At a Glance...
Land Area:
86,600 sq. km.
Lowest Point:
-28 meters (Caspian Sea)
Area (comp.):
Slightly smaller than Maine
Highest Point:
4,485 meters (Bazarduzu Dagi Mountain)
Border Countries:
Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran
Climate:
9 of 11 climatic zones, mostly semi-arid steppe
Population:
7,771,092 (July 2001 est.)
Life Expectancy:
63 years
Ethnic Groups:
Azeri (90%), Dagestani (3.2%), Russian (2.5%), Armenian (2.0%), other (2.3%)
Religions:
Muslim (93.4%),
Russian Orthodox (2.5%), Armenian Orthodox (2.3%), other (1.8%)
Languages:
Azeri (89%), Russian (3%), Armenian (2%), other 6%)
Currency:
Manat (4670 = $1 U.S.)
Literacy:
97%
GDP; growth rate:
$23.5 billion (2000 est.); 11.4 %
GDP per capita:
$3,000 (2000 est.)
International Special Reports<CIS/Central Asia <
HEADLINES...
U.S. role key to security, prosperity
Despite aid ban, Azeri president stands with America
Hope floats on appropriations bill
Regional stability a concern, but Azerbaijan oil hunters press on
Nagorno-Karabagh: The world’s forgotten genocide?
Senator Brownback proposes quick lifting of sanctions for Azerbaijan
De-mining must begin before returnees can be safe
Prime Minister Arthur Razi-Zade says Azerbaijan stands firmly with the West - (Section 907)
United States Ambassador speaks out on Section 907 - (Section 907)
‘Section 907’ needlessly undermines US-Azerbaijani relations - (Section 907)
SOCAR: A fitting partner for the world’s great oil firms - (Oil & Gas)
Ancient ‘Land of Fire’ gave birth to global oil industry - (Oil & Gas)
Azerbaijan’s Oil Fund finances the future - (Oil & Gas)
U.S. needed: ‘The old knots are being tied again’ - (Transport)
Caspian TransCo moves oil to markets worldwide - (Transport)
Azerbaijan’s gas will flow to Turkey through new $2.6 billion pipeline - (Transport)
BTC pipeline enters final detailed study phase - (Transport)
Saving Azerbaijan’s damaged ecology - (Oil & Environment)
Foreign investment needed to realize petrochemical potential - (Petrochemical Industry)
The fruitful return of the Azeri farmer - (Agriculture Industry)
Fighting to save the fabled Caspian sturgeon from extinction - (Agriculture Industry)
Agriculture investment priorities - (Agriculture Industry)
Cotton revenues could someday equal petroleum - (Agriculture Industry)
European Tobacco-Baku now country’s biggest taxpayer - (Commerce & Industry)
Azerbaijan ready to boom, says AmCham - (Commerce & Industry)
‘To be successful, you need to see the Azeri point of view’ - (Commerce & Industry)
Non-oil sector development put on fast track
Customs agents fight drugs and nuclear proliferation
Economic transformation hinges on foreign investment
Despite Russian competition, Caspian Shipping management is confident - (Transport Industry)
As bright future beckons, Azerail seeks foreign investors - (Transport Industry)
Azerbaijan road transport at the crossroads of Europe and Asia - (Transport Industry)
Azerbaijan leads CIS in cell phone use - (Telecom Industry)
Nation's telephone giant, Aztelecom, prepares for privatization - (Telecom Industry)
‘My best team is right here’ - (Telecom Industry)
Communications ministry leads Azerbaijan into the digital age - (Telecom Industry)
AzEuroTel welcomes full competition - (Telecom Industry)
Love stories and legacies of Baku’s oil barons: Murtuza Mukhtarov - (Banking & Finance)
Baku Stock Exchange celebrates first anniversary - (Banking & Finance)
Entrepreneurs flourish again in Azerbaijan - (Banking & Finance)
Azeri girl embodies a nation’s dream - (Banking & Finance)
First Islamic opera was written in Azerbaijan - (History & Culture)
Azerbaijan’s classical poetry lost outside its borders - (History & Culture)
Conservative fiscal policies restore financial stability - (Banking & Finance)
Azerbaijan’s ambitious five-year forecast - (Banking & Finance)
History of Azerbaijan: A sequence of turmoil - (History & Culture)
The Fortress Wall of Old City Baku - (History & Culture)
Azeri women act as a bridge East and West - (Society & Religion)
Israeli Ambassador lauds treatment of Jews in Azerbaijan - (Society & Religion)
Olympic medals help build Azeri pride - (Tourism & Culture)
Silk Road Express: Luxury Train through the Caucasus - (Tourism & Culture)