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| Azerbaijan | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. |
| Azerbaijan | People | Top of Page |
| Population: | 7,771,092 (July 2001 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani |
| Ethnic groups: | Azeri 90%, Dagestani
3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region |
| 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 |
| Languages: | Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.) |
| Azerbaijan | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: | conventional
long form: Republic
of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | Baku (Baki) |
| Administrative divisions: | 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu |
| Independence: | 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
| Constitution: | adopted 12 November 1995 |
| Political parties and leaders: | Alliance for Azerbaijan
Party [Abutalyb SAMADOV]; Azerbaijani Democratic Party or ADP
[Sardar JALAL]; Azerbaijani Independent Democratic Party or AMDP
[Leyla YUNUSOVA]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KERIMOV,
leader of "reform faction"; Mirmahmud FATTAYEV, leader
of "traditionalist" faction]; Civic Solidarity Party
or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV];
Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV]; Communist
Party of Azerbaijan or CPA-2 [Firudin HASANOV]; Compatriot Party
[Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Enlightenment Party [Mammadhanifu
MUSAYEV]; Democratic Party for Azerbaijan or DPA [Ilyus ISMAILOV
and Rasul QULIYEV, co-chairman]; Democratic World Party of Azerbaijan
[Mamnad ALIZADE]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shvkat HAJIYEVA];
Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; National Congress Party of
Azerbaijan [Ihtiyar SHIRIN]; National Movement Party [Samir JAFAROV];
National Statehood Party [Sabir TARIVERDIYEV]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR,
chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman];
Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar
MAMMADOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
or PDPA [Rafig TURABKHANOGLU]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
or SDP [Zardusht ALIZADE, chairman] note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties |
| Flag description: | three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band |
| Azerbaijan | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | Azerbaijan's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and natural gas. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of 19 production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to oil field development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. An obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is 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 up with Turkey, Iran, UAE, and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth. |
| Industries: | petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles |
| Currency: | Azerbaijani manat (AZM) |
