Azerbaijan

Broadcast media

1 state-run and 1 public television channel; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; Turkish, Russian, and Iranian TV and radio broadcasts are available, especially in border regions; 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 (2008)

Internet country code

.az

Internet hosts

22,737 (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

Internet users

2.42 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 70

Telephone system

general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009 domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and is rapidly approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Nakhchivan 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 (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.5 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 64

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.1 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 75

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Budget

revenues: $6.837 billion expenditures: $14.66 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-14.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 2% (31 December 2009 est.) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the National Bank of Azerbaijan

Commercial bank prime lending rate

21% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 20.03% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$15.04 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $10.18 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$3.934 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $4.008 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 97 36.5 (2001)

Economy - overview

Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-08 was attributable to large and growing oil exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, spurred by growth in the construction, banking, and real estate sectors. In 2009, economic growth remained above 9% even as oil prices moderated and growth in the construction sector cooled. In 2010, economic growth slowed to 3.7%, although the impact of the global financial crisis was less severe than in many other countries in the region. The current global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain below their mid-2008 highs, highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and lackluster attempts to diversify its economy. Azerbaijan's oil production increased dramatically in 1997, when Azerbaijan signed the first production-sharing arrangement (PSA) with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. However, Azerbaijan has made only limited progress on instituting market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth to promote sustainable growth in non-energy sectors of the economy and spur employment.

Electricity - consumption

18.8 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - exports

812 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

596 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

22.55 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Exchange rates

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8035 (2010) 0.8038 (2009) 0.8219 (2008) 0.8581 (2007) 0.8934 (2006)

Exports

$26.48 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $21.1 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Italy 26.8%, US 8.4%, Germany 7.1%, France 6.7%, Czech Republic 4.9%, Russia 4.4% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$54.37 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$90.79 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $86.47 billion (2009 est.) $79.11 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 65.4% services: 29.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $10,500 (2009 est.) $9,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 9.3% (2009 est.) 10.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)

Imports

$6.746 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $6.514 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners

Turkey 17.7%, Russia 14.5%, Germany 9.9%, China 9.6%, UK 7.2%, Ukraine 7% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

2.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Industries

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 1.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force

5.933 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 38.3% industry: 12.1% services: 49.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

10.59 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - exports

5.93 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - production

16.52 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - consumption

104,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Oil - exports

651,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Oil - imports

1,439 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Oil - production

1.041 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Oil - proved reserves

7 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Population below poverty line

11% (2009 est.)

Public debt

5.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 8.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.409 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $5.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$13.18 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $10.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$5.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $5.558 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$8.881 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $8.318 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$11.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $9.947 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $6.519 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Unemployment rate

1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 0.9% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 86,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 113 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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

dry, semiarid steppe

Coastline

0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Environment - current issues

local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%) per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Geography - note

both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

Irrigated land

14,300 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Land use

arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite

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) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Total renewable water resources

30.3 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika) rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi (Nakhichevan)

Capital

name: Baku (Baki, Baky) geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

adopted 12 November 1995; modified by referendum 24 August 2002

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew BRYZA embassy: 83 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337 FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 89%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with smaller percentages note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol, while the eight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world

Government type

republic

Independence

30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, BSEC, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court the president proposes judges of all the courts to the Parliament which appoints them; Supreme Court; Economic Court

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - YAP 45.8%, CSP 1.6%, Motherland 1.4%, independents 48.2%, other 3.1%; seats by party - YAP 71, CSP 3, Motherland 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Creation 1, Hope Party 1, Social Welfare 1, Civil Unity 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, Justice 1, independents 42

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 holiday

Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)

National symbol(s)

flames of fire

Political parties and leaders

Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI]; Civil Unity Party [Sabir HACIYEV]; Classic People's Front of Azerbaijan [Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU]; Democratic Reform Party [Asim MOLLAZADE]; Great Creation Party [Fazil Gazanfaroglu MUSTAFAYEV]; Hope (Umid) Party [Iqbal AGAZADE]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAYILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Open Society Party [Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)]; Social Welfare Party [Hussein KAZIMLI]; United Popular Azerbaijan Front Party or AXCP [Ali KARIMLI]; Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV] note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Azerbaijan Public Forum [Eldar NAMAZOV]; Karabakh Liberation Organization

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from oil production, the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,354,249 females age 16-49: 2,334,632 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,773,993 females age 16-49: 1,964,012 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 76,923 female: 71,024 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air, and Air Defense Forces (2011)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Military service age and obligation

men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,029,931/female 912,639) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 2,896,785/female 2,993,092) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 195,853/female 344,073) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

17.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.4% (2006) country comparison to the world: 71

Death rate

8.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 88% of population rural: 71% of population total: 80% of population unimproved: urban: 12% of population rural: 29% of population total: 20% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 140

Ethnic groups

Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,600 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Health expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 115

Hospital bed density

7.93 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 8

Infant mortality rate

total: 51.08 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 47 male: 56.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.36 years country comparison to the world: 157 male: 63.2 years female: 72.01 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.2% (1999 census)

Major cities - population

BAKU (capital) 1.95 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

38 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 106

Median age

total: 28.8 years male: 27.2 years female: 30.6 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani

Net migration rate

-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Physicians density

3.794 physicians/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 16

Population

8,372,373 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Population growth rate

0.846% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 51% of population rural: 39% of population total: 45% of population unimproved: urban: 49% of population rural: 61% of population total: 55% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.116 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 14.4% country comparison to the world: 80 male: 18.7% female: 9.8% (2008)

Urbanization

urban population: 52% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the lake; 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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia) IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and Iran for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia and Moldova for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation; Azerbaijan is also a destination country for men from Turkey and Afghanistan, and Chinese men and women for forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for not fully complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; the Government of Azerbaijan has not made sufficient progress in investigating, prosecuting, or convicting labor trafficking offenses or in identifying victims of forced labor (2011)

Airports

35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 110

Airports - with paved runways

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 92 country comparison to the world: 54 by type: cargo 27, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Panama 1) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1,424 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Baku (Baki)

Railways

total: 2,918 km country comparison to the world: 57 broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 59,141 km country comparison to the world: 74 paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2006)