{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Azerbaijan -- a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population -- was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. <br><br>Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s. In the late Soviet period, an ethnic-Armenian separatist movement sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. After decades of cease-fire violations and sporadic flare-ups, a second sustained conflict began in 2020 when Azerbaijan tried to win back the territories it had lost in the 1990s. After significant Azerbaijani gains, Armenia returned the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh; after a conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia.<br><br>Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced the poverty rate and has directed some revenue from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. </p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "40 30 N, 47 30 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "86,600 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "82,629 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "3,971 sq km"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the final status of the region has yet to be determined"
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,468 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "text": "none (landlocked)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "dry, semiarid steppe"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "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) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Caspian Sea -28 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "384 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "57.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "11.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "31.1% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "14,649 sq km (2020)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "droughts"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10,650,239"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5,330,233"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5,320,006 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Azerbaijani(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Azerbaijani"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, was populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians; Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Russian is widely spoken"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other &lt;0.1, unaffiliated &lt;0.1 (2020 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Azerbaijan’s citizenry has over 80 ethnic groups. The far eastern part of the country has the highest population density, particularly in and around Baku. Apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population. Approximately 57% of the country’s inhabitants lives in urban areas.  While the population is continuing to grow, it is in the early stages of aging. The declining fertility rate – which has decreased from about 5.5 children per woman in the 1950s to less than the 2.1 replacement level in 2022 – combined with increasing life expectancy has resulted in the elderly making up a larger share of Azerbaijan’s populace. The percentage of elderly residents and the slowed growth and eventual shrinkage of the working-age population could put pressure on the country’s pension and healthcare systems. </p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "22.3% (male 1,269,241/female 1,104,529)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "68.7% (male 3,659,441/female 3,656,493)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "9% (2024 est.) (male 401,551/female 558,984)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "44.2"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "34.7"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "9.7"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "10.3 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34.3 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "32.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "36 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.43% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "11.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "57.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data include Nagorno-Karabakh"
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.15 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.15 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.72 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "24 years (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "41 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "12.6 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "9 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "75.9 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "73.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "78.6 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.79 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 93.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 97.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 6.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2.9% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4.6% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: (2020 est.) NA"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "19.9% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "47.9% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "0.1% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "4.9% (2013)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "62.9% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "4.3% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "99.8%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "99.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "99.7% (2019)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "14 years (2021)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "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 pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton; surface and underground water are polluted by untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "dry, semiarid steppe"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "57.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "11.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "31.1% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "57.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data include Nagorno-Karabakh"
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "24.64 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "37.62 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "44.87 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "2,930,349 tons (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "570 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "11.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "34.68 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Azerbaijan"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Azerbaijan"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Azarbaycan Respublikasi"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Azarbaycan"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name translates as \"Land of Fire\" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Baku (Baki, Baky)"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "40 23 N, 49 52 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "does not observe daylight savings time"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name derives from the Persian designation of the city \"bad-kube\" meaning \"wind-pounded city\" and refers to the harsh winds and severe snow storms that can hit the city"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world"
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "<p>66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);</p> <p><strong>rayons:</strong> Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab</p> <p><strong>cities:</strong> Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax</p>"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2009, 2016"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 7 February 2024 (next to be held in 2031); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president; however, no additional vice presidents have been appointed since the constitutional amendment was passed"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>2024: </em>Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2%<em>; </em>on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV reappointed prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-1<em><br><br>2018:</em> Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats, current 116; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 1 September 2024 (next to be held in 2029)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 68, CSP 3, Justice, Law, Deomcracy Party 2, Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party 1, Azerbaijan National Independence Party 1, Democratic Reforms Party 1, Great Azerbaijan Party 1, Great Order Party 1, Motherland Party 1, National Front Party 1, Republican Alternative Party1, independents 44"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Civic Solidarity Party or VHP<br>Democratic Reforms Party DiP<br>Great Order Party or BQP<br>Motherland Party or AVP<br>Party for Democratic Reforms or DIP<br>Republican Alternative Party or REAL<br>Unity Party or VƏHDƏT<br>Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party or BAXCP<br>New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyasi) or YAP"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 337-3500"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 337-5911"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>azerbaijan@azembassy.us<br><br>https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Los Angeles"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Mark LIBBY (since 18 January 2024)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[994] (12) 488-3300"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[994] (12) 488-3330"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>BakuACS@state.gov<br><br>https://az.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent the eight Turkic peoples of the world"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Azerbaijan Marsi\" (March of Azerbaijan)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1992; although originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, \"Azerbaijan Marsi\" did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki; Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and \"Koc Yolu\" Transhumance Route"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "oil-based economy; macroeconomic instabilities due to demand shocks; recent state bailout of largest lender; potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; negatively impacted by COVID-19; investing in human capital to diversify and retain younger generation"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$215.896 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$213.497 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$203.884 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "1.12% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "4.71% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "5.62% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$21,300 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$21,100 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$20,100 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$72.356 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "8.79% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "13.85% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "6.65% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "BB+ (2016)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Ba2 (2017)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "BB+ (2016)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "5.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "46.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "39.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "53.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "14% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "14.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "3.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "49% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-34.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, cotton, apples, onions, maize (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "1.34% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "5.473 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.64% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.65% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.04% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "12% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "15.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "4.9% (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Average household expenditures": {
      "on food": {
        "text": "42.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)"
      },
      "on alcohol and tobacco": {
        "text": "2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "3.87% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "5.01% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "2.78% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$20.877 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$14.882 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2021": {
        "text": "16.82% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "13.42% (of GDP) (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "$8.329 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "$23.478 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$8.203 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$35.487 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$47.274 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$25.494 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Italy 47%, Turkey 9%, Israel 4%, India 4%, Greece 4% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, aluminum (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$25.016 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$21.274 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$16.432 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Russia 17%, Turkey 17%, China 10%, UAE 5%, Georgia 5% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "cars, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, wheat, packaged medicine (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$13.749 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$11.338 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$8.29 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2022": {
        "text": "$12.319 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "1.7 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "1.7 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "1.7 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "1.7 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "1.7 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "7.71 million kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "23.827 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "2.997 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "137 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "2.25 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "93.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "5.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "60,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "20,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "105,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "7 billion barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "34.175 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "11.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "22.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "67.711 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "36.187 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "137,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "12.982 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "23.068 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "61.497 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.641 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "16 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "11.068 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "107 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "<p>the telecom sector was one of the major contributors to Azerbaijan’s non-oil GDP, overall development, growth, and investment; mobile usage rates reached 100% as far back as 2011, but have largely stagnated since then; the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are slowly extending the reach of their long-term evolution (LTE) networks around the country, and this increased coverage (along with access to faster data-based services) is expected to produce a moderate resurgence for both mobile and mobile broadband over the next few years as customers migrate from 3G to 4G. 5G services are still some ways off, as the demand for high-speed data and fast broadband can easily be met by existing capacity on LTE networks; fixed-line tele density continues to drop down each year as customers consolidate their telecommunications services around the mobile platform; yet the rate of decline is comparatively slow to other countries, since Azerbaijan has a relatively high proportion of (87%) of fixed-line broadband customers still on DSL; Fiber (12% of fixed broadband connections) is gradually being rolled out in urban areas, and this makes up the bulk of the (limited) growth being seen in the overall fixed broadband market; DSL’s predominance, however, will serve to keep Azerbaijan’s average access speeds in the sub-10Mbps range for the foreseeable future</p> (2024)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "16 fixed-lines subscriptions per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriptions of 107 telephones per 100 persons (2022)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 994; Azerbaijan’s largest mobile network operator (MNO)  launched trial 5G mobile services in Baku on 27 December 2022 (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; note - all broadcast media is pro-government, and most private broadcast media outlets are owned by entities directly linked to the government"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".az"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8.6 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "86% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,995,474 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "20 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "42 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "44"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2,279,546 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "44.09 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "4K"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "32 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "5 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "89 km condensate, 3,890 km gas, 2,446 km oil (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,944.3 km (2017)"
      },
      "broad gauge": {
        "text": "2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24,981 km (2013)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> total roadway length has increased significantly and continues to grow due to the recovery of Armenian-held territories and related reconstruction efforts. No updated figure is currently available."
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "312 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, State Border Service, Coast Guard<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service (intelligence, counterterrorism) are responsible for internal security; the SSPS is under the president and provides protective services to senior officials, foreign missions, significant state assets, government buildings, etc; the National Guard also serves as a reserve for the Army"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "5% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "5% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "3.8% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "estimates vary; approximately 60-75,000 active armed forces; approximately 15,000 Ministry of Internal Affairs troops (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "Baku has been actively upgrading its equipment for over a decade with purchases from Belarus, Israel, Russia, and Turkey; while most of the military's equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of advanced equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, tanks, and UAVs (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-25 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age for voluntary/contractual service for men and women; 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 <br><br>Turkey has been Azerbaijan’s strongest military partner, a relationship that has included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Space": {
    "Space agency/agencies": {
      "text": "Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established in 1992 from the Kaspiy Scientific Center, established 1974); Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company) (2024)"
    },
    "Space program overview": {
      "text": "national space program largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; has two satellite ground control stations; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the European Space Agency (and individual member states such as France), Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the US; Azercosmos is the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "IDPs": {
        "text": "659,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2022)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "3,585 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "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"
    }
  }
}