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Background:
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Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim
population - 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 the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has
lost 16% of its territory and must support some 571,000
internally displaced persons as a result of the
conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of
widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped
petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. |
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Location:
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Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of
the Caucasus range |
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Geographic coordinates:
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40 30 N,
47 30 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 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 |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Maine |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea
(800 km, est.) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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dry,
semiarid steppe |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals,
alumina |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 19.63%
permanent crops: 2.71%
other: 77.66% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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14,550 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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 as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in
the production of cotton |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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both the
main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are
landlocked |
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Population:
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7,911,974
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 26.4% (male 1,063,731/female 1,028,684)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,533,762/female
2,665,381)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 245,758/female
374,658) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
27.53 years
male: 26.09 years
female: 29 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.59%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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20.4
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.86
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-4.64
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
81.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 63.35 years
male: 59.24 years
female: 67.66 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.44
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than
0.1% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1,400
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani |
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Ethnic groups:
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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 |
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Religions:
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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 |
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Languages:
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Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other
6% (1995 est.) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Baku (Baki)
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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30 August
1991 (from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Founding
of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
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Constitution:
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adopted
12 November 1995 |
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Legal system:
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based on
civil law system |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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
Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president and confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a
five-year term; election last held 15 October 2003 (next
to be held October 2008); prime minister and first
deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president;
percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be
held November 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NAP 58, independents 42, Azadliq 8, CSP
2, YES 2, Motherland 2, other parties with single seats
7, undetermined 4 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of
"Reform" faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of
"Classic" faction]; Civic Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir
RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV];
Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV];
Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for
Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice
Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala
Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New
Azerbaijan Party or NAP [vacant]; Party for National
Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar MAMMADLI,
chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP
[Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize
and form new parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Sadval,
Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement;
Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF) |
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International organization participation:
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AsDB,
BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer),
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
(observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Reno L. HARNISH III
embassy: 83 Azadlyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku,
Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC
20521-7050
telephone: [9] (9412) 4980-335 through 337
FAX: [9] (9412) 4983-755 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a
crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
red band |
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Economy - overview:
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Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil
production declined through 1997 but has registered an
increase every year since. Negotiation of
production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign
firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to
long-term oilfield 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. A consortium of Western oil companies is
scheduled to begin pumping 1 million barrels a day from
a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $4
billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's
Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists estimate that
by 2010 revenues from this project will double the
country's current GDP. 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. Several
other obstacles impede Armenia's economic progress: the
need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy
sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive corruption.
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
pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to
manage its oil wealth. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$36.53 billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$10.81 billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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18.3% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 14.1%
industry: 45.7%
services: 40.2% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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5.45 million (2005 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52%
(2001) |
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Unemployment rate:
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1.2% (official rate) (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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49% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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36.5 (2001) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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12% (2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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57.4% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.18 billion
expenditures: $2.986 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2005 est.) |
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Public debt:
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13.9% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea,
tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats |
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Industries:
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petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield
equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and
petrochemicals; textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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25% (2005 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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20 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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20.25 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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700 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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2.35 billion kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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477,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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123,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
589 million bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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1 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
|
$-1.53 billion (2005 est.) |
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Exports:
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$6.117 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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Italy 26.6%, Czech Republic 11.9%, Germany 8.1%,
Indonesia 6.4%, Romania 6.2%, Georgia 6%, Russia 5.3%,
Turkey 5.2%, France 4.1% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$4.656 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 16.1%, UK 12.5%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 7.8%,
Ukraine 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, US 4.1%, Italy 4% (2004)
|
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$1.2 billion (2005 est.) |
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Debt - external:
|
$2.253 billion (2005 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
|
ODA, $140 million (2000 est.) |
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Currency (code):
|
Azerbaijani manat (AZM) |
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Exchange rates:
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Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,794.15 (2005),
4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002),
4,656.58 (2001) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
|
923,800
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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870,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: inadequate; requires
considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of
10 main lines per 100 persons is low (2002)
domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku
and other industrial centers - about 700 villages still
without public telephone service; satellite service
connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of
Naxcivan
international: country code - 994; the old Soviet
system of cable and microwave is still serviceable;
satellite earth stations - 2 (2005) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 10, FM
17, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
|
2 (1997)
|
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Internet country code:
|
.az |
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Internet hosts:
|
586
(2004) |
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Internet users:
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300,000
(2002) |
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Airports:
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50 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
27
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
19
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 15 (2005 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2005
est.) |
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Pipelines:
|
gas 4,451
km; oil 1,518 km (2004) |
|
Railways:
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total:
2,957 km
broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km
electrified) (2004) |
|
Roadways:
|
total:
27,016 km
paved: 12,698 km (including 128 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 14,318 km (2003) |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWT
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo
8, petroleum tanker 41, roll on/roll off 2, specialized
tanker 2
registered in other countries: 3 (2005) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
Baku (Baki)
|
|
Military branches:
|
Army,
Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
18 years
of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription age
from 28 to 35 (December 2001) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 1,961,973 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 1,314,955 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
82,358 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$121
million (FY99) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
2.6%
(FY99) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
Armenia
supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in
Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has
militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to
mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis
were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about
230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in
Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route
through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave;
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify Caspian seabed
delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran
continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and
challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in
disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with
Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested
oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and
Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary
at certain crossing areas |
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
IDPs:
571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh)
(2004) |
|
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
|
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