Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan's Information


Capital	Baku
Languages	Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4%
Religion	Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
Area	86,600.00 km²
Water Area	3,971.00 km²
Land Area	82,629.00 km²
Population	9,872,765.00 Highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the county, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly evenly distributed population
Location	Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
No. Bordering Countries	5
Bordering Countries	Armenia 996 km, Georgia 428 km, Iran 689 km, Russia 338 km, Turkey 17 km
GDP(PPP)	$166,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$17,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Italy, Germany, France, and Israel.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are oil and gas and machinery.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Russia, Turkey, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and metals.
Climate	Dry, semiarid steppe
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) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Where is Azerbaijan?

Located in Southwestern Asia, Azerbaijan has a 2,468.00 km border with Armenia (996 km), Georgia (428 km), Iran (689 km), Russia (338 km) and Turkey (17 km). Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimiation treaties together, based on equidistance.

The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku, a large city located below sea level along the Caspian Sea western coast. Although the city has a long history, it gained the capital status in 1920. Baku has a population of more than 3 million people and a metropolitan area that hosts a quarter of the country’s population. This old city has several tourist attraction sites like historical buildings, beaches, museums, and beaches as well as other natural and human-made features. In a temperate semi-arid climate, Baku has low precipitation throughout the year and occasional winter snow. Baku is windy throughout the year with warm summers and cool winters.

Geography

Azerbaijan has a mean elevation of 384 m above sea level.

It has a dry, arid climate. There are lowlands and mountains in the north, and uplands in the west.

Population

Azerbaijan has a population of 9,872,765 making it the 91st largest in the world. The highest population density is found in the far eastern section of the country.

Azerbaijani is the official language and most common language spoken. The majority ethnic group is Azerbaijani. The population is predominantly Shia Muslim.

Azerbaijani or Azeri is the official language in Azerbaijan, spoken by over 90% of the population. This language is the language used in all sectors of the country. This language belongs to the Turkic linguistic family and its speakers can also understand some modern Turkish. Azerbaijani uses 32 alphabet letters written in Latin-script and includes several special characters that have unique pronunciations. There are two divisions of this language, North and South Azerbaijani. The people of Azerbaijan speak the northern Azerbaijani division which has 21 other dialects. In Azerbaijan, Russian, Armenian, and Georgian are all minority languages. UNESCO recognizes that several ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan face extinction.

Government

Azerbaijan is an independent country. It gained independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Its constitution was last ratified in 1995.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has a semi-presidential system with an executive President who is the head of state and a Prime Minister is the head of government. Legislation is the responsibility of the unicameral parliament. Milli Majlis, the National Assembly building of Azerbaijan and the Presidential Building are both located in the capital, Baku but the President has additional residences in other locations outside Baku. Though a multi-party democracy, the New Azerbaijan Party dominates the executive and legislature. Citizens of at least eighteen years are free to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. Currently, Azerbaijan has seven-year unlimited presidential terms with no term limits.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Azerbaijan's GDP is $166,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $17,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 72nd largest economy and its citizens the 89th richest in the world. The currency of Azerbaijan is the Manat (AZN).

Its major export partners are Italy, Germany, France, and Israel. Its main exports are oil and gas and machinery. Its major import partners are Russia, Turkey, and the United States. Its major imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and metals.

Flag

The Azerbaijani flag, officially called Az?rbaycan bayra?? and unofficially known as Üçr?ngli Bayraq, has three colors, blue, red and green with a crescent and an eight-pointed star at the middle. The colors and symbols of the flag reflect the nation’s Islamic faith, the people, and political development process. A Turkish turned Azerbaijanian, Ali bey Huseyn, designed the flag in 1918 to help create a national ideology for the country, and in November the same year, Parliament approved and adopted his design. Historically, the flag has undergone different changes from 1918 to 1991. Such changes include the periods under Transcaucasian SFSR and during the Soviet Union when the colors and symbols largely reflected the Soviet Identity. Such changes included the Soviet sickle and hammer symbols, red color, and alteration of the eight-pointed star to a five-pointed one.