THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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.

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
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,468 km
border countries: Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
other: 27.7% (2023 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

Population: total: 10,694,370 (2025 est.)
male: 5,354,376
female: 5,339,994
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 94.8%, other 1.8%; less than 1%: Talish, Russian, Avar, Sakhur, Tartar, Georgian, Jewish, Kurd (2019 est.)
Languages: Languages: Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%; less than 1%: Russian, Avar, Talyshi, Turkish, Tatar, Sakhur, Tat, Ukrainian, Georgian, Hebrew (2019 est.)
major-language sample(s): Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 31.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.1 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 34.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 32.8 years
female: 36 years
Population growth rate: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
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: 18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.79 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 18.4% (2025 est.)
male: 37.9% (2025 est.)
female: 0.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.7% (2019 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: total population: 99.8% (2023 est.)
male: 99.8% (2023 est.)
female: 99.7% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 13 years (2023 est.)

Environmental 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
International environmental 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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 268.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 188.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 93.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.93 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 408 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 598 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 11.962 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34.675 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Administrative divisions: 66 districts (rayonlar; singular - rayon), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular)districts: 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
election/appointment process: 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; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
most recent election date: 7 February 2024
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, 105-12018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
expected date of next election: 2031
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: Azerbaijan Hope Party or ÜMİDAzerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMPAzerbaijan National Independence Party or AMİPCivic Solidarity Party or VHPDemocratic Reforms Party or DiPGreat Order Party or BAPJustice, Law, Democracy Party or ƏHDGreat Order Party or BQPMotherland Party or AVPNational Front Party or MCPNational Revival Movement Party or MDHPNew Azerbaijan Party or YAPRepublican Alternative Party or REALUnity Party or VƏHDƏT
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: azerbaijan@azembassy.ushttps://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amy CARLON (since 23 June 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: BakuACS@state.govhttps://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, UNOOSA, 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 bandmeaning: 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 color(s): blue, red, green
National anthem(s): title: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
history: adopted 1992; originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, but 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

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $225.198 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $216.388 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $213.497 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $22,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $21,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $74.316 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 42.6% (2024 est.)
services: 42.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 55.4% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 14.4% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 4.3% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 45.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -36.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, apples, maize, cotton (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.02 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 13.7% (2024 est.)
male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
female: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 42.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $30.966 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $22.95 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2021: 16.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: $4.671 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $8.329 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $23.478 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $34.113 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $35.487 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $47.274 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 37%, Turkey 19%, Israel 5%, Greece 4%, Russia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, plastics, electricity (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $27.339 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $25.016 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $21.274 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Russia 17%, China 16%, Turkey 14%, Georgia 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $12.699 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.749 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $11.338 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $12.378 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1.7 (2020 est.)

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.)
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.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 66.467 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.33 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 11.3 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2024 est.)
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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4K
Airports: 32 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
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

Military and security forces: Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, Special Forces, State Border Service, Coast GuardMinistry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 5.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 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 the military's inventory for over a decade with equipment acquisitions from several sources, including Belarus, China, Israel, Russia, and Türkiye; while most of the military's equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of modern armaments, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, tanks, and UAVs (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age voluntary/contractual service for men (18-40 for women volunteers); 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2025)
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 agency/agencies: Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company); Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established 1992; since 2006, has operated under the Ministry of Defense Industry) (2025)
Space program overview: largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the ESA (bilaterally with individual member states such as France), Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the US; Azercosmos is the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2013 - first communications satellite (Azerspace-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket2014 - took operational control over remote sensing (RS) satellite (SPOT-7, now Azersky) from a French company (satellite ceased operations in 2023)2017 - second communications satellite (Azerspace-2) built by US company and launched on European rocket2023 - agreed to participate in China's International Lunar Research Station Cooperation project, which aims to establish a base on the Moon in the 2030s; signed agreement with Israel to jointly develop two multi-spectral RS satellites (Azersky-2 program) for scheduled launches in 2026 and 2028 (2025)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 6,698 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 657,996 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 271 (2024 est.)

Azerbaijan