Background
Facts & Figures
Travel Advice – Hints & Tips
Useful Contacts

Background

Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population - regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 571,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.

Facts & Figures

Area

total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Total boundaries: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Capital: Baku

Climate & Terrain

Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point:: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural Resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina

People

Population: 7,911,974 (July 2005 est.)
Growth Rate: 0.59% (2005 est.)
Life Expectancy: 63.35 years
Ethnic Groups: Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)

Economy

Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies is scheduled to begin pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists estimate that by 2010 revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Several other obstacles impede Armenia's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive corruption. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth.

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2005 est.)
Industries/Produce: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles, cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Debt: 13.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Currency: Azerbaijani Manat
Official Exchange: 1 USD = 4794

Full details available from the CIA World Factbook.

Travel Advice & Info

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IRAN TO BAKU 

From Astara (AZ side) you can take a fairly decrepit bus to Baku which take 6 hours (though you need to add 2 hours for lunch and stops). One leaves at 12pm (rememeber to change your watch time once you cross from the Iranian border!!). It will cost you a dollar to get to the bus station from the frontier.

Baku is a modern, smart town with a real expat feel. You'll see the first MacDOnalds for ages along the Silk Road which indicates its recent boom. Generally the Azeris are friendly and helpful enough. The HOTEL VELOTREK has rooms for $12-15 that are excellent - large with double bed and shower. Don't be put off by the location as the Metro is just nearby and costs just 250 Manat a ride (buy Jetons from the counter). It takes about 25 mins to get into town and the area is quiet and close to the bus station.

Baku's old town is pleasant to walk around but nothing special. Just enjoy the relatively civilised atmosphere and great restaurants.

FERRY TO TURKMENBASHI

Taking the ferry to Turkmenistan has to be one of the more unusual and satisfying ways of travelling. It also is one of the more frustrating ways!

There are no timetables. The ferry leaves daily (usually) and only when it is full of cargo. Turn up around 10am at the OLD FERRY PORT (ask a taxi driver to drop you) by the MOST (Bridge). Buy your ticket ($55 seat and upgrade to a cabin on board $5).

You can either believe the woman selling the ticket and rush onto the apparently imminently departing boat or go away and return a few hours later. Either way note that the boat won't wait for you (usually it leaves at 3/4pm but there's no garantee). So either stick it out on the boat or just turn up at 3pm and pray it hasn't left (if it has and you have a guide in TM waiting then you will waste one day).

The boat itself is rudimentary and food onboard is expensive and bad. So stock up on beer and vodka.

Once moving the journey takes 14 hours min and don't believe what the crew tell you - they don't know.

Be prepared to wait just a few KM from Turkmenbashi while the port decides when to let you land (coudl be after another day).

You'll have your temperature checked before being allowed to land in TM! If it's too high its assumed you will have an illness and will not be allowed to land.

A day trip to Qobustan is well worth the effort at 40 NEW manat (note that both old and new manat are used currently. 5000 old = 1 new!) Very confusing! But make sure your driver knows where he is going.