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Azerbaijan

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Azerbaijan

DATE OF FORMATION: 1991

POPULATION: 8.4 million

DENSITY: 251 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Azeri, Russian

RELIGIONS: Shi'a Muslim 68%, Sunni Muslim 26%, Russian Orthodox 3%, Armenian Apostolic Church (Orthodox) 2%, Other 1%

ETHNIC MIX: Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3%, Russian 3%, Other 2%, Armenian 2%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: Manat

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Situated on the west coast of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan was the first Soviet republic to declare independence. The issue of the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, whose Armenian population seeks secession, led to full-scale war (1988–1994) and is still a dominant concern. Over 200,000 refugees, and more than twice as many internally displaced, added to the problems of the troubled economy. Azerbaijan's oil wealth, however, gives it long-term potential.