ASIA 165
Azerbaijan
FACTFILE
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Azerbaijan
DATE OF FORMATION: 1991
CAPITAL: Baku
POPULATION: 8.83 million
TOTAL AREA: 33,436 sq. miles
(86,600 sq. km)
DENSITY: 264 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Azeri*, Russian
RELIGIONS: Shi’a Muslim 68%,
Sunni Muslim 26%, Russian Orthodox 3%,
Armenian Orthodox 2%, other 1%
ETHNIC MIX: Azeri 91%, other 3%,
Lazs 2%, Russian 2%, Armenian 2%
GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
CURRENCY: New manat = 100 gopik
Situated on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, it
was the first Soviet republic to declare independence in 1991.
Territorial disputes with Armenia have dominated politics since.
GEOGRAPHY
Caucasus Mountains in west,
including Naxçivan exclave south of
Armenia. Flat, low-lying terrain on the
coast of the Caspian Sea.
CLIMATE
Low rainfall. Continental, with
bitter winters, inland. Subtropical in
coastal regions.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Azeris, a Muslim people with
ethnic links to Turks, form a large
majority. Thousands of Armenians,
Russians, and Jews have left since
independence. Influx of half a million
Azeri refugees fleeing war with Armenia
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno
Karabakh. Armenians there operate with
de facto independence. The status of
women deteriorated after the fall of
communism but they are slowly
regaining their position.
THE ECONOMY
Oil and natural gas exports drive
economic growth. Pipeline to Ceyhan,
Turkey, has opened up European market.
Severe pollution in Baku.
INSIGHT: The fire-worshipping
Zoroastrian faith originated in
Azerbaijan in the 6th century BCE
100 km100 miles004000m/13124ft
3000m/9843ft
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level
Below Sea LevelIRANArmenia
GEORGIARUSS. FED.
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SeaNagorno-
KarabakhC
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es
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C
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Kura
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Ar
as
Gäncä Mingäàevir Sumqayıt
fiäki
Naxàıvan
Xankändi
Länkärän
Äli-Bayramlı
Quba
BAKU