Country Guide • Azerbaijan
After 70 years of Soviet rule, they are striving hard to bring Azerbaijan into the 20th Century, and prepare it for the 21st - and succeeding. However, in many ways, the infrastructure is not yet up to world standards. Azerbaijan should soon be catching up though, as soon as the oil starts flowing. Baku, the capital overlooking the Caspian Sea, is fast becoming a boomtown. There are many captivating sights to see in this ancient country - Bronze Age petroglyphs, medieval minarets and mosques and Azerbaijan's famous carpets.
| Official Name | Republic of Azerbaijan |
|---|---|
| Area | 86,600km² (33,436mile²) |
| Population | 7,830,000 |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population per mile² | 234 |
| Capital City | Baku |
| Religions | Shiite Muslim (93%), Russian Orthodox (2.5%), Armenian Orthodox (2.3%) |
| Language | The official language is Azerbaijani while Russian is also widely spoken and each ethnic minority also has its own language |
| Government | Republic |
| Member of EU | No |
| Currency | Manat |
| GDP | $27 billion |
| GDP per Head | $3440 |
| Natural Resources | Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina |
| Land Use | Arable—19% |
| Agriculture | Cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats |
| Industry | Petroleum and natural gas, metallurgy, cement, chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles, caviar, cotton, tea, tobacco |
| Tourism | The best time to visit Azerbaijan is between April and October. It's warm and dry in much of the country, though in July and August it can be scorching (up to 38°C/100°F |
| Natural Hazards | Poor state of hospitals and many people in Azerbaijan are un healthy so ensure you are fully inoculated before travelling there |
| Health Risks | Malaria, yellow fever, diphtheria, tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis, rabies, typhoid fever, travellers' diarrhoea, land mines around Khan-Kendi (formerly Stepanakert, in Nagorno-Karabakh |
| Climate | Generally very warm, but low temperatures can occur, particularly in the mountains and valleys. Most of the rainfall is in the west. Average temperature ranges on the lowlands are from 25 to 38°C in July to 0 to 3°C in January and between -3 to -6°C in January on the highlands |
| Time | GMT/UTC+4 hours |
| National and Bank Holidays | January - New Year's Day 20 January - Memorial Day (commemorates the victims of the Soviet invasion of Baku in 1990) 8 March - International Women's Day 21-22 March - Novruz Bayrami (Lunar New Year) 9 May - WWII Victory Day 28 May - Republic Day 15 June - Day of National Salvation 16 June - Army and Navy Day 9 October - Armed Forces Day 18 October - Independence Day 12 November - Constitution Day 17 November - National Revival Day 31 December - World Azeri Solidarity Day |
| Visas | Visas are required for Azerbaijan, which should be obtained before entering the country. All foreign nationals staying more than 7 days who are not transiting or who do not have a return airline ticket should register with the police within 3 days and ensure that a police stamp is in their passports |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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