Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it 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 600,000 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.

Languages & Population

Approximate Population: 8,120,247 (July 2007 est.)

Nationality (Noun): Azerbaijani(s), Azeri(s)

Nationality (Adjective): Azerbaijani, Azeri

Official Language(s): Azerbaijani

Major Languages Spoken: Aramaic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Russian

Country Facts

Country Name (long form): Republic of Azerbaijan

Country Name (short form): Azerbaijan

Country Name (local long form): Azarbaycan Respublikasi

Country Name (local short form): Azarbaycan

Name of Capital: Baku (Baki, Baky)

UTC Time Difference (from capital): UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Countries Near by, and Bordering Azerbaijan: Iran, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Georgia

National Holiday: Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)

International Phone Code: 994

Currency Code: Azerbaijani manat (AZM)

Internet Country Code: .az

US Embassy Location: 83 Azadliyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007

US Embassy Mailing Address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050