Azerbaijan

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 country code

.az

Internet hosts

46,856 (2012) country comparison to the world: 98

Internet users

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

Telephone system

general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephone 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 now exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhichevan) 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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.734 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 64

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.125 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 78

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $27.61 billion expenditures: $27.24 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Central bank discount rate

5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 5.25% (31 December 2011 est.) note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the National Bank of Azerbaijan

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 18.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$13.28 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $14.98 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$9.552 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $9.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 98 36.5 (2001)

Economy - overview

Azerbaijan's high economic growth has been attributable to large and growing oil and gas exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, including construction, banking, and real estate. 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 eventual completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another, albeit, smaller source of revenue from gas exports. 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, including 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 depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to negotiate export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to use its energy wealth to promote growth and spur employment in non-energy sectors of the economy.

Exchange rates

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.785 (2013 est.) 0.7857 (2012 est.) 0.8027 (2010 est.) 0.8038 (2009) 0.8219 (2008)

Exports

$34.46 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $32.63 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Italy 25%, Indonesia 11.6%, Thailand 7%, Germany 5.7%, Israel 5.3%, France 4.7%, India 4.6%, Russia 4.5%, USA 4.1% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$76.01 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$102.7 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $97.04 billion (2012 est.) $94.98 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 41.4% government consumption: 10.5% investment in fixed capital: 23.3% investment in inventories: 0.1% exports of goods and services: 49.9% imports of goods and services: -25.2% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.2% industry: 63% services: 30.8% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $10,500 (2012 est.) $10,400 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 2.2% (2012 est.) 0.1% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

41% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 44.4% of GDP (2012 est.) 45.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$10.72 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $9.65 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 14.1%, Turkey 13.7%, UK 12.5%, Germany 7.7%, Ukraine 5.5%, China 5.3%, France 4% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 1.1% (2012 est.)

Labor force

4.68 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

6% (2012 est.)

Public debt

7.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$13.08 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $11.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$21.88 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $17.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$8.616 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $7.516 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$14.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $12.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$21.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $17.01 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$17.17 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $14.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Unemployment rate

6% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 5.7% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

36.52 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

821,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Crude oil - production

931,900 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Crude oil - proved reserves

7 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - consumption

20.29 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - exports

462 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - from fossil fuels

84.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

15.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - imports

100 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - installed generating capacity

6.392 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - production

22.99 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - consumption

9.921 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - exports

5.55 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas - imports

250 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - production

17.86 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - proved reserves

991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Refined petroleum products - consumption

168,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Refined petroleum products - exports

53,440 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Refined petroleum products - imports

499 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Refined petroleum products - production

133,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

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: 12.21 cu km/yr (4%/18%/78%) per capita: 1,384 cu m/yr (2010)

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

14,250 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

total: 2,468 km border countries: Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km

Land use

arable land: 21.78% permanent crops: 2.62% other: 75.6% (2011)

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

34.68 cu km (2011)

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

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

several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995; amended 1996, 2002, 2009 (2009)

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 Richard L. MORNINGSTAR (since 20 July 2012) embassy: 111 Azadlig Prospecti, 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) 488-3310

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

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 9 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); 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 84.5%, Jamil HASANLI 5.5%, other 10% note: 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, 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)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairman, and at least 24 judges in plenum sessions); 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; judge tenure NA; 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;

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, Civil Unity 1, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Creation 1, Hope Party 1, Justice 1, Social Welfare 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, independents 42

National anthem

name: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)

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] Azerbaijan Popular Front or AXCP [Ali KARIMLI] Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI] Civil Unity Party [Sabir HACIYEV] Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan [Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU] Democratic Reforms Party [Asim MOLLAZADE] Great Creation Party [Fazil Gazanfaroglu MUSTAFAYEV] Hope (Umid) Party [Igbal AGAZADE] Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV] Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA, Avaz TEMIRKHAN] Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI] Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR] Open Society Party [Sulhaddin AKBAR] Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE] Social Welfare Party [Khanhusein KAZIMLI] Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV] Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

EL Movement [Eldar NAMAZOV] Karabakh Liberation Organization Forum of Intelligentsia [Rustam IBRAHIMBEYOV] Republican Alternative (REAL) [Ilgar MAMMADOV] National Council of Democratic Forces [Jamil HASANLI] NIDA Youth Movement [Turgut GAMBAR, Zaur GURBANLI (in jail)] Positive Change Youth Movement [Bakhtiyar HAJIYEV] Ireli Youth Movement [Rauf MERDIYEV] Ol! Youth Movement [Vugar SALAMLI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 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 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. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia, is the framework established to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Corruption in the country is widespread, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced and infrastructure investment has increased substantially in recent years due to revenue from oil and gas production, reforms have not adequately addressed weaknesses in most government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors.

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 (2010)

Military expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 5 4.64% of GDP (2012) 4.67% of GDP (2011) 4.64% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; length of service is 18 months and 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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,176,438/female 1,017,926) 15-24 years: 17.5% (male 877,773/female 818,380) 25-54 years: 45.1% (male 2,127,239/female 2,236,520) 55-64 years: 8.5% (male 379,081/female 442,970) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 232,297/female 377,586) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

16.96 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 106,626 percentage: 7 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.4% (2006) country comparison to the world: 74

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51.1% (2006)

Death rate

7.09 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.4 % youth dependency ratio: 30.7 % elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 % potential support ratio: 13 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 88.4% of population rural: 70.7% of population total: 80.2% of population unimproved: urban: 11.6% of population rural: 29.3% of population total: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 158

Ethnic groups

Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezgian 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 136

Hospital bed density

4.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 26.67 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 69 male: 27.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.91 years country comparison to the world: 141 male: 68.92 years female: 75.26 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2010 census)

Major urban areas - population

BAKU (capital) 2.123 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

43 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 113

Median age

total: 30.1 years male: 28.5 years female: 31.9 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.4 (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 71

Physicians density

3.38 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

9,686,210 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Population growth rate

0.99% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

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: 85.9% of population rural: 77.5% of population total: 82% of population unimproved: urban: 14.1% of population rural: 22.5% of population total: 18% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 14.2% country comparison to the world: 90 male: 12.2% female: 16.3% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 53.6% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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 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

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

IDPs: 597,429 (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; number 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) (2014) stateless persons: 3,585 (2012)

Airports

37 (2013) country comparison to the world: 108

Airports - with paved runways

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 90 country comparison to the world: 53 by type: cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 47, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 89 km; gas 3,890 km; oil 2,446 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

Railways

total: 2,918 km country comparison to the world: 59 broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 52,942 km country comparison to the world: 75 paved: 26,789 km unpaved: 26,153 km (2006)