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Middle East :: Azerbaijan

- ## Introduction :: AZERBAIJAN

- 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.

- ## Geography :: AZERBAIJAN

- Location:
  Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
  Geographic coordinates:
  40 30 N, 47 30 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 86,600 sq km
  land: 82,629 sq km
  water: 3,971 sq km
  note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Maine
  Land boundaries:
  total: 2,468 km
  border countries (5): Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  dry, semiarid steppe
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
  highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 57.6%
  arable land 22.8%; permanent crops 2.7%; permanent pasture 32.1%
  forest: 11.3%
  other: 31.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  14,250 sq km (2010)
  Total renewable water resources:
  34.68 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 12.21 cu km/yr (4%/18%/78%)
  per capita: 1,384 cu m/yr (2010)
  Natural hazards:
  droughts
  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
  Geography - note:
  both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

- ## People and Society :: AZERBAIJAN

- Nationality:
  noun: Azerbaijani(s)
  adjective: Azerbaijani
  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.)
  Languages:
  Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <.1, unaffiliated <.1 (2010 est.)
  note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
  Population:
  9,780,780 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 38%
  youth dependency ratio: 30.3%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7.8%
  potential support ratio: 12.9% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 30.5 years
  male: 28.9 years
  female: 32.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.96% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Birth rate:
  16.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Death rate:
  7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 54.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BAKU (capital) 2.374 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 25.68 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 24.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 72.2 years
  male: 69.19 years
  female: 75.54 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Total fertility rate:
  1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  51.1% (2006)
  Health expenditures:
  5.6% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Physicians density:
  3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  4.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 94.7% of population
  rural: 77.8% of population
  total: 87% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 5.3% of population
  rural: 22.2% of population
  total: 13% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 91.6% of population
  rural: 86.6% of population
  total: 89.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 8.4% of population
  rural: 13.4% of population
  total: 10.7% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.14% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  8,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  22.2% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  8.4% (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Education expenditures:
  2.4% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.8%
  male: 99.9%
  female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 12 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 144,397
  percentage: 7%
  note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 13.8%
  male: 12%
  female: 15.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83

- ## Government :: AZERBAIJAN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
  conventional short form: Azerbaijan
  local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
  local short form: Azarbaycan
  former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
  note: the name translates as "The Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
  geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E
  time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
  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
  Independence:
  30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
  National holiday:
  Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995; amended 2002, 2009 (2015)
  Legal system:
  civil law system
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
  head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006); note - RASIZADE was previously prime minister from 20 July 1996 to 4 August 2003
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 9 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
  election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 84.5%, Jamil HASANLI (National Council of Democratic Forces) 5.5%, other 10%
  note: OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards
  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)
  elections: last held on 1 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 72, CSP 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Social Democratic Party 1, Social Prosperity 1, Unity Party 1, Democratic Enlightenment 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, Motherland 1, Civil Unity 1, Great Undertaking Party 1, independent 42
  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;
  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)]
  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)
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Robert CEKUTA (since 16 February 2015)
  embassy: 111 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
  mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
  telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300
  FAX: [994] (12) 488-3320
  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
  National symbol(s):
  flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green
  National anthem:
  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

- ## Economy :: AZERBAIJAN

- 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.
  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
  country comparison to the world: 68
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $74.15 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.8% (2014 est.)
  5.8% (2013 est.)
  2.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $17,800 (2014 est.)
  $17,300 (2013 est.)
  $16,300 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Gross national saving:
  38.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  39.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  44.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 46.3%
  government consumption: 10.9%
  investment in fixed capital: 25.8%
  investment in inventories: -0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 43.3%
  imports of goods and services: -26.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 5.7%
  industry: 58.3%
  services: 36% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  fruit, vegetables, grain, rice, grapes, tea, cotton, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
  Industries:
  petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Labor force:
  4.841 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 38.3%
  industry: 12.1%
  services: 49.6% (2008)
  Unemployment rate:
  5.4% (2014 est.)
  5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Population below poverty line:
  6% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.4%
  highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  33.7 (2008)
  36.5 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Budget:
  revenues: $23.46 billion
  expenditures: $23.84 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  31.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Public debt:
  8.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  8.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.4% (2014 est.)
  2.4% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  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
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  14.19% (31 December 2014 est.)
  14.43% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Stock of narrow money:
  $16.36 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $16.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Stock of broad money:
  $24.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $20.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $25.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $18.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  $10.43 billion (2014 est.)
  $12.05 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Exports:
  $28.26 billion (2014 est.)
  $31.7 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  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)
  Imports:
  $9.332 billion (2014 est.)
  $10.32 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  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)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $15.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $15.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Debt - external:
  $9.833 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $9.219 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $59.02 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $50.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $11.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $9.007 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  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.)

- ## Energy :: AZERBAIJAN

- Electricity - production:
  22.99 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Electricity - consumption:
  17.79 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Electricity - exports:
  680 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Electricity - imports:
  141 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  7.114 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  85% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Crude oil - production:
  845,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Crude oil - exports:
  811,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  7 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  131,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  99,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  36,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  807.1 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Natural gas - production:
  18.2 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Natural gas - consumption:
  10.91 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Natural gas - exports:
  7.29 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  35.14 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73

- ## Communications :: AZERBAIJAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 10.6 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephone and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009
  domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and now exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhichevan)
  international: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2011)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 10, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2010)
  Television broadcast stations:
  10 (2010)
  Internet country code:
  .az
  Internet users:
  total: 5.8 million
  percent of population: 60.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60

- ## Transportation :: AZERBAIJAN

- Airports:
  37 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 30
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 3 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 7
  under 914 m:
  7 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2012)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 89 km; gas 3,890 km; oil 2,446 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,068 km
  broad gauge: 2,068 km 1.520-m gauge (1,240 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Roadways:
  total: 52,942 km
  paved: 26,789 km
  unpaved: 26,153 km (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Merchant marine:
  total: 90
  by type: cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 47, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 2
  foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
  registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

- ## Military :: AZERBAIJAN

- Military branches:
  Army, Navy, Air, and Air Defense Forces (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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,354,249
  females age 16-49: 2,334,632 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,773,993
  females age 16-49: 1,964,012 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 76,923
  female: 71,024 (2010 est.)
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 6

- ## Transnational Issues :: AZERBAIJAN

- 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
  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)
  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

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