Azerbaijan is a country located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The Caspian Sea lies to the east of the country. The capital city is Baku, and the official language is Azerbaijani.

Azerbaijan has a population of around 10 million people, and the majority of the population is ethnically Azerbaijani, with small minorities of Russians, Armenians, and others. The country has a varied landscape, with the Caspian Sea coastline to the east, the Caucasus Mountains to the north, and flat plains to the west.

Azerbaijan has a developing economy, with a mix of industries including oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture, and services. The country is known for its production of oil and natural gas, as well as its exports of cotton, fruit, and nuts. Azerbaijan also has a growing tourism sector, particularly in areas such as Baku and the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with a President serving as the head of state and a Prime Minister serving as the head of government. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), among other international organizations.

Azerbaijan has a rich cultural heritage, influenced by its history as a crossroads between Europe and Asia. The country has a variety of festivals and celebrations throughout the year, including the Novruz holiday in March and the Baku Jazz Festival in October.

Azerbaijan is known for its stunning architecture, particularly in Baku, which has a mix of modern skyscrapers and historic buildings such as the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. The country is also renowned for its traditional music, art, and cuisine.

Despite its many strengths, Azerbaijan faces challenges such as political repression and limited freedom of speech, as well as concerns about corruption and environmental sustainability. The country has taken steps to address these issues, including implementing anti-corruption measures and increasing funding for environmental protection programs.

National holiday
Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)

Telephone Code
994

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 03; Fire: 01; Police: 02

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Dry, semiarid steppe

Currency (Code)
Manats (AZN)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian

Major Religions
Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%

Time Difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Baku (includes Icheri Seher (Old Town); Absheron National Park; mud volcanos; Naftalan Oil Resort; Gobustan National Park (includes rock art cultural landscape); Caspian Sea

Major Sports
Soccer, paragliding, rugby, volleyball

Cultural Practices
In Azerbaijan, it is customary to refuse a gift before accepting it. When presenting a gift be sure to be insistent.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is unusual, but can be done for exceptional service. For cabs, it is polite to round up the fare and give the change as a tip. Hotel porters may be tipped 5-10 manats. Tour guides also accept tips, generally around 5 manats.

Souvenirs
Handmade carpets, pottery, ceramics, caviar, silk items

Traditional Cuisine
Plov — riсe covered with saffron, cinnamon, aromatic herbs, and fried mutton, chicken, beef, or lamb, as well as vegetables and even dried fruits

Country code top-level domain
.az

Geography
Area
total: 86,600 sq km
land: 82,629 sq km
water: 3,971 sq km

Climate
dry, semiarid steppe

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite

People and Society
Population
10,420,515 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.)

Languages
Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)

Religions
Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
0.63% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)

Economy
Economic overview
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)
$146.305 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$14,400 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, cotton, apples, maize, onions

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

Exports
$25.488 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Italy 28%, Turkey 15%, Israel 7%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2017)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, tomatoes, gold (2019)

Imports
$16.337 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
United Kingdom 17%, Russia 17%, Turkey 12%, China 6% (2019)

Imports - commodities
gold, cars, refined petroleum, wheat, packaged medical supplies (2019)