Azerbaijan

Country Profile: Azerbaijan

Official Name: Republic of Azerbaijan

Capital: Baku

Geography:

Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south.

Area: Approximately 86,600 square kilometers (approximately 33,436 square miles).

Population: Approximately 10.1 million people (as of 2023 estimate).

Language: The official language is Azerbaijani, a member of the Turkic language family.

Climate:

Azerbaijan’s climate varies from subtropical and humid in the southeast to cold highland climate in the northwestern mountainous part. The country is notably one of the world’s few countries with all eleven climate zones.

Economy:

Azerbaijan’s economy is largely based on oil and gas production, but it also has a substantial agricultural sector, which employs a significant proportion of the population. The country is also a major producer of cotton and grapes.

Government:

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The President is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government.

Education:

Education in Azerbaijan is regulated by the Ministry of Education, with education being compulsory from ages 6 to 15. Azerbaijani students consistently perform well in math and science global education rankings.

Culture:

Azerbaijan has a rich cultural history with influences from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Russia, among others. It is particularly known for its traditions of folk music, dance, and visual arts.

Noteworthy Facts:

Azerbaijan is often referred to as the “Land of Fire” due to its rich deposits of natural gas and oil. It’s also the first Muslim-majority country to have operas, theater plays, and a democratic republic. It also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, which helped to increase its global visibility.

This is a general overview of Azerbaijan. There’s much more to learn about this country, from its rich history to its vibrant cultural traditions.