUnity Party or VƏHDƏTWhole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party or BAXCPNew Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyasi) or YAP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, cotton, apples, onions, maize (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

42.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$14.882 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$20.877 billion (2021 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB+ (2016)

Moody's rating

Ba2 (2017)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB+ (2016)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

$8.203 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$23.478 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$8.329 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$12.319 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

oil-based economy; macroeconomic instabilities due to demand shocks; recent state bailout of largest lender; potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; negatively impacted by COVID-19; investing in human capital to diversify and retain younger generation

Exchange rates

Currency

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1.7 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.7 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.7 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$25.494 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$47.274 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$35.487 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, aluminum (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Italy 47%, Turkey 9%, Israel 4%, India 4%, Greece 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

49% (2023 est.)

government consumption

14% (2023 est.)

household consumption

53.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-34.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

14.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

3.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.5% (2023 est.)

industry

46.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

39.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$72.356 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2021

$16.432 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$21.274 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$25.016 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, wheat, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Russia 17%, Turkey 17%, China 10%, UAE 5%, Georgia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.34% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

6.65% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

13.85% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.79% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

5.473 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

4.9% (2015 est.)

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

16.82% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$203.884 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$213.497 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$215.896 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.62% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.71% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.12% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$20,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$21,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$21,300 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2.78% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

5.01% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.87% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$8.29 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$11.338 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$13.749 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.42% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.04% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.65% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.64% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

15.3% (2023 est.)

male

12% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

13.5% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

137,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

23.068 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

12.982 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

36.187 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

60,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

20,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

23.827 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

2.997 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

137 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

7.71 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.25 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

93.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

5.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

61.497 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

11.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

22.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

67.711 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

34.175 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

7 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

105,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2020 est.)

total

1,995,474 (2020 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; 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

86% (2021 est.)

total

8.6 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

16 fixed-lines subscriptions per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriptions of 107 telephones per 100 persons (2022)

general assessment

the telecom sector was one of the major contributors to Azerbaijan’s non-oil GDP, overall development, growth, and investment; mobile usage rates reached 100% as far back as 2011, but have largely stagnated since then; the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are slowly extending the reach of their long-term evolution (LTE) networks around the country, and this increased coverage (along with access to faster data-based services) is expected to produce a moderate resurgence for both mobile and mobile broadband over the next few years as customers migrate from 3G to 4G. 5G services are still some ways off, as the demand for high-speed data and fast broadband can easily be met by existing capacity on LTE networks; fixed-line tele density continues to drop down each year as customers consolidate their telecommunications services around the mobile platform; yet the rate of decline is comparatively slow to other countries, since Azerbaijan has a relatively high proportion of (87%) of fixed-line broadband customers still on DSL; Fiber (12% of fixed broadband connections) is gradually being rolled out in urban areas, and this makes up the bulk of the (limited) growth being seen in the overall fixed broadband market; DSL’s predominance, however, will serve to keep Azerbaijan’s average access speeds in the sub-10Mbps range for the foreseeable future (2024)

international

country code - 994; Azerbaijan’s largest mobile network operator (MNO)  launched trial 5G mobile services in Baku on 27 December 2022 (2023)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

1.641 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

107 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

11.068 million (2022 est.)

Airports

32 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4K

Heliports

5 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228

total

312 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

44.09 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,279,546 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

44

number of registered air carriers

42 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Railways

broad gauge

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

total

2,944.3 km (2017)

Roadways

note

note: total roadway length has increased significantly and continues to grow due to the recovery of Armenian-held territories and related reconstruction efforts. No updated figure is currently available.

total

24,981 km (2013)

Military - note

the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 Turkey has been Azerbaijan’s strongest military partner, a relationship that has included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2024)

Military and security forces

Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, State Border Service, Coast GuardMinistry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2024)

note

note: the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service (intelligence, counterterrorism) are responsible for internal security; the SSPS is under the president and provides protective services to senior officials, foreign missions, significant state assets, government buildings, etc; the National Guard also serves as a reserve for the Army

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 100,000 active armed forces (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

Baku has been actively upgrading its equipment for over a decade with purchases from Belarus, Israel, Russia, and Turkey; while most of the military's equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of advanced equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, tanks, and UAVs (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

3.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age for voluntary/contractual service for men and women; 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2023)

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

659,000 (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) (2022)

stateless persons

3,585 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established in 1992 from the Kaspiy Scientific Center, established 1974); Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company) (2024)

Space program overview

national space program largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; has two satellite ground control stations; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the European Space Agency (and individual member states such as France), Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the US; Azercosmos is the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force

note

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 the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

37.62 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

44.87 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

24.64 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

dry, semiarid steppe

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

57.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)

forest

11.3% (2018 est.)

other

31.1% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.68 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

11.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

570 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh

rate of urbanization

1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.6% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2,930,349 tons (2015 est.)