Azerbaijan

Vital Statistics

Azerbaijan had a population of about 8.5 million in 2005, with 26 percent of the population under age 15 and an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent. It is a relatively poor country with a per capita income of $950 in 2004, and it ranked 101 out of 177 countries on the Human Development Index as of 2004. Life expectancy is 66 years for men and 70 years for women. Literacy is high for both men (99.5 percent) and women (98.2 percent).

There are about 129,000 births annually, with a total fertility rate of 2.9 children per woman in 2003, down from 3.3 per woman in 1993. Despite most births being attended by a person trained in health care (89 percent), and 74 percent of births taking place in health care facilities, the infant mortality rate is 43 per 1,000 live births, and the maternal mortality [Page 100]rate is 82 per 100,000 live births. Most (77 percent) of women have at least one prenatal care visit, 45 percent of women have at least four prenatal care visits, and 66 percent of women receive a postpartum visit within 3 days of giving birth. Few women (14 percent) use contraception, but the abortion rate is high (71 per 1,000 women of reproductive age).

Children and their mothers peer into a health clinic in Azerbaijan, where they receive vaccines regularly, thanks in part to USAID. One-quarter of Azerbaijan children under 5 are stunted (too short for their age), which is an indicator of malnutrition.

Child immunization rates are high: 97 percent of children are immunized with three doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), 98 percent with one dose, and 98 percent with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Azerbaijan is certified as polio free, so polio vaccinations are not given.