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Azerbaijan flag

Azerbaijan

Capital:Baku (Baki, Baky)
Population:8.3M
Currency:Azerbaijani manats (AZN)
Language:Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6%
Food in a resort in the Caucasian mountains near Zagatala

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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Factsheet

Customs and Culture

About the People

The attitude of Azeris as a nation has changed over the years. Conditioned to view themselves as Soviets after World War II, the people still felt separate from Russians. The nation experienced a revival of native literature and history in the 1970’s that has provided the basis for Azeri feelings in today’s political climate. A desire for national prosperity, love for the motherland and pride in the native language and culture are strong and are being fostered.

Cultural Attributes

The attitude of Azeris as a nation has changed over the years. Conditioned to view themselves as Soviets after World War II, the people still felt separate from Russians. The nation experienced a revival of native literature and history in the 1970s that has provided the basis for Azeri feelings in today’s political climate. A desire for national prosperity, love for the motherland, and pride in the native language and culture are strong and are being fostered.

Food in a resort in the Caucasian mountains near Zagatala

Fire of the Caucasus

Greetings, Gestures & Visiting

When greeting each other, men shake hands. Women do not shake hands. Female relatives or friends might hug and kiss. One often asks after the health of the other’s family. People of the same age call each other by first names. It is common to use “uncle” and “aunt” as forms of address with the person’s given name (i.e. this does not necessarily imply any family relationship).

Shoes are removed before entering mosques and homes. When an older person enters a room, those present stand to greet them. It is impolite to cross one’s legs, smoke, or chew gum in the presence of one’s elders. It is impolite to speak loudly to one’s colleagues.

The right hand is used in handshakes and other interactions; it is rude to use the left hand unless the right hand is busy. One may point at objects, but not people, with the index finger. Shaking the index finger while it is vertical is used to reprimand or warn someone. The index finger is also used to attract a listener’s attention. The thumbs-up gesture is used for “fine” or “OK”. Rounding the finger to touch the thumb tip and form a circle is obscene.

Visiting relatives or friends is popular in Azerbaijan. Hospitality is part of the culture. Friends and family visit without prior notice. Guests are often invited for a meal or “tea”. Tea is a mid-afternoon affair that includes pastries, fruit preserves (not jam), fruit, candy, and tea. At other times any guest will be offered tea and some sweets. Visitors often take gifts to their hosts, such as flowers, confectionery, or pastries. A wrapped present is not opened in the presence of the giver.

Men and women generally wear Western clothing. However, rural women sometimes wear traditional clothing that includes a long, pleated skirt, a long-sleeved blouse, and a charshab - a long piece of cloth wrapped loosely around the skirt. Young women cover their heads with light kerchiefs or an orpack, a small piece of cloth that wraps around the head and shoulders. Older men usually wear the traditional papah, a high round lambskin hat.

Diet

Azeris are proud of their cuisine. The most popular Azeri dish, pilau, is made of rice that has been steamed for a long time and is topped by a variety of foods, such as chicken, lamb, dried fruit or milk. Kebab is grilled pieces of meat on a stick. Piti is a lamb broth with potatoes and peas cooked in clay pots in the oven. Dovge, (yogurt, rice, and herbs) is often served after the main meal at celebrations. Dinner ends with sherbet or tea, murebbe preserves and pastries.

People usually eat three meals a day. For breakfast, tea with bread and butter, cheese or marmalade is common. Dinner, eaten in the afternoon, includes a meat or vegetable soup, followed by pilau (pilaf), a meat dish, potatoes or macaroni. For supper, people usually eat the same as for dinner, without the soup. The fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right. In most traditional homes, the cook prepares the plates in the kitchen for each person. In other homes, serving dishes are placed on the table. Guests do not serve themselves, they are served by others. In cities, men and women eat together at large social gatherings, but they eat separately in rural areas. Eating in restaurants is not common. The host pays the entire bill and the tip.

Azeris are proud of their cuisine. The most popular Azeri dish, pilau, is made of rice that has been steamed for a long time and is topped by a variety of foods, such as chicken, lamb, dried fruit or milk. Kebab is grilled pieces of meat on a stick. Piti is a lamb broth with potatoes and peas cooked in clay pots in the oven. Dovge, (yogurt, rice, and herbs) is often served after the main meal at celebrations. Dinner ends with sherbet or tea, murebbe preserves and pastries.

Baku Azerbaijan

Family

Azeris value family over the individual and family needs come first. Men are protective of the women in the family. Parents feel a lifelong commitment to providing their children with financial support, even after their marriage.

Rural Azeris tend to live in extended families. The father is the undisputed head of the family. Married sons and their families live with their parents until financially independent, and all members of the family are loyal to and dependent on the group. This tradition is less evident in the cities, where nuclear families are more common. Rural parents usually build a house for their married sons, and urban parents might buy them apartments. Unmarried children generally live with their parents, regardless of age. Adult children are expected to care for their aged parents. Grandparents help care for grandchildren when necessary.

Dating Customs

Dating in the Western sense is not common in Azerbaijan. If urban men and women go out, their relationship is expected to lead to marriage. Premarital sex is strongly discouraged. Urbanites choose their spouses but rural Azeris are expected to follow their parents’ wishes regarding a mate. To become engaged, a man sends a formal proposal to the woman’s parents through an older relative.

Recreation

Azerbaijanis enjoy chess, watching tv, and playing sports, especially football (soccer) and wrestling.

Holidays

  • Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan

    5/28

    Independence

  • Christmas

    12/25

    Christmas

    Azerbaijan is a secular country and is situated in an area that was once part of the Soviet Union. As a whole, it has been home to several varied cultures and religions. Currently, Azerbaijan has evolved into becoming a diverse country that is open to accepting all kinds of religion. This acceptance has led to numerous festivals that are celebrated by the Azerbaijani people.

    Eid, Novruz and the Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ called Christmas are among the celebrations that are held every year by the Azerbaijan. Traditionally, the greeting that is used to greet fellowmen on Christmas is ‘Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun,’pronounced ‘te-zee ee-lee-neez yaw-see all-sun,’ which means ‘Merry Christmas’ in Azeri.

    Azerbaijani children from the Christian community including children from other non-Christian religions that celebrate Christmas are on their best behavior come Christmastime and look forward to the arrival of Santa Claus during Christmas Eve.

    The children would hang their stockings outside their doors and expect to find it overflowing with candies and chocolates the morning after. Azerbaijani children have made it a tradition to write Santa Claus letters requesting what they want for Christmas, and explaining how they have been good.

    In Azerbaijan, the Christmas season starts around late November. At Christmas, stores are covered in holly wreaths, mistletoes, candy canes and glitters that spread Christmas cheer. Midnight Mass is held during Christmas Eve. Christian churches around Azerbaijan feature the Nativity scene and carols sung by the choir as mass is held commemorating the birth of Jesus. New Year Festivities are usually the sign of the closure of the Christmas season in Azerbaijan.

    During Midnight Mass, traditional Azerbaijan music is played, which combines a combination of both major and minor scales. Musical instruments used during Christmas include a tar or a skin faced lute, a kamancha,(a skin-faced spike fiddle), an oud ( a long necked lute), a goshenagara, (drums )and armon (an accordion), tute k, (a whistle flute) and daf (a frame drum).

    During both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditional Azerbaijan dinners are served for the whole family to enjoy. Most of the dishes served are with ingredients of saffron, caraway seeds, fennel, anise and coriander. These spices are considered to add fantastically exotic flavors to the dishes for the season. Some of the popular dishes that are served during this occasion are Baliq, Dolma, Dograma and deserts like Pahlava, and Peshmak.

Dates of Interest

  • March 21st

    Nowruz (pronounced NO-ROOZ) in Persian means "New-year day". Nowruz begins precisely with the beginning of spring on the vernal equinox, on about March 21st.

How do people greet each other in Azerbaijan?

Men shake hands, while women do not shake hands; female relatives or friends may hug and kiss. It is common to ask after the health of the other person's family.

Do

  • Use first names with people of the same age
  • Address people as "uncle" or "aunt" with their given name, even without family ties
  • Ask after the health of the other person's family

Don’t

  • Don't expect women to shake hands

What are the dining customs in Azerbaijan?

Azeris are proud of their cuisine and eat three meals a day, with popular dishes including pilau, kebab, and piti. Guests are served by others rather than helping themselves.

Do

  • Hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right
  • Let your hosts serve you rather than serving yourself
  • Expect tea and sweets when visiting

Don’t

  • Don't serve yourself as a guest

Good to know

  • Dinner is eaten in the afternoon and includes soup, pilau, a meat dish, and potatoes or macaroni
  • In cities men and women eat together at large gatherings, but they eat separately in rural areas
  • When dining out, the host pays the entire bill and the tip
  • Meals often end with sherbet or tea, murebbe preserves, and pastries

What etiquette should visitors know in Azerbaijan?

Hospitality is central to the culture, and guests are often invited for a meal or afternoon tea, which includes pastries, fruit preserves, fruit, and candy.

Do

  • Stand to greet an older person who enters the room
  • Bring gifts such as flowers, confectionery, or pastries when visiting
  • Use the right hand for handshakes and other interactions

Don’t

  • Don't cross your legs, smoke, or chew gum in the presence of elders
  • Don't speak loudly to colleagues
  • Don't use the left hand unless the right hand is busy
  • Don't open a wrapped gift in front of the giver

Good to know

  • Friends and family often visit without prior notice
  • Tea is a mid-afternoon affair with pastries, preserves, fruit, and candy

What should I wear in Azerbaijan?

Men and women generally wear Western clothing, though some rural women wear traditional dress and older men may wear the papah lambskin hat.

Good to know

  • Rural women may wear a long pleated skirt, long-sleeved blouse, and a charshab wrapped around the skirt
  • Young women cover their heads with light kerchiefs or an orpack
  • Older men often wear the traditional papah, a high round lambskin hat

Which gestures are polite or rude in Azerbaijan?

Use the right hand for interactions and point at objects (not people) with the index finger. Some finger gestures carry specific meanings.

Do

  • Remove shoes before entering mosques and homes
  • Use the thumbs-up gesture to signal "fine" or "OK"
  • Point at objects with the index finger

Don’t

  • Don't point at people
  • Don't use the left hand unless the right is busy
  • Don't form a circle with your finger and thumb, which is obscene

Good to know

  • Shaking a vertical index finger is used to reprimand or warn someone
  • The index finger is also used to get a listener's attention

What is family life like in Azerbaijan?

Azeris value family over the individual, and family needs come first. Rural families tend to be extended with the father as head, while nuclear families are more common in cities.

Good to know

  • Married sons and their families may live with parents until financially independent
  • Unmarried children generally live with their parents regardless of age
  • Adult children are expected to care for their aged parents
  • Grandparents help care for grandchildren when needed

What do people do for recreation in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijanis enjoy chess, watching TV, and playing sports, especially football (soccer) and wrestling.

Good to know

  • Football (soccer) and wrestling are especially popular sports
  • Chess is a popular pastime

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Azerbaijan

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Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Currency
1.526
Time Difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
The climate generally follows the topography, temperatures falling and precipitation rising with increasing elevation, although the southeastern corner of Azerbaijan, including its lowlands, is the wettest part of the country. The mean July temperature in the lowlands is 77°-81°F, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 100°F in Baku. The average January temperature in the lowlands is 32°-37°F. Highland temperatures average around 40°F in July and below 14°F in January. Annual precipitation averages less than 11 inches along most of the coast and in most of the Kura Depression; 12-35 inches in the foothills and mid-altitude highlands; 39-51 inches along the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, and 47-71 inches in the southeastern Lenkoran Region. These climatic variations produce wet subtropical conditions in the Lenkoran lowlands where citrus fruits are grown; temperate semidesert on the Apsheron Peninsula and Kura lowlands; temperate moist conditions at middle elevations; and subalpine and alpine environments at the highest. Baku is marked by mild winters and hot summers. Rain can be fairly frequent, though usually light, in fall and winter, but is infrequent in the summer. In winter, the city is subject to severe north or northwest winds, but snow is infrequent.
Airports
67
Recommended Vaccinations
How important is it to do your research about vaccinations? It might just save your life! Make yourself aware of the different types of vaccinations and which ones you may need to travel to your destination. Schedule an appointment with your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel to ensure you receive all important shots. Be sure that you and your family are up to date on your routine vaccinations. Which vaccinations you need will depend on a number of factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations.
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Recipes

Featured Dish

Parcha-Dosheme Plov

Main Dish

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History

Historical Eras

  1. Ancient & Medieval Roots

    600 BCE – 1501

    Settled by Medes, Persians, and Scythians, Azerbaijan absorbed deep Persian cultural and Zoroastrian religious influences before Arab conquest in the seventh century introduced Islam. Turkish groups gradually displaced Arab political authority between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, while Mongol invasions twice disrupted the region. The period between 1000 and 1200 saw a golden age of Azerbaijani literature and architecture before Ottoman expansion absorbed much of the region by 1400.

  2. Safavid & Persian Rule

    1501 – 1813

    The Azerbaijani-origin Safavid Dynasty established Persian imperial rule in 1501, cementing Shia Islam as the dominant faith across the region—a legacy that endures today. Persian cultural influence flourished but weakened over subsequent centuries as the empire declined, allowing Russia to begin encroaching on northern Azerbaijan from around 1700 onward. The era closed with the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813, by which Persia formally ceded its northern Azerbaijani territories to the Russian Empire.

  3. Russian Imperial Era

    1813 – 1918

    Following the Treaty of Gulistan, Russia consolidated control over Azerbaijan, permanently dividing Azerbaijani populations between the Russian and Persian empires. The discovery and exploitation of Baku's enormous oil reserves in the late nineteenth century brought rapid industrialization alongside intense social inequality. By 1900, radical political organizations had begun forming in response to Tsarist rule, laying groundwork for the nationalist movements that would emerge during World War I.

  4. First Republic & Soviet Annexation

    1918 – 1936

    Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan declared independence in 1918 as part of the short-lived Transcaucasian federation, establishing one of the first Muslim-majority democratic republics in the world. The Red Army invaded in 1920, forcibly incorporating Azerbaijan into the Soviet Union, and in 1922 Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were merged into a single Transcaucasian Soviet republic. Stalin's 1936 constitution reorganized them as distinct Soviet Socialist Republics, giving Azerbaijan nominal but controlled separate status.

  5. Soviet Azerbaijan

    1936 – 1991

    As a Soviet republic, Azerbaijan endured Stalinist purges that peaked under Lavrenti Beria in 1936–37, decimating the intelligentsia and political leadership. Soviet industrialization heavily exploited Baku's oil infrastructure, yet economic benefits accrued predominantly to the central Soviet state. Ethnic tensions over the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh enclave intensified in the late 1980s alongside the broader nationalist awakening that accompanied Gorbachev's reforms, propelling Azerbaijan toward independence.

  6. Independent Azerbaijan

    1991 – present

    Azerbaijan restored independence following the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, but immediately faced war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, losing approximately 16 percent of its territory before a 1994 ceasefire. The conflict displaced an estimated 800,000 refugees and internally displaced persons, straining the new state's institutions. Vast Caspian petroleum reserves offered the promise of prosperity, though corruption and uneven development have constrained the benefits of oil wealth for the broader population.

Overview

 THE THREE REPUBLICS of Transcaucasia--Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia--were included in the Soviet Union in the early 1920s after their inhabitants had passed through long and varied periods as separate nations and as parts of neighboring empires, most recently the Russian Empire. By the time the Soviet Union dissolved at the end of 1991, the three republics had regained their independence, but their economic weakness and the turmoil surrounding them jeopardized that independence almost immediately. By 1994 Russia had regained substantial influence in the region by arbitrating disputes and by judiciously inserting peacekeeping troops. Geographically isolated, the three nations gained some Western economic support in the early 1990s, but in 1994 the leaders of all three asserted that national survival depended chiefly on diverting resources from military applications to restructuring economic and social institutions. Location at the meeting point of southeastern Europe with the western border of Asia greatly influenced the histories of the three national groups forming the present-day Transcaucasian republics. Especially between the twelfth and the twentieth centuries, their peoples were subject to invasion and control by the Ottoman, Persian, and Russian empires. But, with the formation of the twentieth-century states named for them, the Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian peoples as a whole underwent different degrees of displacement and played quite different roles. For example, the Republic of Azerbaijan that emerged from the Soviet Union in 1991 contains only 5.8 million of the world’s estimated 19 million Azerbaijanis, with most of the balance living in Iran across a southern border fixed when Persia and Russia in the nineteenth century. At the same time, slightly more than half the world’s 6.3 million Armenians are widely scattered outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia as a result of a centuries-long diaspora and step-by-step reduction of their national territory. In contrast, the great majority of the world’s Georgian population lives in the Republic of Georgia (together with ethnic minorities constituting about 30 percent of the republic’s population), after having experienced centuries of foreign domination but little forcible alteration of national boundaries. The starting points and the outside influences that formed the three cultures also were quite different. In pre-Christian times, Georgia’s location along the Black Sea opened it to cultural influence from Greece. During the same period, Armenia was settled by tribes from southeastern Europe, and Azerbaijan was settled by Asiatic Medes, Persians, and Scythians. In Azerbaijan, Persian cultural influence dominated in the formative period of the first millennium B.C. In the early fourth century, kings of Armenia and Georgia accepted Christianity after extensive contact with the proselytizing early Christians at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Following their conversion, Georgians remained tied by religion to the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire centered at Constantinople. Although Armenian Christianity broke with Byzantine Orthodoxy very early, Byzantine occupation of Armenian territory enhanced the influence of Greek culture on Armenians in the Middle Ages. In Azerbaijan, the Zoroastrian religion, a legacy of the early Persian influence there, was supplanted in the seventh century by the Muslim faith introduced by conquering Arabs. Conquest and occupation by the Turks added centuries of Turkic influence, which remains a primary element of secular Azerbaijani culture, notably in language and the arts. In the twentieth century, Islam remains the prevalent religion of Azerbaijan, with about three-quarters of the population adhering to the Shia branch. Golden ages of peace and independence enabled the three civilizations to individualize their forms of art and literature before 1300, and all have retained unique characteristics that arose during those eras. The Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian languages also grew in different directions: Armenian developed from a combination of Indo-European and non-Indo-European language stock, with an alphabet based on the Greek; Azerbaijani, akin to Turkish and originating in Central Asia, now uses the Roman alphabet after periods of official usage of the Arabic and Cyrillic alphabets; and Georgian, unrelated to any major world language, use a Greek-based alphabet quite different from the Armenian. Beginning in the eighteenth century, the Russian Empire constantly probed the Caucasus region for possible expansion toward the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. These efforts engaged Russia in a series of wars with the Persian and Ottoman empires, both of which by that time were decaying from within. By 1828 Russia had annexed or had been awarded by treaty all of present- day Azerbaijan and Georgia and most of present-day Armenia. (At that time

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 600

    Four centuries of Arab control of Azerbaijan begin, introducing Islam in seventh century.

    Four centuries of Arab control of Azerbaijan begin, introducing Islam in seventh century.

  2. 1000 – 1200

    Golden age of Azerbaijani literature and architecture.

    Golden age of Azerbaijani literature and architecture.

  3. 1100 – 1400

    Turkish groups wrest political control of Azerbaijan from Arabs.

    Turkish groups wrest political control of Azerbaijan from Arabs, introducing Turkish language and culture.

  4. 1200 – 1400

    Mongols twice invade Azerbaijan, establishing temporary dynasties.

    Mongols twice invade Azerbaijan, establishing temporary dynasties.

  5. 1400

    Most of modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become part of Ottoman Empire.

    Most of modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become part of Ottoman Empire.

  6. 1501

    Azerbaijani Safavid Dynasty begins rule by Persian Empire.

    Azerbaijani Safavid Dynasty begins rule by Persian Empire.

  7. 1700

    Russia begins moving into northern Azerbaijan as Persian Empire weakens.

    Russia begins moving into northern Azerbaijan as Persian Empire weakens.

View full timeline (28 events)
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Interesting Facts

  • 1236-1498-Mongols of Genghis Khan control Az.

  • 1870-1915 – Oil industry makes Baku a boomtown

  • 1991- Azerbaijan Declares independence from the Soviet Union

  • Possibly the largest annual event in Azerbaijan is the Caspian Oil and Gas Show. Held in late May or early June in and around Baku, this week long event brings people together from all over the world. The Oil and Gas Show has become a festive celebration of Azerbaijan potential to return to its position as one of the great producers of oil and natural gas.

  • The mountain air, the varied climate, and a diet of fruit, vegetables, and milk product have enabled Azeris and Armenians to live unusually long lives. Just after WWII, Soviet sociologists and demographers began reporting that surprising numbers of people in Transcaucasia were living past 100, especially in Az where they estimated that 44 of every 100,000 people lived past 100.

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Geography and Environment

both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
Terrain
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
Climate
The climate generally follows the topography, temperatures falling and precipitation rising with increasing elevation, although the southeastern corner of Azerbaijan, including its lowlands, is the wettest part of the country. The mean July temperature in the lowlands is 77°–81°F, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 100°F in Baku. The average January temperature in the lowlands is 32°–37°F. Highland temperatures average around 40°F in July and below 14°F in January. Annual precipitation averages less than 11 inches along most of the coast and in most of the Kura Depression; 12–35 inches in the foothills and mid altitude highlands; 39–51 inches along the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, and 47–71 inches in the southeastern Lenkoran Region. These climatic variations produce wet subtropical conditions in the Lenkoran lowlands where citrus fruits are grown; temperate semidesert on the Apsheron Peninsula and Kura lowlands; temperate moist conditions at middle elevations; and subalpine and alpine environments at the highest. Baku is marked by mild winters and hot summers. Rain can be fairly frequent, though usually light, in fall and winter, but is infrequent in the summer. In winter, the city is subject to severe north or northwest winds, but snow is infrequent.
Natural Hazards
droughts
Current Environmental Issues
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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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6%

  • Armenian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Russian

Population

Population
8,303,512
Population: Male/Female
male: 5,330,233 female: 5,320,006
Population Distribution
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
Urban Population
urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Population in Major Urban Areas
2.432 million BAKU (capital)
Nationality Noun
noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic Groups
Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4%
Language Note
Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7%

Demographic Profile

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.

Education

Literacy Definition
age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 75.9 years male: 73.5 years female: 78.6 years
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol beer: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 0.94 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol
Tobacco Use
total: 24% male: 47.9% female: 0.1%
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 75.9 years male: 73.5 years female: 78.6 years
Median Age
total: 34.3 years male: 32.8 years female: 36 years
Age Structure
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 1,269,241/female 1,104,529) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 3,659,441/female 3,656,493) 65 years and over: 9% (male 401,551/female 558,984)
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Azerbaijan
Full Country Name
Republic of Azerbaijan
Local - Long
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Former Name
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government Structure

Government Type
republic
Legal System
based on civil law system
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003; re-elected 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since 4 April 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term (term length extended from five to seven years following a 2009 constitutional referendum); 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 election results: Ilham ALIYEV re-elected president in February 2024 with approximately 92.1% of the vote, defeating several other candidates; the election was held early following a presidential decree calling a snap vote
Legislative Branch
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAP 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, YES 2, Motherland 2, other parties with single seats 7, independents 42, undetermined 4
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Constitution
adopted 12 November 1995
Independence
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National Holiday
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan, 28 May (1918)

Capital City

Capital Name
Baku (Baki, Baky)
Capital - geographic coordinate
40 23 N, 49 52 E
Capital Time Difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world

Military

Branches: Army, Navy, Air, and Air Defense Forces

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

U.S. Embassy Baku is located at 111 Azadlig Prospekt

Tel. (994-12) 498-03-35, 36, or 37

Emergency after-hours telephone: (994-12) 498-03-35, 36, or 37

Facsimile: (994-12) 465-66-71

Email: Consular Baku

Website: US Embassy Baku, Azerbaijan

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Economy

Azerbaijan's economy is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas, which together account for roughly 90 percent of export revenues and around half of government income. Oil production experienced a significant boom following the development of major offshore fields in the Caspian Sea, though output from the flagship Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field has gradually declined from its peak in the late 2000s. Ongoing investment in new field development, including the Azeri Central East platform that came online in 2024, along with enhanced recovery techniques, continues to shape production levels. Production-sharing agreements with international energy companies have drawn tens of billions of dollars in cumulative foreign investment into the country's energy sector, funding major infrastructure including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor, which now delivers Azerbaijani natural gas to Turkey and several European Union markets. Following a 2022 agreement with the European Union, Azerbaijan has been working to roughly double gas exports to Europe by 2027.

Like other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan faced significant challenges in transitioning from a centrally planned to a market-based economy, but its substantial energy wealth helped accelerate that process. The government has used oil revenues, channeled largely through the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), to invest in infrastructure, social programs, and efforts to diversify the economy. SOFAZ assets have grown to exceed $60 billion, providing a substantial fiscal buffer. However, dependence on hydrocarbons remains a structural vulnerability, and developing the non-energy private sector continues to be a priority. Inflation, currency stability, and governance reforms remain ongoing concerns, though the manat has held steady against the US dollar since a 2017 stabilization.

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control of territories it had lost in the early 1990s, and the subsequent 2023 military operation brought the entire region back under Azerbaijani control, significantly altering the long-standing conflict that had weighed on economic development. The government has since committed substantial resources to reconstruction and resettlement in the recovered territories, with ambitions to develop the region as a hub for renewable energy and agriculture. Azerbaijan also hosted the COP29 climate conference in Baku in November 2024, raising its international profile while drawing attention to the tension between its hydrocarbon dependence and global decarbonization trends. Long-term prospects will depend on global energy prices, the continued development of gas export infrastructure, progress on economic diversification, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage and invest its energy wealth sustainably.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Azerbaijani manats (AZN)
GDP — official exchange rate
$10,400,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
26.4%
GDP by Sector
agriculture: 14.1% industry: 45.7% services: 40.2%
Gini Index
36.5

Banknotes

Azerbaijan Money - Front
Azerbaijan Money - Front
Azerbaijan Money - Back
Azerbaijan Money - Back

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year
calendar year
Annual Budget
$2,986,000,000 (USD)
External Debt
$2,253,000,000 (USD)
Investment (% of GDP)
57.4%
Economic Aid
$140,000,000 (USD)
Current Account Balance
-$1,530,000,000 (USD)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange
$1,200,000,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation
agriculture and forestry 41%; industry 7%; services 52%
Household Income — highest 10%
27.8%
Industries
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Agriculture Products
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Export Commodities
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Export Partners
Italy 30.1%, Germany 15.5%, Czech Republic 10.8%, France 8.8%, Georgia 7%, Russia 4.9%
Import Commodities
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Import Partners
Russia 16.8%, Turkey 13.5%, Germany 7.4%, Kazakhstan 6.8%, France 6.5%, Ukraine 6.3%, China 5.7%, UK 5.1%, US 4.2%

Energy

Oil Production
477,000 bbl/day
Oil Consumption
123,000 bbl/day
Oil Reserves
589,000,000 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production
5,130,000,000 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption
9,200,000,000 cu m
Natural Gas Imports
1,000,000,000 cu m
Natural Gas Exports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves
849,500,000,000 cu m

Communications

Telephone System
General Assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephone and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009 Domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and now exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhichevan) International: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2
Internet Country Code
.az

News & Weather

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Climate Overview

The climate generally follows the topography, temperatures falling and precipitation rising with increasing elevation, although the southeastern corner of Azerbaijan, including its lowlands, is the wettest part of the country. The mean July temperature in the lowlands is 77°-81°F, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 100°F in Baku. The average January temperature in the lowlands is 32°-37°F. Highland temperatures average around 40°F in July and below 14°F in January. Annual precipitation averages less than 11 inches along most of the coast and in most of the Kura Depression; 12-35 inches in the foothills and mid-altitude highlands; 39-51 inches along the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, and 47-71 inches in the southeastern Lenkoran Region. These climatic variations produce wet subtropical conditions in the Lenkoran lowlands where citrus fruits are grown; temperate semidesert on the Apsheron Peninsula and Kura lowlands; temperate moist conditions at middle elevations; and subalpine and alpine environments at the highest. Baku is marked by mild winters and hot summers. Rain can be fairly frequent, though usually light, in fall and winter, but is infrequent in the summer. In winter, the city is subject to severe north or northwest winds, but snow is infrequent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Azerbaijan?
The population of Azerbaijan is approximately 8.3M.
How do people greet each other in Azerbaijan?
Men shake hands, while women do not shake hands; female relatives or friends may hug and kiss. It is common to ask after the health of the other person's family. Do: Use first names with people of the same age Address people as "uncle" or "aunt" with their given name, even without family ties Ask after the health of the other person's family Don't: Don't expect women to shake hands
What are the dining customs in Azerbaijan?
Azeris are proud of their cuisine and eat three meals a day, with popular dishes including pilau, kebab, and piti. Guests are served by others rather than helping themselves. Do: Hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right Let your hosts serve you rather than serving yourself Expect tea and sweets when visiting Don't: Don't serve yourself as a guest Dinner is eaten in the afternoon and includes soup, pilau, a meat dish, and potatoes or macaroni In cities men and women eat together at large gatherings, but they eat separately in rural areas When dining out, the host pays the entire bill and the tip Meals often end with sherbet or tea, murebbe preserves, and pastries
What etiquette should visitors know in Azerbaijan?
Hospitality is central to the culture, and guests are often invited for a meal or afternoon tea, which includes pastries, fruit preserves, fruit, and candy. Do: Stand to greet an older person who enters the room Bring gifts such as flowers, confectionery, or pastries when visiting Use the right hand for handshakes and other interactions Don't: Don't cross your legs, smoke, or chew gum in the presence of elders Don't speak loudly to colleagues Don't use the left hand unless the right hand is busy Don't open a wrapped gift in front of the giver Friends and family often visit without prior notice Tea is a mid-afternoon affair with pastries, preserves, fruit, and candy
What should I wear in Azerbaijan?
Men and women generally wear Western clothing, though some rural women wear traditional dress and older men may wear the papah lambskin hat. Rural women may wear a long pleated skirt, long-sleeved blouse, and a charshab wrapped around the skirt Young women cover their heads with light kerchiefs or an orpack Older men often wear the traditional papah, a high round lambskin hat
Which gestures are polite or rude in Azerbaijan?
Use the right hand for interactions and point at objects (not people) with the index finger. Some finger gestures carry specific meanings. Do: Remove shoes before entering mosques and homes Use the thumbs-up gesture to signal "fine" or "OK" Point at objects with the index finger Don't: Don't point at people Don't use the left hand unless the right is busy Don't form a circle with your finger and thumb, which is obscene Shaking a vertical index finger is used to reprimand or warn someone The index finger is also used to get a listener's attention
What is family life like in Azerbaijan?
Azeris value family over the individual, and family needs come first. Rural families tend to be extended with the father as head, while nuclear families are more common in cities. Married sons and their families may live with parents until financially independent Unmarried children generally live with their parents regardless of age Adult children are expected to care for their aged parents Grandparents help care for grandchildren when needed
What do people do for recreation in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijanis enjoy chess, watching TV, and playing sports, especially football (soccer) and wrestling. Football (soccer) and wrestling are especially popular sports Chess is a popular pastime
What is the capital of Azerbaijan?
Baku (also spelled Baki or Baky) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan. Situated on the Absheron Peninsula along the Caspian Sea, Baku has long been the country's political, economic, and cultural center. The city experienced a dramatic transformation during the oil boom of the late 19th century, becoming a regional boomtown between roughly 1870 and 1915, and today its skyline blends medieval Old City architecture with striking modern development.
Where is Azerbaijan located?
Azerbaijan is located in western Asia, at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia in the South Caucasus region. It lies along the western shore of the Caspian Sea, bordered by the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north. This strategic position has made Azerbaijan a historic meeting point of Turkic, Persian, and Russian cultural and political influences throughout its long history.
What countries border Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan shares land borders with five countries: Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkey to a small extent in the southwest via the Nakhchivan exclave. The country's eastern edge is defined by the Caspian Sea rather than a land border. Ongoing territorial tensions with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave have significantly shaped the country's modern geopolitical landscape.
What is the main religion practiced in Azerbaijan?
Islam is the predominant religion in Azerbaijan, practiced by approximately 94% of the population, making it one of the most religiously homogeneous countries in the South Caucasus. The majority of Muslim Azerbaijanis are Shia, reflecting centuries of Persian cultural influence, though the country maintains a notably secular civic tradition inherited in part from the Soviet era. Russian Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Christians each account for roughly 2% of the population.
What is the currency of Azerbaijan?
The official currency of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani manat, with the ISO code AZN. The manat was reintroduced and redenominated following independence from the Soviet Union, replacing the Soviet ruble. The country's economy is heavily tied to its substantial petroleum and natural gas reserves, and the value of the manat has historically been sensitive to fluctuations in global oil prices.
What language is spoken in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijani (also called Azeri) is the official language and is spoken by approximately 89% of the population. It belongs to the Turkic language family and is closely related to Turkish. Russian remains in use by about 3% of the population, a legacy of the Soviet period, and Armenian is spoken by roughly 2%. A strong cultural revival of the Azerbaijani language and literature that began in the 1970s continues to underpin modern national identity.
What is Azerbaijan known for?
Azerbaijan is known for its substantial oil and natural gas reserves along the Caspian Sea, which first brought international attention to Baku during the 19th-century petroleum boom. The country is also recognized for its ancient fire-worship heritage — the name Azerbaijan is often linked to the Persian word for fire — exemplified by the Yanar Dag (burning mountain) and the UNESCO-listed Ateshgah Fire Temple. Traditional Azerbaijani carpet weaving, recognized by UNESCO, and a distinctive national cuisine featuring dishes such as plov and dolma further define the country's cultural profile.

Last reviewed 2026

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