Azerbaijan (Republic of Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan Republic of Azerbaijan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	126th best
Capital	Baku
Land Area	82 658km21
Location	Asia, Europe
Population	9.9m2
Life Expectancy	69.37yrs (2017)3
GNI	$14 257 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AZ, AZE, 315
Internet Domain	.az6
Currency	Manat (AZN)7
Telephone	+9948

1. Overview
2. Azerbaijan National and Social Development
3. Azerbaijan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Azerbaijan's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Azerbaijan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Azerbaijan's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Azerbaijan's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#armenia #france #islam #russia

“Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous region within Soviet Azerbaijan after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia, is the framework established to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Corruption in the country is widespread, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced and infrastructure investment has increased substantially in recent years due to revenue from oil and gas production, reforms have not adequately addressed weaknesses in most government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors. In January 2012, Azerbaijan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Marrying timeless tradition and ultra-modernity, Azerbaijan reveals a melange of cultural influences and outstanding attractions at the meeting point between Europe and Asia. Tucked beneath the Caucasus Mountains and facing the Caspian Sea, it is where Central Asia edges into Europe, with a melange of Turkic, Persian and Russian influences contributing to its fabric. ... Surrounded by semi-desert on the oil-rich Caspian Sea, the cosmopolitan capital, Baku, rings its Unesco-listed ancient core with mushrooming new skyscrapers. Yet barely three hours´ drive away are timeless rural villages, clad in lush orchards and backed by the soaring Great Caucasus mountains. The modern Azerbaijanis, well versed in Turkic legend and Persian poetry, are a passionate and overwhelmingly hospitable people.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Azerbaijan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
90	Maldives	0.747
91=	Tonga	0.745
91=	Algeria	0.745
91=	Azerbaijan	0.745
91=	Turkmenistan	0.745
95	Ecuador	0.740
96	Mongolia	0.739
97=	Egypt	0.731
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
81	Georgia	$14 664
82	Colombia	$14 384
83	Brazil	$14 370
84	Azerbaijan	$14 257
85	Albania	$14 131
86	Palau	$13 819
87	Grenada	$13 484
88	Gabon	$13 367
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
123	Algeria	98.2
124	Lebanon	98.3
125	Belize	99.3
126	Azerbaijan	99.8
127	Egypt	101.1
128	Iran	101.9
129	Bhutan	102.1
130	Senegal	102.6
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Azerbaijan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Azerbaijan's population is predicted to rise to 10.81 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.67. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
87	Portugal	10.3m
88	Sweden	10.0m
89	Jordan	10.0m
90	Azerbaijan	9.9m
91	Hungary	9.7m
92	UAE	9.6m
93	Honduras	9.6m
94	Belarus	9.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
47	Maldives	1.68
48=	Suriname	2.32
48=	Cambodia	2.32
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
111	Turkey	18.0
112	Vietnam	18.3
113	Tunisia	18.6
114	Azerbaijan	18.7
115	Colombia	18.8
116	Antigua & Barbuda	19.0
117	St Vincent & Grenadines	19.7
118	Seychelles	19.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
109	Burundi	2.8%
110	Chile	2.7%
111	Micronesia	2.6%
112	Azerbaijan	2.6%
113	Kiribati	2.6%
114	Samoa	2.5%
115	Zimbabwe	2.4%
116	Swaziland	2.4%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
37	Marshall Islands	16.6%
38	Ireland	16.1%
39	Belize	16.1%
40	Azerbaijan	16.0%
41	Bulgaria	16.0%
42	Lebanon	15.6%
43	Equatorial Guinea	14.9%
44	Seychelles	14.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Azerbaijan #azerbaijan_human_rights #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
153	Niger	119.6
154	Togo	120.5
155	Belarus	121.5
156	Azerbaijan	123.2
157	Uzbekistan	123.5
158	Antigua & Barbuda	123.5
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Azerbaijan is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Azerbaijan comes in the best 20 for its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀ (amongst the highest in Asia). It does better than average in opposing gender inequality₂₁. When it comes to most other metrics, Azerbaijan does not do well. It does worse than average in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₂, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄, LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₅ and in freethought₂₆. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₇, combatting modern slavery₂₈, supporting press freedom₂₉ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. In 2017 police harassment of LGBT folk picked up, with fines and invasions of personal space by the police₃₀. The courts also conducted many unfair trials and the government executed worrying crackdowns on political critics and journalists in 2017₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Azerbaijan

5. Azerbaijan's Health

#alcohol #azerbaijan #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Japan	37.3
2	Singapore	41.1
3	S. Korea	50.5
	...
31	Kyrgyzstan	100.8
32	Mongolia	102.1
33	Palestine	103.9
34	Azerbaijan	103.9
35	Indonesia	104.1
36	Jordan	106.2
37	Philippines	106.3
38	Bangladesh	107.0
39	India	110.5
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
118	Tonga	103.3
119	Palestine	103.9
120	Peru	103.9
121	Azerbaijan	103.9
122	Indonesia	104.1
123	Bermuda	104.3
124	Belize	106.0
125	Jordan	106.2
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₂.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₂.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #azerbaijan #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Azerbaijan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Azerbaijan comes in the best 20 for its suicide rate₃₃ (one of the lowest in Asia). It does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate₃₄ and in its fertility rate₁₅. However Azerbaijan performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₅, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₆, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₇, its adolescent birth rate₃₈, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₉, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₄₀. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₄₁. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Azerbaijan improved by +10.8yrs in the 30 years from 1990, better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Azerbaijan's peak fertility rate was 5.96 in 1962.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better34
Pos.		2016 Per Capita34
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
21=	Senegal	0.7
22=	Oman	0.8
22=	Indonesia	0.8
22=	Azerbaijan	0.8
25=	Algeria	0.9
25=	Malaysia	0.9
25=	Comoros	0.9
28=	Iran	1.0
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
47	Maldives	1.68
48=	Suriname	2.32
48=	Cambodia	2.32
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better35
Pos.		Total %35
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
80	Iraq	19.2%
81	Ireland	19.3%
82	Sri Lanka	19.5%
83	Azerbaijan	19.6%
84	Kuwait	19.9%
85	S. Korea	20.0%
86	Slovenia	20.2%
87	Seychelles	20.3%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate33
Pos.		2013 Per 100k33
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
4	Jordan	0.2
5	Maldives	0.7
6	Azerbaijan	1.3
7	S. Africa	1.8
8	Bahamas	2.5
9	Peru	2.9
10	Kuwait	3.6
11	Armenia	3.9
12	Dominican Rep.	4.6
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
86	Kyrgyzstan	86
87	Moldova	87
88	Syria	88
89	Azerbaijan	89
90	Uganda	90
91	Chile	91
92	Tunisia	92
93	Bahrain	93
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better39
Pos.		1976 %39
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
110	Kazakhstan	31.9
111=	Montenegro	32.1
111=	Cuba	32.1
113=	Azerbaijan	32.2
113=	Nicaragua	32.2
115	Belize	32.4
116	Bosnia & Herzegovina	32.6
117	Colombia	32.7
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better42
Pos.		2022 %42
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
114	Peru	27.2%
115	Swaziland	27.3%
116	Canada	27.3%
117	Azerbaijan	27.5%
118	Bolivia	27.8%
119	Armenia	27.9%
120	Guyana	28.0%
121	Russia	28.0%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 Per 100038
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
106	Syria	38.1
107	Bulgaria	38.2
108	Kiribati	39.6
109	Azerbaijan	40.1
110	Pakistan	41.2
111	Barbados	41.9
112	Palau	42.1
113	Palestine	42.9
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better41
Pos.		Total Avg %41
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
204	Angola	64.2
205	Afghanistan	62.7
206	Venezuela	60.3
207	Azerbaijan	58.0
208	Yemen	57.0
209	Central African Rep.	42.6
210	Papua New Guinea	41.8
211	Sint Eustatius	38.1
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better37
Pos.		2015 Avg %37
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
104	Palau	92.4
105	Vietnam	92.3
106	Denmark	92.3
107	Azerbaijan	92.2
108=	Australia	92.1
108=	Barbados	92.1
110=	Ghana	91.7
110=	Lesotho	91.7
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better40
Pos.		Total Per 100040
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
124	Philippines	28.30
125	Dominica	28.88
126	Guatemala	29.19
127	Azerbaijan	29.20
128	Iraq	29.99
129	Micronesia	30.24
130	Syria	30.62
131	Tajikistan	31.41
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Azerbaijan from the 2000s to the 2010s suffered an anomalous double-digit increase in its adolescent birth rate; the highest increase in the world. Thankfully for future stability, it began reducing its rate back to its previous levels in recent years.

6. Azerbaijan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#azerbaijan #biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
33	Russia	99.2
34	Myanmar	99.9
35	Kuwait	100.5
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
37	Oman	101.8
38	Iraq	102.8
39	Lebanon	103.9
40	Bahrain	107.9
41	Mongolia	108.1
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
150	Myanmar	99.9
151	Kuwait	100.5
152	Bahamas	100.9
153	Azerbaijan	101.2
154	Mauritania	101.2
155	Oman	101.8
156	Iraq	102.8
157	Antigua & Barbuda	103.2
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₄. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

When it comes to its responsibility towards the environment, Azerbaijan is positioned 153rd in the world. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Azerbaijan does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₅, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its environmental performance₄₆ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇. Azerbaijan does not succeed in everything, however. Azerbaijan does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₈ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₉.

Environmental Performance Higher is better46
Pos.		201846
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
56	Panama	62.7
57	Tonga	62.5
58	Tunisia	62.4
59	Azerbaijan	62.3
60	S. Korea	62.3
61	Kuwait	62.3
62	Jordan	62.2
63	Armenia	62.1
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better49
Pos.		2022 Avg49
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
95	Brazil	1.16
96	Luxembourg	1.16
97	Netherlands	1.17
98	Azerbaijan	1.18
99	Norway	1.19
100	Argentina	1.19
101	Cape Verde	1.19
102	Dominica	1.20
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, Azerbaijan was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most, as was also the case into the 2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
50	Liechtenstein	66%
51	Gambia	66%
52	Hungary	66%
53	Azerbaijan	66%
54	New Zealand	66%
55	Spain	66%
56	Guatemala	66%
57	Belgium	66%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better48
Pos.		2011 %48
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
88	Georgia	31.9%
89	Australia	31.8%
90	Austria	31.8%
91	Azerbaijan	31.7%
92	Guinea	31.2%
93	Slovakia	31.1%
94	Guyana	30.1%
95	Egypt	30.1%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better47
Pos.		2021 kg47
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
67	Jordan	36.0
68	Lebanon	36.3
69	Paraguay	36.4
70	Azerbaijan	37.1
71	Namibia	37.2
72	Georgia	37.8
73	Cape Verde	38.4
74	Honduras	38.8
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Azerbaijan's Modernity and Learning

#azerbaijan #education #intelligence #it_security #metric #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Taiwan	25.4
2	S. Korea	25.5
3	Japan	26.8
	...
14	Kyrgyzstan	58.6
15	N. Korea	58.8
16	Armenia	58.9
17	Azerbaijan	60.6
18	China	64.1
19	Thailand	66.0
20	Turkmenistan	66.8
21	Vietnam	68.1
22	Lebanon	68.7
	Asia Avg	83.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
69	N. Korea	58.8
70	Armenia	58.9
71	Bolivia	60.5
72	Azerbaijan	60.6
73	Colombia	61.0
74	Tonga	62.0
75	Tunisia	63.4
76	Macedonia	63.8
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₅₁. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₁. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₂.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₃

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₁, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₁.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2954
2	Israel	4.1154
3	Japan	3.5854
	...
88=	Bermuda	0.2355
89=	Togo	0.2256
89=	Nigeria	0.2257
91	Azerbaijan	0.2155
92	Burkina Faso	0.2058
93	Vietnam	0.1959
94=	Panama	0.1859
94=	Mauritius	0.1856
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
126	Ivory Coast	126
127	Kuwait	127
128	Vietnam	128
129	Azerbaijan	129
130	Bangladesh	130
131	Mongolia	131
132	Haiti	132
133	Botswana	133
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better60
Pos.		2025 %60
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
57=	Georgia	95
57=	Mauritius	95
57=	Chile	95
57=	Azerbaijan	95
57=	Ecuador	95
57=	Colombia	95
57=	Gabon	95
57=	Cape Verde	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1922, as part of the USSR. Progression:

• 1960 (90%): USSR metric standards in official sectors.
• 1970 (95%): Further standardization.
• 1980 (95%): High completeness.
• 2000 (95%): Post-independence continuity.
• 2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better61
Pos.		2018 %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
41=	Croatia	42
41=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better62
Pos.		200662
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
63=	Brazil	87
63=	Bolivia	87
63=	Iraq	87
63=	Azerbaijan	87
63=	Indonesia	87
63=	Turkmenistan	87
63=	Uzbekistan	87
70=	Kuwait	86
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#azerbaijan #education

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Azerbaijan fell by almost a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. ₆₃

Secondary Education Higher is better64
Pos.		201864
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
21	Germany	96.3%
22	Russia	95.9%
23	Croatia	95.7%
24	Azerbaijan	95.6%
25	USA	95.6%
26	Norway	95.4%
27	S. Korea	95.2%
28	Bulgaria	95.1%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better65
Pos.		2021 Years65
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
92	Swaziland	13.7
93	S. Africa	13.6
94	Macedonia	13.6
95	Azerbaijan	13.5
96	Jamaica	13.4
97	Sao Tome & Principe	13.4
98	Palestine	13.4
99	Malaysia	13.3
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better66
Pos.		201666
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
74	Palestine	63%
75	Montenegro	62%
76	Bosnia & Herzegovina	62%
77	Azerbaijan	61%
78	Belarus	61%
79	St Vincent & Grenadines	60%
80	St Lucia	59%
81	Bulgaria	59%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better67
Pos.		201267
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
25=	Turkey	46
25=	Tunisia	46
27	Venezuela	48
28	Azerbaijan	50
29	Rwanda	51
30	Russia	52
31	Zimbabwe	54
32	Sri Lanka	55
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better68
Pos.		201368
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
51	Vietnam	1.15
52	Nigeria	1.18
53	Mauritania	1.19
54	Azerbaijan	1.21
55	Belarus	1.22
56	Armenia	1.22
57	Malawi	1.23
58	Turkmenistan	1.23
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better69
Pos.		2017 Ratio69
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
93=	Kyrgyzstan	0.0
94=	Cambodia	0.0
94=	Belarus	0.0
94=	Azerbaijan	0.0
94=	Angola	0.0
94=	Armenia	0.0
94=	Cape Verde	0.0
94=	Nigeria	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better70
Pos.		202470
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
60	India	47.0%
61	Costa Rica	46.9%
62	Albania	46.7%
63	Azerbaijan	46.0%
64	Macedonia	45.7%
65	Moldova	45.5%
66	S. Africa	45.4%
67	Kuwait	44.9%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Azerbaijan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#armenia #azerbaijan #capitalism #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #syria #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#azerbaijan #corruption #happiness #internationalism #politics

Corruption Higher is better71
Pos.		2022 Points71
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
156=	Tajikistan	24.0
157=	Zimbabwe	23.0
157=	Myanmar	23.0
157=	Azerbaijan	23.0
157=	Honduras	23.0
157=	Iraq	23.0
162=	Sudan	22.0
162=	Eritrea	22.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

In 1999, Azerbaijan began to be included in the Corruption Perception Index data, and entered at 4th-worst spot. By 2000 it fell to 2nd-most-corrupt, even as the Corruption Perception Index began to include many more countries.

Happiness Higher is better72
Pos.		2024 Score72
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
103	Namibia	4.9
104	Cameroon	4.9
105	Nigeria	4.9
106	Azerbaijan	4.9
107	Senegal	4.9
108	Palestine	4.8
109	Pakistan	4.8
110	Niger	4.7
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
136	Saudi Arabia	136
137	Congo, (Brazzaville)	137
138	Algeria	138
139	Azerbaijan	139
140	Paraguay	140
141	Sri Lanka	141
142	Malawi	142
143	Benin	143
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better73
Pos.		Total Q73
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
122=	Dominican Rep.	70.5
122=	Zambia	70.5
124	Tunisia	70.2
125	Azerbaijan	69.3
126	Gambia	69.0
127	Uganda	67.8
128	Cape Verde	66.7
129	Morocco	66.5
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
83	Kuwait	83
84	Belarus	84
85	Saudi Arabia	85
86	Azerbaijan	86
87	Uganda	87
88	Vietnam	88
89	Central African Rep.	89
90	Botswana	90
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#armenia #azerbaijan #extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #syria #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better74
Pos.		2023 Score74
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
94	Georgia	2.07
95	Algeria	2.09
96=	Papua New Guinea	2.10
96=	Azerbaijan	2.10
98	Ecuador	2.10
99	Cuba	2.10
100	Turkmenistan	2.11
101	Tajikistan	2.11
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
39	Argentina	39
40	China	40
41	Canada	41
42	Azerbaijan	42
43	Senegal	43
44	Switzerland	44
45	Bolivia	45
46	Burkina Faso	46
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
129	Pakistan	129
130	Samoa	130
131	Antigua & Barbuda	131
132	Azerbaijan	132
133	Togo	133
134	St Vincent & Grenadines	134
135	Afghanistan	135
136	Trinidad & Tobago	136
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better75
Pos.		2019 Score75
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
45	Poland	0.48
46	Gabon	0.55
47	Malawi	0.66
48	Azerbaijan	0.70
49	Czechia	0.87
50	Denmark	0.96
51	Guinea	0.97
52	Honduras	0.99
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

“Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan spilled over into conflict in 2020, centred on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area. This region is part of Azerbaijan, but home to a large Armenian population. Fighting began in late September 2020. The number of people killed in the conflict is disputed, but most estimates suggest that at least 4,000 Armenian troops were killed, with almost 3,000 Azerbaijani casualties, including over 500 Syrians fighting on the Azerbaijani side. A ceasefire agreement was reached in November 2020, and Russian peacekeepers are now operating in some parts of the region.”

₇₆

It is a very worrying sign for Azerbaijan that it's position means the horrendously careless troops of Syria are the only forces it can draw upon for support; this choice of ally is an indicator that Azerbaijan is up to no good.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better77
Pos.		201977
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
107	Paraguay	13.80
108=	Uzbekistan	13.90
108=	Indonesia	13.90
108=	Azerbaijan	13.90
111	Algeria	14.10
112	Vanuatu	14.40
113	Guatemala	14.60
114=	Fiji	14.90
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better78
Pos.		2023 %78
1	Slovakia	24.1%79
2	Slovenia	24.3%79
3	Belarus	24.4%80
	...
9=	Kyrgyzstan	26.4%81
9=	UAE	26.4%82
11=	Syria	26.6%81
11=	Azerbaijan	26.6%83
11=	Belgium	26.6%79
14	Tonga	27.1%79
15	Algeria	27.6%84
16=	Finland	27.7%79
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Azerbaijan - only for 6 years between 1980 and 2019.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#azerbaijan #buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)61
Pos.		Lower is better %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
41=	Croatia	42
41=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₅:

	2010	2020
Muslim	97.1%	94.7%
Unaffiliated	1.07%	4.76%
Christian	1.64%	0.42%
Jewish	0.16%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Other	None	None

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 95.2% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 38% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.). note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower₈₆.

When it comes to religious freedom and persecution, sociologists Grim & Finke place Azerbaijan into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries. In this category, severe restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of belief stem simultaneously from top-down pressure from government and institutionalized religion, and from bottom-up grassroots movements that often go even further than the government in harrassing those who do not believe the right things (2011)₈₇.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?