Azerbaijan, the nation and former Soviet republic, is bounded by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains, which span Asia and Europe. Its capital, Baku, is famed for its medieval walled Inner City. Within the Inner City lies the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a royal retreat dating to the 15th century, and the centuries-old stone Maiden Tower, which dominates the city skyline.
Languages: The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, which is a Turkic language spoken by the majority of the population. Azerbaijani is used in government, education, and the media, and it is the language of instruction in schools. In addition to Azerbaijani, there are also a number of regional languages and dialects spoken in Azerbaijan, including Lezgi, Talysh, and Avar, among others. Finally, Russian is also widely spoken in Azerbaijan, particularly in the cities, and many people also speak English, particularly in business and tourism.
Ethnic Groups: Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4%
Belief Systems: Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.)
Demographics:
Population:9.64 million people (World Rank: 89th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density:302 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 101st) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 1.19 %/yr (World Rank: 110th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 70.8 years (World Rank: 149th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 28.6 years (World Rank: 84th) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Azerbaijan
Worldatlas.com
Azerbaijan
World Factbook
Country Profile for Azerbaijan
United Nations
Azerbaijan - Country Profile
U.S. Library of Congress
Culture and Tourism:
Tourism Azerbaijan
All about Azerbaijan as a tourism destination
Azerbaijan Tourist Website
Resource for planning an Azerbaijan itinerary
Ateshgah Temple
Temple of fire worshippers
Traditional Musical Instruments of Azerbaijan
Aesec.az
Azerbaijani recipes and food
Pintrest.com
Azerbaijan Language Resources:
Learn Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani language resource
Government Related:
Azerbaijani Embassy
Located in Washington D.C.
Azerbaijani Government Websites
by Gunnar Anzinger
