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The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in the Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range in Eurasia.The Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan is bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest. The total land boundary is about 2,013 km. Azerbaijan is landlocked so no coastlines, although it borders the Caspian sea.
The geographical terrain is large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi or Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi in west and Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi or Apsheron Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea. Nearly half of all the mud volcanoes on Earth are concentrated in Azerbaijan.
The lowest point is Caspian Sea at 28 m and highest point is Bazarduzu Dagi at 4,485 m.
The major natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals and bauxite.
The climate is dry and semiarid steppe |
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| People |
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| The total population is about 8,177,717. The majority ethnic group is Azeri with 90.6%, Dagestani with 2.2%, Russian with 1.8%, Armenian comprising 1.5% and other 3.9%. Almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. 93.4% of the population is followers of Muslim religion, 2.5% are Russian Orthodox, 2.3% Armenian Orthodox and only1.8% follow other religions |
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| Government |
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Azerbaijan follows a republic framework. The president is the chief of the state and Prime Minister the head of the government. The Council of Ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly. The president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term and is eligible for a second term.
Azerbaijan is administratively divided into 59 rayons, 11 cities and 1 autonomous republic Rayons:
Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand, Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Cities:
Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
Autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Capital: Baku (Baki, Baky)
Independence day: 30 August 1991
President: Ilham Aliyev
Prime Minister: Artur Rasizade |
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| Economy |
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Azerbaijan has witnessed high economic growth in the year 2006-07, generated by the large and growing oil exports. Although the oil production has declined in the 1997, it has bucked up and shown increase ever since. Two thirds of Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas.
Majority of the labor force are in the service sector with 52% , the agriculture stands second with 41% of the labour force and only 7% in the industrial sector. The chief agricultural products are cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. The major industrial products and services are petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment, steel, iron ore, cement, chemicals and petrochemicals and textiles.
Soon after Azerbaijan achieved its independence in the year 1991, it became a member of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The banking system of Azerbaijan comprises of the National Bank of Azerbaijan, commercial banks and non-banking credit organizations |
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