World Factbook
Azerbaijan
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band meaning: the blue band stands for Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red for modernization and progress, and green for Islam; the crescent moon and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent the eight Turkic peoples of the world
Capital
name
Baku (Baki, Baky)
note
note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world
etymology
the name may derive from the Old Persian word badkuba , meaning "windward" and referring to its windy location on the shore of the Caspian Sea
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time
geographic coordinates
40 23 N, 49 52 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended
Country name
former
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the name can be translated as "Fire Keeper" or "The Land of Fire," from the local word azer , or "fire," and baydjan , a word derived from the Iranian word baykan , or "guardian;" may refer to fire worshippers who lived in the region
local long form
Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form
Azarbaycan
conventional long form
Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form
Azerbaijan
Independence
30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
chief of state
President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
election results
2024: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2% ; on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV reappointed prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-1 2018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
head of government
Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)
most recent election date
7 February 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
expected date of next election
2031
National holiday
Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
National color(s)
blue, red, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki; Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and "Koc Yolu" Transhumance Route
Political parties
Azerbaijan Hope Party or ÜMİD Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP Azerbaijan National Independence Party or AMİP Civic Solidarity Party or VHP Democratic Reforms Party or DiP Great Order Party or BAP Justice, Law, Democracy Party or ƏHD Great Order Party or BQP Motherland Party or AVP National Front Party or MCP National Revival Movement Party or MDHP New Azerbaijan Party or YAP Republican Alternative Party or REAL Unity Party or VƏHDƏT
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
125 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/1/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
20.8%
parties elected and seats per party
New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68); Independents (44); Other (13)
National anthem(s)
title
"Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
history
adopted 1992; originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, but did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
lyrics/music
Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
National symbol(s)
flames of fire
Administrative divisions
66 districts ( rayonlar ; singular - rayon ), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular) districts: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 337-5911
chancery
2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 337-3500
chief of mission
Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles
email address and website
azerbaijan@azembassy.us https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[994] (12) 488-3330
embassy
111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku
telephone
[994] (12) 488-3300
mailing address
7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amy CARLON (since 23 June 2025)
email address and website
BakuACS@state.gov https://az.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt