Azerbaijan

Land

Bordered to the East by the Caspian Sea

The capitol city, Baku, is very dense and populated and serves as a port city to the sea.

The northern part of the country is home to the Great Caucasus Mountains

Most of the rest of the country is flat and below sea level

Location

Found in Southwestt Asia. Azerbaijan is to the north of Iran and the south of Russia

National Resources

Produces oil, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, and bauxite

Natural Hazard/Enviromental Risks

Droughts put the land and crops at risk on occasion.

Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, and Ship Pollution effect the country a great deal

Oil spills and other pollution has caused to area around the Caspian Sea to become one of the most devastated areas in the entire world

Communications

Nearly 17 of every 100 persons owns a landline phone

Almost 100 of 100 persons own a cell phone

2.42 million citizens have access to the internet

The country has access to 21 television channels while the captiol city receives 2 additional stations

Many FM radio stations are available across the country

Transportation

There are 35 airrports throughout the country

Nearly 3,000 km of railway

59,000 km of roadway

29,000 km paved

29,000 unpaved

1 Major port in the capitol city of Baku

Imports

Machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, and chemicals

Exports

Oil and gas make up nearly 90% of national exports. Other exports include machinery, cotton, and foodstuffs

Inflation Rate of 5.1%, which is a rise from 1.5% just one year earlier

11% of population under the poverty line

Unemployment rate of 0.9%

GDP per capita of $11,000

Army

Navy

Air Attack and Defense Forces

Men ages 18 to 35 may be chosen for military service and citizens over 18 years of age may volunteer for service

There are nearly 4 million citizens fit to serve in the military

Each year Azerbaijan's military continues to develop

People

8,372,373 Total Citizens

23.2% of population under age 14

70.3% of population 15-64

6.4% of population over 65

52% of population reside in urbanized locations

1.16 Males for every Female

Religion

Mostly Muslim (95%)

Russian Orthodox

Armenian Orthodox

Other

Language

Azerbaijani (National Language)

Lezgi

Russian

Armenian

Other Languages

Unofficial or Undetermined

Government (Republic)

Executive Branch

Candidates are elected for a 5 year term

President then picks his own cabinet members for office

Many believe election was unfair and biased

President: Ilham Aliyev

Prime Minister: Artur Rasizade

First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly with 125 members serving five year terms

Juducial Branch

Constitutional Court

The court judges are proposed by the President and Parliment decides final decisions are made

Supreme Court

Economic Court

Political Parties

Azerbaijan has 18different political that compete for political power

Neraly half of the politicans in power are from the Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP, which is led by current president Ilham Aliyev