World Country Guide

General Information

Area
86,600 sq km (33,400 sq miles).

Population
8,347,000 (official estimate 2005).

Population Density
90.1 per sq km.

Capital
Baku. Population: 1,708,000 (1999).

Geography
Azerbaijan is bordered by the Russian Federation, Georgia and Iran, and is divided by the Republic of Armenia into a smaller western part in the Lesser Caucasus and a larger eastern part, stretching from the Greater Caucasus to the Mugan, Mili and Shirvan Steppes and bordered by the Caspian Sea in the east. Its highest peaks are Mount Bazar-Dyuzi (4114m/13497ft) and Sag-Dag (3886m/12749ft).

Government
Democratic Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Ilham Heydar liyev since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Artur Rasizade since 2003.

Language
Azerbaijani. Russian is widely spoken; English may be spoken in Baku and other main centres.

Religion
Mostly Shia Muslim although there are Russian Orthodox and Jewish communities.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available to anywhere in Azerbaijan. Country code: 994. International calls from Azerbaijan may be dialled directly from Baku; calls from other parts of the republic must be made through the operator.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network covers the capital and main towns. Network operators include Azercell (website: www.azercell.com) and Bakcell.

Internet
Access is widely available. Local ISPs include AdaNet (website: www.azdata.net), Azerin (website: www.azerin.com), AzEuroTel (website: www.azeurotel.com) and Bakinternet (website: www.bakinter.net).

Telegram
Services are available at the main post office in Baku.

Fax
Services are widely available especially at international hotels.

Post
International postal services are sometimes disrupted. Delays occur, although letters should normally take 10 to 14 days to arrive. Parcels should be registered or sent by courier services to accelerate the process and ensure against loss.

Press
The principal daily newspaper is Azerbaijan. Other newspapers include Azadliq, Bakinskii Rabochii, Intibah and Hayat.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.