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Country Guide > Asia > Azerbaijan | |
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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 Äliyev since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Artur Rasizada 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 (website: www.bakcell.com). 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 Newspapers include Azadliq, Ekho and Zerkalo (in Russian and English). The government daily is Azarbaycan. The English-language newspaper is Baku-Sun. 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. |