Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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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. |
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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
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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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: 19.31%
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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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: 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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7,830,764 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 27.7% (male 1,101,320; female 1,064,214)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,468,772; female 2,601,312)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 236,683; female 358,463) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 27.1 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 28.6 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.44% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-5.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 82.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 84.4 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 63.16 years
male: 58.95 years
female: 67.58 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.34 children born/woman (2003 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.)
|
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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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Administrative divisions:
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59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar
- singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron
Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu,
Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*,
Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu,
Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu,
Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay
Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar
Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran
Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan
Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu,
Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu,
Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki
Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu,
Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa
Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu,
Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand
Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan
Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu |
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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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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
|
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 GAMBAROV 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 Shvkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa
GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman];
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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International organization participation:
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AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
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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 Ross L. WILSON
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 |
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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. 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 - $28.61 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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10.6% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20%
industry: 33%
services: 47% (2001 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 (1995) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.6% (2002 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 est.) |
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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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6% (2002 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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Electricity - exports:
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700 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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400 million 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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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:
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589 million bbl (37257) |
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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 (37257) |
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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 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
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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 28.7%, Germany 17.7%, Israel 10.6%, France 8.4%, Georgia 6.7%,
Russia 4.7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
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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 17.8%, Turkey 11.9%, Germany 10.7%, France 7%, Kazakhstan
6.3%, China 6%, UK 5.5%, US 4.5% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.4 billion (2002) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA, $140 million (2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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Azerbaijani manat (AZM) |
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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 - 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001),
4,474.15 (2000), 4,120.17 (1999), 3,869 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
|
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Railways:
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total: 2,122 km
broad gauge: 2,122 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified)
(2002) |
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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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Pipelines:
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gas 5,001 km; oil 1,631 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Baku (Baki) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 251,004 GRT/313,193 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 40, roll on/roll
off 2 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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71 (2002) |
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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
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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