What is the population of Azerbaijan? What nationalities live in this country, and how long have they settled there? You will find answers to these questions in this article.
Azerbaijan: population and population by years
This small state is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, right on the border of Asia and Europe, eastern and western culture. How many people live in Azerbaijan at the moment? And what ethnic groups make up its structure?
The population of Azerbaijan, according to the latest UN data, totals 9.7 million people. According to this indicator, the country ranks first in the Transcaucasus region. At the same time, about 120-140 thousand of them live on the territory of the unrecognized state of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The population of Azerbaijan reached its 9 millionth milestone in 2010. The birth of the country's nine millionth citizen was even recorded. This happened in the city of Nakhichevan on the morning of January 15 of the year.
According to statistics, the population of Azerbaijan over the past hundred years has grown by almost five times. Over 25 years of independence, the total population growth of this country amounted to about 2.5 million people, which is a very high indicator for post-Soviet states. The dynamics of the population of Azerbaijan is presented more clearly in the following graph.
Fertility in this country is three times higher than mortality. This can explain the steady annual growth of its population. Nevertheless, the average life expectancy in Azerbaijan is not so high (72 years). Although, again, for the countries of the former Soviet Union - this is a pretty good indicator.
There are fewer women in Azerbaijan than men (50.3%). The population density of the country is 98 people per square kilometer of territory.
The population of Azerbaijan and its religious composition
According to the Constitution in Azerbaijan, the church is separated from the state and has no influence on education, culture or any other sphere of public life.
The religious composition of the country is represented by various movements and faiths, the main role among which is Islam. 99% of the total population profess this religion. Moreover, approximately 85% of them are Shia Muslims.
In addition, churches of other religions function freely in Azerbaijan: synagogues, Catholic churches, Orthodox and Protestant churches. The community of Zoroastrians is registered and operates in the country.
Christianity is practically not widespread in Azerbaijan. So, on the territory of the state today there are only six Orthodox churches (half of them are located in the capital). The Catholic Church in this country originated in the XIV century. The most significant event in the life of Azerbaijani Catholics was the arrival of Pope John Paul III in Baku in the spring of 2002.
Ethnic diversity of the population of Azerbaijan
Representatives of many nationalities and ethnic groups live in Azerbaijan. The first ten in terms of numbers are as follows:
- Azerbaijanis (91%);
- lezgins (2%);
- Armenians (1.4%);
- Russians (1.3%);
- Talysh (1.3%);
- Avars (0.6%);
- Turks (0.4%);
- Tatars (0.3%);
- Ukrainians (0.2%);
- Georgians (0.1%).
The absolute majority in the ethnic structure of the country belongs to Azerbaijanis. This people dominates in all regions and cities of the state (with the exception of Nagorno-Karabakh). In the early 1990s, the share of this ethnic group in the country's population structure increased significantly due to the active resettlement of Azerbaijanis from neighboring Armenia (due to the Karabakh conflict).
The most numerous nationalities of Azerbaijan and their location
According to the latest census, about 120 thousand Armenians live in Azerbaijan. This people lives compactly within Nagorno-Karabakh - a territory not controlled by the authorities of the country, as well as in the city of Baku.
The first Russian communities appeared on the territory of Azerbaijan in the 19th century. Now about 200 thousand Russians live in the country, but their number is decreasing every year (mainly due to departure from the state).
A rather large and integral Ukrainian diaspora has formed in Azerbaijan. Ukrainians began to move to this country at the end of the 19th century in connection with the active industrial development of Azerbaijan. At the same time, Poles began to arrive in large numbers in the country (mainly in Baku). Their relocation was primarily associated with the "oil boom" in Azerbaijan. Highly qualified engineers and ordinary workers came to Baku from Poland.
Cities of Azerbaijan
The population of Azerbaijani cities makes up only 53% of the total number of its inhabitants (by European standards, this is very small). There are only ten cities with a population of over 50 thousand people in this country. Moreover, the capital of the state - the city of Baku significantly divorced from them in terms of population. At the moment it is the only city with a population of one million people in the state.
The largest cities of Azerbaijan: Baku, Ganja, Sumgait, Mingachevir, Khirdalan, Nakhichevan, Sheki.
According to demographers, about 2.1 million people live in the capital of the state today. This city is very different from all other Azerbaijani cities. Today it is actively developing and acquiring modern high-rise buildings.
Finally...
Today, about 9.7 million people live in Azerbaijan, and the population of this country is rapidly approaching the 10 millionth milestone. The ethnic composition of this state is quite variegated. In addition to the indigenous people, representatives of many other nationalities live here - Armenians, Russians, Lezgins, Kurds, Tatars, Turks, Ukrainians, Talysh.