CapitalBaku (Baki, Baky)
Population10,694,370
Area86,600 km²
GDP per capita$22,100
LanguagesAzerbaijani, other
CurrencyAzerbaijani manats
Life Expectancy75.9 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
Introduction
Background
Azerbaijan, a secular state predominantly inhabited by Turkic peoples and a majority of Shia Muslims, experienced a brief period of independence from 1918 until 1920 following the disintegration of the Russian Empire. Subsequently, it became part of the Soviet Union, where it remained for seventy years.
Starting in 1988, tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which had a significant ethnic Armenian majority yet was designated as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan during the early 1920s. As the Soviet Union neared its end, an ethnic Armenian separatist movement emerged, aiming to terminate Azerbaijani governance in the area. The situation intensified after both Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, culminating in a ceasefire in 1994 which left Armenian-backed separatists in control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani territories. Following years marked by ceasefire breaches and intermittent violence, a renewed conflict erupted in 2020 when Azerbaijan sought to reclaim territories lost in the 1990s. Following notable advances, Armenia ceded the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh along with the adjacent territories back to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan initiated military operations to reclaim the remainder of Nagorno-Karabakh; this conflict lasted merely one day, resulting in the mass exodus of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian populace of the region to Armenia.
Since achieving independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has made considerable strides in reducing poverty and has allocated a portion of its oil and gas revenues towards improving the nation's infrastructure. Nonetheless, corruption continues to pose a significant challenge to the economy, with Western analysts and members of the political opposition accusing the government of authoritarian practices. Leadership in the country has remained within the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, who was the highest-ranking Azerbaijani official in the Communist Party during the Soviet era, assumed the presidency in 1993 amidst the first Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Geography
Area
land
82,629 sq km
water
3,971 sq km
total
86,600 sq km
Climate
arid, semiarid steppe
Terrain
spacious, level Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, predominantly below sea level) flanked by the Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, and the Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku is situated on the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula), which extends into the Caspian Sea
Land use
other
27.7% (2023 est.)
forest
14.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
57.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a minor European segment north of the Caucasus Mountains
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point
Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m
mean elevation
384 m
Irrigated land
14,693 sq km (2022)
Map references
Asia
Land boundaries
total
2,468 km
border countries
Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
both the primary region of the nation and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Area - comparative
approximately three-quarters the area of Pennsylvania; marginally smaller than Maine
Geographic coordinates
40 30 N, 47 30 E
Population distribution
the highest population density is located in the far eastern part of the country, particularly in and around Baku; aside from smaller urban centers, the population density is generally light and evenly distributed throughout the rest of the nation
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
People & Society
Literacy
male
99.8% (2023 est.)
female
99.7% (2023 est.)
total population
99.8% (2023 est.)
Languages
Languages
Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%; less than 1%: Russian, Avar, Talyshi, Turkish, Tatar, Sakhur, Tat, Ukrainian, Georgian, Hebrew (2019 est.)
major-language sample(s)
Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 97.3% (mainly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1%, unaffiliated <0.1% (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.15 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.72 male(s)/female
Birth rate
11.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
32.8 years
total
34.8 years (2025 est.)
female
36 years
Population
male
5,354,376
total
10,694,370 (2025 est.)
female
5,339,994
Nationality
noun
Azerbaijani(s)
adjective
Azerbaijani
Tobacco use
male
37.9% (2025 est.)
total
18.4% (2025 est.)
female
0.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups
Azerbaijani 94.8%, other 1.8%; less than 1%: Talish, Russian, Avar, Sakhur, Tartar, Georgian, Jewish, Kurd
(2019 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
45.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
31.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
7.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
14 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
total
10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
9 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.4% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.79 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The highest population density is situated in the country's far eastern region, particularly in and around Baku; outside of smaller urban centers, the population is relatively sparse and evenly spread.
Life expectancy at birth
male
73.5 years
female
78.6 years
total population
75.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.9% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
24 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59.7% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
13 years (2023 est.)
total
13 years (2023 est.)
female
13 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
arid, semiarid grassland
Land use
other
27.7% (2023 est.)
forest
14.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
57.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
93.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
268.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
188.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
2.93 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
14.4% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
extensive air, soil, and water contamination; soil degradation due to oil leaks, pesticides, and hazardous defoliants utilized in cotton cultivation; surface and subterranean water pollution stemming from unprocessed municipal and industrial waste and agricultural runoff
Total water withdrawal
municipal
408 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
598 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
11.962 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
38.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
24.921 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
17,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
13.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
34.675 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: three horizontal stripes of equal size in sky blue (top), red, and green; in the center of the red band, there is a white vertical crescent moon accompanied by an eight-pointed star
meaning: the blue band symbolizes Azerbaijan's Turkic ancestry, red denotes modernization and advancement, and green represents Islam; the crescent moon and star are emblematic of Turkic identity; the eight points of the star signify the eight Turkic nations globally
Capital
name
Baku (Baki, Baky)
etymology
the name is thought to originate from the Old Persian term badkuba, which translates to "windward" and points to its breezy location along the Caspian Sea coastline
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time
geographic coordinates
40 23 N, 49 52 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995
amendment process
proposals must be made by either the president of the republic or a minimum of 63 members of the National Assembly; for passage, at least 95 Assembly votes are needed across two distinct readings of the draft amendment spaced six months apart, with presidential approval required after each Assembly vote, followed by a presidential signature; constitutional provisions regarding authority, sovereignty, and the unity of the populace are not subject to amendment
Country name
former
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the name can be interpreted as "Fire Keeper" or "The Land of Fire," derived from the local term azer, meaning "fire," and baydjan, a term traced back to the Iranian baykan, meaning "guardian;" it may allude to fire worshippers who historically inhabited the area
local long form
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form
Azarbaycan
conventional long form
Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form
Azerbaijan
Independence
30 August 1991 (declared independence from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (ratified by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (composed of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions, organized into chambers for civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations); Constitutional Court (comprises 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal (which replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges serve a term of 10 years; the chairman and deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the president; other judges of the court are nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve a single term of 15 years
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 as president; vote percentages - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2%; on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV was reappointed as prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-1
2018: Ilham ALIYEV was reelected president in the first round; vote percentages - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
head of government
Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)
most recent election date
7 February 2024
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected by a majority popular vote in two rounds (if necessary) for a term of 7 years; an individual may serve unlimited terms; the prime minister and first deputy prime minister are appointed by the president and must be confirmed by the National Assembly
expected date of next election
2031
National holiday
Republic Day (commemoration of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
National color(s)
blue, red, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
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
Political parties
Azerbaijan Hope Party or ÜMİD
Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP
Azerbaijan National Independence Party or AMİP
Civic Solidarity Party or VHP
Democratic Reforms Party or DiP
Great Order Party or BAP
Justice, Law, Democracy Party or ƏHD
Great Order Party or BQP
Motherland Party or AVP
National Front Party or MCP
National Revival Movement Party or MDHP
New Azerbaijan Party or YAP
Republican Alternative Party or REAL
Unity Party or VƏHDƏT
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
125 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/1/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
20.8%
parties elected and seats per party
New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) (68); Independents (44); Other (13)
National anthem(s)
title
"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
history
adopted in 1992; initially composed in 1919 during a brief phase of independence, but only became the official anthem following the dissolution of the Soviet Union
lyrics/music
Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
National symbol(s)
flames of fire
Administrative divisions
66 districts (rayonlar; singular - rayon), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular)
districts: 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 337-5911
chancery
2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 337-3500
chief of mission
Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles
email address and website
[email protected]
https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[994] (12) 488-3330
embassy
111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku
telephone
[994] (12) 488-3300
mailing address
7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
chief of mission
Ambassador (currently vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amy CARLON (since 23 June 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://az.usembassy.gov/
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)
International law organization participation
has not submitted a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ; non-party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$30.966 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures
$22.95 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$47.274 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$35.487 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$34.113 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$21.274 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$25.016 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$27.339 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
crude oil and oil products, natural gas, oilfield machinery; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Labor force
5.02 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2021
16.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -
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.)
Exchange rates 2024
1.7 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$12.378 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
an upper-middle income economy in the Caucasus that relies heavily on oil; minimal economic diversification with a predominance of state-owned enterprises; economic growth and fiscal stability are bolstered by oil revenues, though there are persistent risks stemming from demand fluctuations; potential economic benefits may arise from the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire; investments in education aim to diversify and preserve human capital
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
5.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
5.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Italy 37%, Turkey 19%, Israel 5%, Greece 4%, Russia 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
Russia 17%, China 16%, Turkey 14%, Georgia 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$21,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$21,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$22,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, apples, maize, cotton (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude oil, natural gas, refined oil, plastics, electricity (2023)
Imports - commodities
automobiles, crude oil, refined oil, broadcasting equipment, clothing (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$23.478 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$8.329 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$4.671 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
15.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$74.316 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
55.4% (2024 est.)
government consumption
14.4% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
4.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
16.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
45.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-36.8% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
42.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
13.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.2% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$213.497 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$216.388 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$225.198 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
12.3% (2024 est.)
total
13.7% (2024 est.)
female
15.3% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$11.338 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$13.749 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$12.699 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
42.6% (2024 est.)
services
42.3% (2024 est.)
agriculture
5.7% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
7 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
109,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
3.246 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
212 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
23.857 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
8.383 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
2.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
23.65 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
2.173 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
35.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
12.703 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
66.467 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
93.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
89% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
Television remains the predominant medium in Azerbaijan, with numerous households connected to satellite services. All channels based in Azerbaijan primarily advocate government viewpoints. The state-operated AzTV manages three national channels, while the state-supported iTV serves as a national public service broadcaster. There are four national private television stations in operation. Cable services also offer Turkish, Russian, and Western television programming. The transition from analog terrestrial television was completed between 2016 and 2017. Radio stations primarily emphasize entertainment, with approximately twelve FM stations broadcasting in Baku. The distribution of newspapers is predominantly restricted to the Baku area as of 2023.
Internet country code
.az
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
1.33 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
11.3 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
110 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
2.15 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Airports
32 (2025)
Railways
total
2,944.3 km (2017)
broad gauge
2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)
Heliports
5 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
312 (2023)
by type
general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4K
Military & Security
Military - note
The military of Azerbaijan was formed in 1991, although its roots trace back to 1918. A significant portion of its initial military equipment was obtained from the former Soviet armed forces, which withdrew from Azerbaijan by 1992. The primary focus of the military is territorial defense, particularly concerning Armenia, alongside a secondary emphasis on security against Iran. Open conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region occurred from 1991 to 1994 and again in 2020. Following the 2020 conflict, tensions persisted, culminating in Azerbaijan's complete control over the enclave in 2023.
Key security partnerships include Israel, Russia, and Turkiye. Relations with Turkiye have involved the transfer of weapons, technical assistance, joint training exercises, and military support during conflicts with Armenia. Although Azerbaijan is not a NATO member, it has maintained a cooperative relationship with the alliance since joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994. The country has also contributed troops to NATO-led operations in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2025).
Military expenditures
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 Expenditures 2024
5.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Azerbaijan Armed Forces consist of: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, Special Forces, State Border Service, and Coast Guard.
Ministry of Internal Affairs includes: Internal Troops and local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Mandatory military service for men is required for those aged 18-30; voluntary or contractual service is available for men aged 18-35 (and 18-40 for women volunteers). The duration of service is 18 months for conscripts and 36 months for those in voluntary or contractual positions (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
Baku has been actively upgrading the military's inventory for over a decade with equipment acquisitions from several sources, including Belarus, China, Israel, Russia, and Türkiye; while most of the military's equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of modern armaments, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, tanks, and UAVs (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
Data varies significantly; the estimated number of active personnel in the Armed Forces is around 100,000 (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
657,996 (2024 est.)
refugees
6,698 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
271 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
The Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, known as Azercosmos, was founded in 2010 as a state-owned entity focused on satellite operations. The Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA), officially named Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi or MAKA, was established in 1992 and has been functioning under the Ministry of Defense Industry since 2006. (2025)
Space program overview
Azercosmos primarily concentrates on acquiring and managing satellites. It operates a range of foreign-manufactured communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites and collaborates with various international space agencies and commercial organizations, including those from China, the European Space Agency (ESA) through bilateral agreements with individual member states like France, as well as Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the United States. Azercosmos holds the distinction of being the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region. (2025)
Key space-program milestones
2013 - Launched its inaugural communications satellite, Azerspace-1, which was constructed by a US company and deployed via a European rocket.
2014 - Assumed operational control of the remote sensing satellite SPOT-7, now known as Azersky, from a French company (the satellite ceased operations in 2023).
2017 - Launched its second communications satellite, Azerspace-2, also built by a US company and sent into orbit using a European rocket.
2023 - Entered into an agreement to join China’s International Lunar Research Station Cooperation project, with the goal of establishing a lunar base in the 2030s; signed a contract with Israel to collaboratively develop two multi-spectral RS satellites as part of the Azersky-2 program, slated for launches in 2026 and 2028. (2025)
