Match 19 DB Rec# - 7,471 Dataset-WOFACT
Title :Azerbaijan
Text :
Azerbaijan
Header
Note:
Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved seven-year-old conflict
with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh
Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's
territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri displaced persons in the process.
Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place
since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering
its fourth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert) remain far
apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a
peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects
for a negotiated settlement remain dim.
Geography
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Map references:
Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area:
total area:
86,600 sq km
land area:
86,100 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maine
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
Land boundaries:
total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia
322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey
9 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
note:
Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh
over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
Climate:
dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:
large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great
Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west; Baku
lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use:
arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
25%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
53%
Irrigated land:
14,010 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including Baku
and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated
area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil
pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton
natural hazards:
droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Geography
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
landlocked
People
Population:
7,789,886 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
33% (female 1,241,952; male 1,315,313)
15-64 years:
61% (female 2,437,810; male 2,307,496)
65 years and over:
6% (female 303,926; male 183,389) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
22.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.09 years
male:
67.4 years
female:
74.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Azerbaijani(s)
adjective:
Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions:
Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2%
(1995 est.)
note:
almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8%
(1995 est.)
note:
religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual practicing
adherents are much lower
Languages:
Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
total population:
97%
male:
99%
female:
96%
Labor force:
2.789 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%
(1990)
Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Azerbaijani Republic
conventional short form:
Azerbaijan
local long form:
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form:
none
former:
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
AJ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions:
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar -
singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abscron Rayonu,
Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu,
AliBayramli 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, Yardimb Rayonu, Yevlax
Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution:
adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993); election last held 3 October
1993 (next to be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote
head of government:
Acting Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9 October 1994); First Deputy
Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV, Samed SADYKOV, Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and confirmed by the Mejlis
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Government
National Assembly (Milli Mejlis):
elections last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet
(next expected to be held September 1995 for the National Assembly); seats
for Supreme Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45
(grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992
the Supreme Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular Front-dominated
National Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25, opposition elements
25
note:
since June 1993 ALIYEV has rotated in several supporters to replace Popular
Front adherents
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party,
Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman;
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party,
Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman;
Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA,
cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party,
Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party, Qabil
HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman; Ana
Veten Party, Fazail AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar
Jalaloglu MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Proprietors (DPOP),
Makhmud MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI;
Azerbaijan Republic Reform Party, Fuad ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan
(unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV; Equality of the Peoples Party, Faukhraddin
AYDAYEV; Independent Azerbaijan Party, Nizami SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of
Azerbaijan, Sabutai HAJIYEV; Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan,
Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA; National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV;
National Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz
MUSTAFAYEV; Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United Azerbaijan
Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV
Other political or pressure groups:
self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence
movement
Member of:
BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery:
(temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 842-0001
FAX:
[1] (202) 842-0004
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
embassy:
Azadliq Prospect 83, Baku
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37
FAX:
[9] (9412) 98-37-55
Government
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and
eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy
Overview:
Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia,
the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in
its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and
low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil,
cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in
decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5
billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the
funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan accounted for
1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former Soviet Union.
Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-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 have yet to be replaced.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.8 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate:
-22% (1994 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,790 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
28% monthly average (1994)
Unemployment rate:
0.9% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of other
unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$167.5 million
expenditures:
$234.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Exports:
$366 million to non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:
oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)
partners:
mostly CIS and European countries
Imports:
$296 million from non-FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities:
machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)
partners:
European countries
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -25% (1994)
Electricity:
capacity:
4,900,000 kW
production:
17.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,270 kWh (1994)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel,
iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Economy
Agriculture:
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs,
sheep and goats
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption;
limited government eradication program; transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
wheat from Turkey
Currency:
1 manat = 100 gopik
Exchange rates:
manats per US$1 - 4500 (April 1995), 4168 (end of December 1994)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railroads:
total:
2,090 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge:
2,090 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:
total:
36,700 km
paved or graveled:
31,800 km
unpaved:
earth 4,900 km (1990)
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km
Ports:
Baku (Baki)
Airports:
total:
69
with paved runways over 3,047 m:
2
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:
6
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:
17
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:
3
with paved runways under 914 m:
1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:
7
with unpaved runways under 914 m:
33
Communications
Telephone system:
710,000 telephones; 90 telephones/1,000 persons (1991); 202,000 persons
waiting for telephone installations (January 1991); domestic telephone
service is of poor quality and inadequate
local:
a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system (Bakcel) in the
Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994
intercity:
NA
international:
connections to other former USSR republics by cable and microwave and to
other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT link
installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish financial assistance with access
to 200 countries through Turkey; since August 1993 an earth station near
Baku has provided direct communications with New York through Russia's
Stationar-11 satellite
Radio:
broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios:
NA
Television:
broadcast stations:
NA; domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and
Iranian TV is received from an INTELSAT satellite through a receive-only
earth station
televisions:
NA
Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Navy, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard, Security
Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,927,955; males fit for military service 1,553,736; males
reach military age (18) annually 68,407 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures:
70.5 billion rubles, 10% of GDP (1993 budget allocation); note - conversion
of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
produce misleading results
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The World Factbook 1995,
SuDoc No: PREX 3.15:995
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