Azerbaijan | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

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Facts & Figures

  • Republic of Azerbaijan

    President: Ilham Aliyev (2003)

    Prime Minister: Artur Rasizade (2003)

    Land area: 33,436 sq mi (86,600 sq km); total area: 33,436 sq mi (86,600 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 9,686,210 (growth rate: 0.99%); birth rate: 16.96/1000; infant mortality rate: 26.67/1000; life expectancy: 71.91

    Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Baku, 2.123 million

    Other large cities (2004 est.): Ganja, 303,000; Sumgait, 280,500

    Monetary unit: Manat

    National Name: Azarbaycan Respublikasi

    Current government officials

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

    Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.). Note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

    National Holiday: Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, May 28

    Literacy rate: 99.8% (2010 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $102.7 billion; per capita $10,800. Real growth rate: 5.8%. Inflation: 2.4%. Unemployment: 6% official rate (2013 est.). Arable land: 21.78%. Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats. Labor force: 4.68 million (2012 est.); agriculture and forestry 38.3%, industry 12.1%, services 49.6% (2008). Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina. Exports: $34.46 billion (2013 est.): oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs. Imports: $10.72 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals. Major trading partners: Italy, Israel, Turkey, France, U.S., India, Russia, China, Germany, Indonesia, Ukraine, Thailand, UK (2006).

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.734 million (2012); mobile cellular: 10.125 million (2012). Broadcast media: 3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; local relays of several international broadcasters had been available until late 2008 when their broadcasts were banned from FM frequencies (2010). Internet hosts: 46,856 (2011). Internet users: 2.42 million (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: total: 2,918 km (2011). Highways: total: 59,141 km ; paved: 29,210 km; unpaved: 29,931 km (2011). Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki). Airports: 37 (2013).

    International disputes: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.

    Major sources and definitions

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