Careers, Opportunities in Ministry
| Introduction | Azerbaijan |
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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 800,000 refugees and
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. |
| Geography |
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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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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
86,600 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 water: 500 sq km land: 86,100 sq km |
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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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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:
19.31% permanent crops: 3.04% other: 77.65% (1998 est.) |
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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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Geography - note:
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both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked |
| People |
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Population:
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7,868,385 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
27% (male 1,081,579; female 1,046,270) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,499,618; female 2,630,386) 65 years and over: 7.8% (male 242,253; female 368,279) (2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 27.3
years male: 25.9 years female: 28.8 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.52% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 82.07
deaths/1,000 live births female: 80.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 83.99 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 63.25 years male: 59.09 years female: 67.62 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 1,400 (2001 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%,
Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998
est.) 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: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.) |
| Government |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local short form: none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi |
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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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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 Azerbaidzhan, 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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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 NA 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 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2, CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1 note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take their seats note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on the basis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected based on proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 national referendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of the next parliament will be elected from single mandate constituencies |
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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 [Zardust ALIZADE] 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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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Reno HARNISH embassy: 83 Azadliq Prospekt, Baku 370007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 FAX: [9] (9412) 90-66-71 |
| Economy |
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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. 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. One obstacle to economic progress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector. A second obstacle 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 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:
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purchasing power parity - $26.34 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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9.9% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2003 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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Population below poverty line:
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49% (2002 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.9% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.7 million (2001) |
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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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16% (official rate is 1.2%) (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$786 million expenditures: $807 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001) |
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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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5% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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18.23 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
89.7% hydro: 10.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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16.65 billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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307,200 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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140,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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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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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats |
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Exports:
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$2.605 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs |
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Exports - partners:
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Italy 30.1%, Germany 15.5%, Czech Republic 10.8%, France 8.8%, Georgia 7%, Russia 4.9% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$2.498 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 16.8%, Turkey 13.5%, Germany 7.4%, Kazakhstan 6.8%, France 6.5%, Ukraine 6.3%, China 5.7%, UK 5.1%, US 4.2% (2002) |
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Currency code:
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AZM |
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Exchange rates:
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Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001), 4,474.15 (2000), 4,120.17 (1999) |
| Communications |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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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; a satellite connection to Turkey enables Baku to reach about 200 additional countries, some of which are directly connected to Baku by satellite providers other than Turkey (1997) |
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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:
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2 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.az |
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Internet hosts:
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1,139 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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300,000 (2002) |
| Transportation |
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Railways:
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total: 2,957
km broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2003) |
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Highways:
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total:
24,981 km paved: 23,057 km unpaved: 1,924 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Baku (Baki) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 56
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWT by type: cargo 14, petroleum tanker 40, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: Russia 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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67 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 27 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 32 (2003 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 6 |
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Heliports:
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2 (2003 est.) |
| Military |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49: 2,187,847 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49: 1,748,567 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 83,131 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$121 million (FY99) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.6% (FY99) |
| Transnational Issues |
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Disputes - international:
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Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and militarily occupies about one-sixth of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; 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; talks resume with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed in 2004 as both sides await an ICJ decision on contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan protests Georgian constructions at the Red Bridge crossing and several other small segments of boundary, which remain unresolved until delimitation |
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Illicit drugs:
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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 |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004