Baku (Baki, Baky)
Azerbaijan
Key facts and a structured country profile. π§Ύ Change log π True Size
10,694,370 (2025 est.)
86,600 sq km
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
π§ 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 NagornoβKarabakh 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 countryβs infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the countryβs political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The countryβs 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.
πΊοΈ Geography
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
40 30 N, 47 30 E
Asia
86,600 sq km
82,629 sq km
3,971 sq km
About three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
2,468 km
Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km
0 km (landlocked)
None (landlocked)
Dry, semiarid steppe
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
Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m
Caspian Sea -28 m
384 m
Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
57.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
14.4% (2023 est.)
27.7% (2023 est.)
14,693 sq km (2022)
Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
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
Droughts
Both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
π₯ People and Societyβ¬οΈ Top
10,694,370 (2025 est.)
5,354,376
5,339,994
Azerbaijani(s)
Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani 94.8%, other 1.8%; less than 1%: Talish, Russian, Avar, Sakhur, Tartar, Georgian, Jewish, Kurd (2019 est.)
Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%; less than 1%: Russian, Avar, Talyshi, Turkish, Tatar, Sakhur, Tat, Ukrainian, Georgian, Hebrew (2019 est.)
DΓΌnya fakt kitabΔ±, Ιsas mΙlumatlar ΓΌΓ§ΓΌn ΙvΙz olunmaz mΙnbΙdir (Azerbaijani) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
22.3% (male 1,269,241/female 1,104,529)
68.7% (male 3,659,441/female 3,656,493)
9% (2024 est.) (male 401,551/female 558,984)
45.6 (2025 est.)
31.6 (2025 est.)
14 (2025 est.)
7.1 (2025 est.)
34.8 years (2025 est.)
32.8 years
36 years
0.4% (2025 est.)
11.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
57.6% of total population (2023)
1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)
1.15 male(s)/female
1.15 male(s)/female
1 male(s)/female
0.72 male(s)/female
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
24 years (2019 est.)
18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
9 deaths/1,000 live births
75.9 years (2024 est.)
73.5 years
78.6 years
1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
0.79 (2025 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
4.7% of GDP (2021)
4.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
19.9% (2016)
1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
18.4% (2025 est.)
37.9% (2025 est.)
0.1% (2025 est.)
3% (2023 est.)
59.7% (2019 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
99.8% (2023 est.)
99.8% (2023 est.)
99.7% (2023 est.)
13 years (2023 est.)
13 years (2023 est.)
13 years (2023 est.)
πΏ Environmentβ¬οΈ Top
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
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
None of the selected agreements
Dry, semiarid steppe
57.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
14.4% (2023 est.)
27.7% (2023 est.)
57.6% of total population (2023)
1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
38.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
17,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
13.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
24.921 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
268.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
188.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
93.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
2.93 million tons (2024 est.)
14.4% (2022 est.)
408 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
598 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
11.962 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
34.675 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
ποΈ Governmentβ¬οΈ Top
Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Azarbaycan
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
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
Presidential republic
Baku (Baki, Baky)
40 23 N, 49 52 E
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Does not observe daylight savings time
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
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
Civil law system
Several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995
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
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Yes
Yes
No
5 years
18 years of age; universal
President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)
Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
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
7 February 2024
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, 105-1 2018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
2031
National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
Unicameral
125 (all directly elected)
Plurality/majority
Full renewal
5 years
9/1/2024
New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68); Independents (44); Other (13)
20.8%
November 2029
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)
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
Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
Azerbaijan Hope Party or ΓMΔ°D Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP Azerbaijan National Independence Party or AMΔ°P Civic Solidarity Party or VHP Democratic Reforms Party or DiP Great Order Party or BAP Justice, Law, Democracy Party or ΖHD Great Order Party or BQP Motherland Party or AVP National Front Party or MCP National Revival Movement Party or MDHP New Azerbaijan Party or YAP Republican Alternative Party or REAL Unity Party or VΖHDΖT
Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)
2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
[1] (202) 337-3500
[1] (202) 337-5911
Azerbaijan@azembassy.us https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
Los Angeles
Ambassador (vacant); ChargΓ© d'Affaires Amy CARLON (since 23 June 2025)
111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku
7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
[994] (12) 488-3300
[994] (12) 488-3330
BakuACS@state.gov https://az.usembassy.gov/
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)
30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
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 band meaning: 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
Flames of fire
Blue, red, green
"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
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
5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki; Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and "Koc Yolu" Transhumance Route
πΉ Economyβ¬οΈ Top
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
$225.198 billion (2024 est.)
$216.388 billion (2023 est.)
$213.497 billion (2022 est.)
4.1% (2024 est.)
1.4% (2023 est.)
4.7% (2022 est.)
$22,100 (2024 est.)
$21,300 (2023 est.)
$21,100 (2022 est.)
$74.316 billion (2024 est.)
2.2% (2024 est.)
8.8% (2023 est.)
13.9% (2022 est.)
5.7% (2024 est.)
42.6% (2024 est.)
42.3% (2024 est.)
55.4% (2024 est.)
14.4% (2024 est.)
16.8% (2024 est.)
4.3% (2024 est.)
45.9% (2024 est.)
-36.8% (2024 est.)
Milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, apples, maize, cotton (2023)
Petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
2.1% (2024 est.)
5.02 million (2024 est.)
5.6% (2024 est.)
5.7% (2023 est.)
5.7% (2022 est.)
13.7% (2024 est.)
12.3% (2024 est.)
15.3% (2024 est.)
42.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
$30.966 billion (2022 est.)
$22.95 billion (2022 est.)
16.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
15.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
$4.671 billion (2024 est.)
$8.329 billion (2023 est.)
$23.478 billion (2022 est.)
$34.113 billion (2024 est.)
$35.487 billion (2023 est.)
$47.274 billion (2022 est.)
Italy 37%, Turkey 19%, Israel 5%, Greece 4%, Russia 4% (2023)
Crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, plastics, electricity (2023)
$27.339 billion (2024 est.)
$25.016 billion (2023 est.)
$21.274 billion (2022 est.)
Russia 17%, China 16%, Turkey 14%, Georgia 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
$12.699 billion (2024 est.)
$13.749 billion (2023 est.)
$11.338 billion (2022 est.)
$12.378 billion (2023 est.)
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -
1.7 (2024 est.)
1.7 (2023 est.)
1.7 (2022 est.)
1.7 (2021 est.)
1.7 (2020 est.)
β‘ Energyβ¬οΈ Top
100% (2022 est.)
8.383 million kW (2023 est.)
23.857 billion kWh (2023 est.)
3.246 billion kWh (2023 est.)
212 million kWh (2023 est.)
2.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
93.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
109,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
7 billion barrels (2021 est.)
35.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
12.703 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
23.65 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
2.173 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
66.467 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
π‘ Communicationsβ¬οΈ Top
1.33 million (2024 est.)
13 (2024 est.)
11.3 million (2024 est.)
110 (2024 est.)
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)
.az
89% (2023 est.)
2.15 million (2023 est.)
21 (2023 est.)
π Transportationβ¬οΈ Top
4K
32 (2025)
5 (2025)
2,944.3 km (2017)
2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)
312 (2023)
General cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228
π‘οΈ Military and Securityβ¬οΈ Top
Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, Special Forces, State Border Service, Coast Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2025)
5.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Information varies widely; estimated 100,000 active Armed Forces personnel (2025)
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 TΓΌrkiye; 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)
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)
The Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the militaryβs original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the militaryβs 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 NATOβs Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2025)
π°οΈ Spaceβ¬οΈ Top
Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company); Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; AzΙrbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established 1992; since 2006, has operated under the Ministry of Defense Industry) (2025)
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)
2013 - first communications satellite (Azerspace-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket 2014 - 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 rocket 2023 - 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)
π¨ Terrorismβ¬οΈ Top
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
π Transnational Issuesβ¬οΈ Top
6,698 (2024 est.)
657,996 (2024 est.)
271 (2024 est.)
Source: Factbook JSON archive.