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 reignited their dispute over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated militarily 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 US, France, and Russia, is the framework established to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

  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 significant development of the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption in the country is widespread, 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 elections that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms to diversify the country’s non-oil economy remain dependent on subsidies from oil and gas revenues, while other 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: 114
  Area - comparative:
  about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; 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:
  mean elevation: 384 m
  elevation extremes: -28 m lowest point: Caspian Sea
  4466 highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 57.6% (2014 est.)
  arable land: 22.8% (2014 est.) / permanent crops: 2.7% (2014 est.) / permanent pasture: 32.1% (2014 est.)
  forest: 11.3% (2014 est.)
  other: 31.1% (2014 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  14,277 sq km (2012)
  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
  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; 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
  Geography - note:
  both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
- People and Society :: Azerbaijan
- Population:
  10,046,516 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Nationality:
  noun: Azerbaijani(s)
  adjective: Azerbaijani
  Ethnic groups:
  Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.)

  note: the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians

  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 <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.)

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

  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.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Middle East :: Azerbaijan Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Azerbaijan. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 40.2 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 32.1 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 8 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 12.4 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.7 years
  male: 30.2 years
  female: 33.4 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Population growth rate:
  0.83% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Birth rate:
  15.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Death rate:
  7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  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
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 55.7% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 1.58% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  2.286 million BAKU (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  23.2 years (2014 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 73 years (2018 est.)
  male: 70 years (2018 est.)
  female: 76.4 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Total fertility rate:
  1.89 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Health expenditures:
  6% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Physicians density:
  3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  Hospital bed density:
  4.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)
  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 (2015 est.)
  rural: 86.6% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 89.3% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 13.4% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 10.7% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.1% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  8,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <500 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  19.9% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  4.9% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Education expenditures:
  3% of GDP (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2016 est.)
  total population: 99.8% (2016 est.)
  male: 99.9% (2016 est.)
  female: 99.7% (2016 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years (2014)
  male: 13 years (2014)
  female: 13 years (2014)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 13.4% (2015 est.)
  male: 11.4% (2015 est.)
  female: 15.8% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
- 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
  etymology: the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges
  Government type:
  presidential 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)

  etymology: the name derives from the Persian designation of the city "bad-kube" meaning "wind-pounded city" and refers to the harsh winds and severe snow storms that can hit the city

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

  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:
  Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
  Constitution:
  history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995 (2017)
  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)
  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 only: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  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;
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017)
  head of government: Prime Minister Novruz MAMMADOV (since 21 April 2018); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum expanded presidential terms from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice-president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president
  election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%

  note: OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing

  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 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%
  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]
  National Renaissance Party
  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]
  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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GILL (since August 2016)
  embassy: 111 Azadlig Prospekti, 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) 488-3330
  Flag description:
  three equal horizontal bands of sky 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:

  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.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $172.2 billion (2017 est.)
  $172.1 billion (2016 est.)
  $177.6 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 73
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $40.67 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.1% (2017 est.)
  -3.1% (2016 est.)
  0.6% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $17,500 (2017 est.)
  $17,700 (2016 est.)
  $18,500 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 100
  Gross national saving:
  24.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
  22.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
  27.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 57.6% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 11.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6.1% (2017 est.)
  industry: 53.5% (2017 est.)
  services: 40.4% (2017 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:
  -3.8% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Labor force:
  5.118 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 37%
  industry: 14.3%
  services: 48.9% (2014)
  Unemployment rate:
  5% (2017 est.)
  5% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Population below poverty line:
  4.9% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 27.4% (2008)
  highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  33.7 (2008)
  36.5 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Budget:
  revenues: 9.556 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 10.22 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  23.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Public debt:
  54.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
  50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  13% (2017 est.)
  12.6% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Central bank discount rate:
  15% (10 March 2017)
  15% (14 September 2016)

  note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the National Bank of Azerbaijan

  country comparison to the world: 13
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  12.7% (31 December 2017 est.)
  12.56% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Stock of narrow money:
  $6.202 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $5.06 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Stock of broad money:
  $6.202 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $5.06 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $13.31 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $13.44 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Market value of publicly traded shares:

  NA

  Current account balance:
  $1.685 billion (2017 est.)
  -$1.363 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Exports:
  $15.15 billion (2017 est.)
  $13.21 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Exports - partners:
  Italy 23.2%, Turkey 13.6%, Israel 6.1%, Russia 5.4%, Germany 5%, Czech Republic 4.6%, Georgia 4.3% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  oil and gas roughly 90%, machinery, foodstuffs, cotton
  Imports:
  $9.037 billion (2017 est.)
  $9.004 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  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)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $6.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $7.142 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Debt - external:
  $17.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $13.83 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $79.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $73.83 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $19.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $17.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Exchange rates:
  Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -
  1.723 (2017 est.)
  1.5957 (2016 est.)
  1.5957 (2015 est.)
  1.0246 (2014 est.)
  0.7844 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Azerbaijan
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  23.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Electricity - consumption:
  20.24 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - exports:
  265 million kWh (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - imports:
  114 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  7.876 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  84% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Crude oil - production:
  789,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Crude oil - exports:
  718,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  7 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  100,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  46,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  5,576 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Natural gas - production:
  16.96 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Natural gas - consumption:
  10.34 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Natural gas - exports:
  8.042 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Natural gas - imports:
  2.095 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  35.6 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
- Communications :: Azerbaijan
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1,688,325 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 10.127 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Telephone system:
  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 (2017)
  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) (2017)
  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 (2017)
  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 (2018)
  Internet country code:
  .az
  Internet users:
  total: 7,720,502 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 78.2% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 1,805,214 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
- Transportation :: Azerbaijan
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,803,112 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41,954,600 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  4K (2016)
  Airports:
  37 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 30 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 5 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017)
  under 914 m: 3 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 7 (2013)
  under 914 m: 7 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2012)
  Pipelines:
  89 km condensate, 3890 km gas, 2446 km oil (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,944 km (2017)
  broad gauge: 2,944.3 km 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified) (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Roadways:
  total: 52,942 km (2006)
  paved: 26,789 km (2006)
  unpaved: 26,153 km (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Merchant marine:
  total: 311 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 48, oil tanker 48, other 215 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea
- Military and Security :: Azerbaijan
- Military expenditures:
  3.64% of GDP (2016)
  5.61% of GDP (2015)
  4.56% of GDP (2014)
  4.54% of GDP (2013)
  4.66% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Military branches:
  Army, Navy, Air, and Air Defense Forces (2010)
  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)
- 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 seathe dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instabilityresidents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijanlocal border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian bordersbilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 393,000 (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) (2017)
  stateless persons: 3,585 (2017)
  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