Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the conflict.
Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Turkey

Official Name:
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
short form: Azarbaycan
int'l long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
int'l short form: Azerbaijan

ISO Country Code: az

Time:
Local Time = UTC +4h (DST in Summer +5h)

Country Calling Code: +994

Capital City: Baku

Other Cities: Ali Bayramli, Baki, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Saki, Sumqayit, Susa, Xankandi, Yevlax.

Government:
Type: Republic.
Constitution: Approved in November 1995 referendum.
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union).

Geography:
Location: South Caucasus; bordered by Russia to the north, the Caspian Sea to the east, Iran to the south, and Georgia and Armenia to the west.
Area: 33 774 sq. mi. (includes Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh);
Terrain: Caucasus Mountains to the north, lowland in the central area through which the Kura River flows.

Climate: Dry, subtropical with hot summers and mild winters; forests, meadows, and alpine tundra in the mountains.

People:
Nationality: Azerbaijani, Azeri.
Population: 8 million.
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9%. Note: the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region is populated almost entirely by Armenians.
Religion: Muslim 93.4% (majority Shi'a), Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox Church 2.3%, and other 1.8%.
Languages: Azerbaijani 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, and other 6%.
Literacy: 97%.

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina.

Agriculture products: Cotton, tobacco, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats.

Industries: Petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles.

Currency: Azerbaijan Manat; beginning January 2006, 1 new Manat (AZN) = 5000 old Manats (AZM).

Azerbaijan in Figures
Azerbaijan key statistical data.