Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan)

Official name: Republic of Azerbaijan

Flag of Azerbaijan
Capital: Baku
Total Area: 86,600 km² (33,436 mi²) (113th)
Approximate population: 10,336,577 (94th) - (2024 est.)
Location: Southern Caucasus region of Eurasia
Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, [other> Lezgian, Talysh, Avar, Russian, Tat, Tsakhur, Khinalug, Turkish <7.5%] - (2009 est.)
Religions: Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other religion <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 94.8%, Lezgin 1.7%, Talysh 0.9%, Russian 0.7%, others 1.9% (2019 est.)
Currency: Manat (₼) (AZN)
Time zone: UTC+4 (AZT)
Calling code: (+994)
Organizations: United Nations, Commonwealth of Independent States

Border countries (5): Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan exclave) 700 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km
Coastline: 0 km (Mostly landlocked) — note: but has a 713 km coastline with the Caspian Sea.

Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan Map Outline

Azerbaijan is administratively divided into 67 districts (rayon) and 11 cities (şəhər) that are subordinate to the Republic. Out of these districts and cities, 7 districts and 1 city are located within the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The districts are further divided into municipalities (bələdiyyə).

Additionally, the districts of Azerbaijan are grouped into 14 Economic Regions (İqtisadi Rayon). On 7 July 2021, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On the new division of economic regions in the Republic of Azerbaijan".

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite.

Interesting facts:
- The Azykh caveAzykh Cave, also referred to as Azokh Cave, is a six-cave complex in Azerbaijan, known as a habitation site of prehistoric humans. It is situated near the village of Azykh in the Khojavend District. The cave is an important prehistoric site which has been occupied by different human groups for a long time. The ancient layers of the Middle Paleolithic have yielded Neanderthal fossil remains that may date from around 300,000 years ago.

Mansaf.jpg
of Azerbaijan is believed to be one of the earliest known caves inhabited by man.
- The first oil well world was drilled near Baku, somewhere around the end-19th century.
- Baku used to serve as one of the important commercial centers on the Silk Road, from Europe to China.