Azerbaijan — a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population — was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades.
Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s. In the late Soviet period, an ethnic-Armenian separatist movement sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. After decades of cease-fire violations and sporadic flare-ups, a second sustained conflict began in 2020 when Azerbaijan tried to win back the territories it had lost in the 1990s. After significant Azerbaijani gains, Armenia returned the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh; after a conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.
Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced the poverty rate and has directed some revenue from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993.
Geography
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 final status of the region has yet to be determined
comparison ranking: total 113
Area – comparative
about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
Area comparison map:
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
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
mean elevation: 384 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Land use
agricultural land: 57.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 25.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 3.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 14% (2022 est.)
other: 28.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
14,693 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) – 374,000 sq km
Population distribution
highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography – note
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
People and Society
Population
total: 10,650,239 (2024 est.)
male: 5,330,233
female: 5,320,006
comparison rankings: total 88; female 90; male 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: Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, was populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians; Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups
Languages
Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: Russian is widely spoken
Religions
Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 45.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 13.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 34.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 32.8 years
female: 36 years
comparison ranking: total 104
Population growth rate
0.43% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 156
Birth rate
11.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 161
Death rate
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
Net migration rate
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 129
Population distribution
highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Urbanization
urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Major urban areas – population
2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
24 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
41 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 102
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 123
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.6 years
comparison ranking: total population 120
Total fertility rate
1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 167
Gross reproduction rate
0.79 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 93.3% of population
total: 97.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6.7% of population
total: 2.9% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4.7% of GDP (2021)
4.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: (2020 est.) NA
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
19.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 107
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 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.)
comparison ranking: total 143
Tobacco use
total: 18.4% (2025 est.)
male: 37.9% (2025 est.)
female: 0.1% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 81
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.9% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.4% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 128
Literacy
total population: 100% (2023 est.)
male: 100% (2023 est.)
female: 100% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2021)
Environment
Environment – current issues
severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution from oil spills, pesticides, and toxic defoliants used in producing cotton; surface and underground water pollution from untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off
Environment – international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
dry, semiarid steppe
Land use
agricultural land: 57.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 25.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 3.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 14% (2022 est.)
other: 28.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 24.64 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 37.62 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 44.87 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,930,349 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) – 374,000 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 570 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 11.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
34.68 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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 can be translated as “Fire Keeper” or “The Land of Fire,” from the local word azer, or “fire,” and baydjan, a word derived from the Iranian word baykan, or “guardian;” may refer to fire worshippers who lived in the region
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)
daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
etymology: the name may derive from the Old Persian word badkuba, meaning “windward” and referring to its windy location on the shore of the Caspian Sea
note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku’s elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world
Administrative divisions
66 districts (rayonlar; singular – rayon), 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
Legal system
civil law system
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995
amendment process: 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
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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)
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; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 7 February 2024 (next to be held in 2031); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results:
2024: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote – Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2%; on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV reappointed prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-1
2018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote – Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 125 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/1/2024
parties elected and seats per party: New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68); Independents (44); Other (13)
percentage of women in chamber: 20.8%
expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
Political parties
Civic Solidarity Party or VHP
Democratic Reforms Party DiP
Great Order Party or BQP
Motherland Party or AVP
Party for Democratic Reforms or DIP
Republican Alternative Party or REAL
Unity Party or VƏHDƏT
Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party or BAXCP
New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyasi) or YAP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Hugo GUEVAR (since January 2025)
embassy: 111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku
mailing address: 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300
FAX: [994] (12) 488-3330
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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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)
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band stands for Azerbaijan’s Turkic heritage, red for modernization and progress, and green for 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
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
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle income, oil-dependent Caucasus economy; minimal economic diversification and dominance of state-owned enterprises; growth and fiscal consolidation supported by oil revenues, but risks remain from demand shocks; potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire; education investments to diversify and retain human capital
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$215.896 billion (2023 est.)
$213.497 billion (2022 est.)
$203.884 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 74
Real GDP growth rate
1.12% (2023 est.)
4.71% (2022 est.)
5.62% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 164
Real GDP per capita
$21,300 (2023 est.)
$21,100 (2022 est.)
$20,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 98
GDP (official exchange rate)
$72.356 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.2% (2024 est.)
8.8% (2023 est.)
13.9% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 70
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 46.6% (2023 est.)
services: 39.1% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 199; industry 15; agriculture 113
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 53.2% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 14% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 49% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -34.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, apples, maize, cotton (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate
1.34% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 120
Labor force
5.028 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 87
Unemployment rate
5.6% (2024 est.)
5.6% (2023 est.)
5.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 113
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 13.7% (2024 est.)
male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
female: 15.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 102
Population below poverty line
4.9% (2015 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 42.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
2.64% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.01% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.78% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $20.877 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $14.882 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
16.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 192
Taxes and other revenues
15.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 134
Current account balance
$4.671 billion (2024 est.)
$8.329 billion (2023 est.)
$23.478 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 35
Exports
$34.113 billion (2024 est.)
$35.487 billion (2023 est.)
$47.274 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 77
Exports – partners
Italy 37%, Turkey 19%, Israel 5%, Greece 4%, Russia 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, plastics, electricity (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$27.339 billion (2024 est.)
$25.016 billion (2023 est.)
$21.274 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 84
Imports – partners
Russia 17%, China 16%, Turkey 14%, Georgia 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$12.699 billion (2024 est.)
$13.749 billion (2023 est.)
$11.338 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 70
Debt – external
$12.378 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 45
Exchange rates
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
1.7 (2024 est.)
1.7 (2023 est.)
1.7 (2022 est.)
1.7 (2021 est.)
1.7 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 8.383 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 23.857 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 3.246 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 212 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 126; imports 107; exports 47; consumption 71; installed generating capacity 70
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 93.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% 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.)
Coal
consumption: 6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 109,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 7 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 35.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 12.703 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 23.65 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.173 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
38.892 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.)
from consumed natural gas: 24.921 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 63
Energy consumption per capita
66.467 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 75
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.635 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 55
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 11 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 91
Broadcast media
TV is the most popular medium; many homes are hooked up to satellite; all Azerbaijan-based channels promote government positions; state-owned AzTV runs three national channels, and state-funded iTV is a national public service broadcaster; 4 national privately-owned stations; Turkish, Russian, and western TV is available on cable; analog terrestrial TV was phased out in 2016-17; radio outlets focus on entertainment, with around a dozen stations on FM in Baku; newspaper distribution is largely limited to Baku (2023)
Internet country code
.az
Internet users
percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 2.15 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 59
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4K
Airports
32 (2025)
comparison ranking: 118
Heliports
5 (2025)
comparison ranking: 102
Railways
total: 2,944.3 km (2017)
broad gauge: 2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)
Merchant marine
total: 312 (2023)
by type: general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228
comparison ranking: total 56
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, Special Forces, State Border Service, Coast Guard
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2025)
note: the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service (intelligence, counterterrorism) are responsible for internal security; the SSPS is under the president and provides protective services to senior officials, foreign missions, significant state assets, government buildings, etc; the National Guard also serves as a reserve for the Army
Military expenditures
5.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies widely; estimated 100,000 active Armed Forces personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
Baku has been actively upgrading its equipment for over a decade with purchases from Belarus, Israel, Russia, and Turkey; while most of the military’s equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of advanced equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, tanks, and UAVs (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age for voluntary/contractual service for men and women; 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2023)
Military – note
the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023
key bilateral security relationships include Israel, Russia, and Turkiye; Azerbaijan’s ties with Turkiye have included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and military support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2025)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established in 1992 from the Kaspiy Scientific Center, established 1974); Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company) (2024)
Space program overview
national space program largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; has two satellite ground control stations; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the European Space Agency (and individual member states such as France), Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the US; Azercosmos is the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 659,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs’ descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2022)
stateless persons: 3,585 (2022)
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
