Politically, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

is divided into:

• 59 district
  District
  Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
  
  s (rayonlar; sing.– rayon
  Raion
  A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
  
  ),
• 11 cities
  City
  A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
  
  (şəhərlər; sing.– şəhər),
• 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika), which itself contains:
  • 7 districts
  • 1 city

This list is for the main part of Azerbaijan; the rayons of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are listed below and numbered separately. Some rayons are completely or partially in the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

, shown on the map in green; this is noted in the list.

The rayons are further divided into municipalities

Municipality

A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

.

Contiguous Azerbaijan

Map ref.	Administrative division	Azerbaijani name	Capital	Area (km²)	Population (2011 est.)	Notes
1	Absheron Rayon	Abşeron	Xirdalan	1,360	192,900	Includes an exclave in Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
2	Aghjabadi Rayon	Ağcabədi	Aghjabadi	1,760	124,000
3	Agdam Rayon	Ağdam	Agdam Agdam Agdam or Ağdam or Aghdam may refer to:*Agdam city, Azerbaijan*Agdam Rayon, Azerbaijan*Ağdam, Khojavend, Azerbaijan*Ağdam, Tovuz, Azerbaijan...	1,150	180,600
4	Agdash Rayon	Ağdaş	Agdash	1,050	100,600
5	Agstafa Rayon	Ağstafa	Agstafa Agstafa -Overview:Agstafa raion was created on 24 January 1939 as an independent administrative unit out of larger Qazakh region of Azerbaijan. On 4 December 1959, the status of the raion was abolished and it was incorporated into Qazakh Rayon...	1,500	81,400
6	Agsu Rayon	Ağsu	Agsu Agsu (city) Agsu is a city in and capital of the Agsu Rayon of Azerbaijan.- History :A. A. Bakikhanov noted that Nadir Shah issued an order for resettlement of the inhabitants of Shamakhi to new laid down city on the bank of Agsu River, in 1735.At present, the name of Agsu city is shown as New...	1,020	72,100
7	Shirvan (city)	Şirvan		30	78,700	Named Ali Bayramli (Əli Bayramlı) until April 24, 2008
8	Astara Rayon	Astara	Astara Astara, Azerbaijan Astara, also, Azerbaycan Astarasi is a city in and the capital of the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan. Astara is a short walk across the border from Astara, Iran.- The TV Tower :There is a 243.9 metre tall lattice steel TV tower, built in 1981...	620	98,300
9	Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...  (city)	Bakı		2,130	2,092,400	Comprises 11 rayonlar
10	Balakan Rayon	Balakən	Balakan	920	91,100
11	Barda Rayon	Bərdə	Barda Barda, Azerbaijan Barda is the capital city of the Barda Rayon in Azerbaijan, located south of Yevlax and on the left bank of the Terter river. Once an Armenian town, and later the capital of Caucasian Albania perhaps since the end of the fourth century, Barda became the chief city of the Islamic province of Arran,...	960	143,900
12	Beylagan Rayon	Beyləqan	Beylagan	1,130	87,900
13	Bilasuvar Rayon	Biləsuvar	Bilasuvar	1,400	90,300
14	Jabrayil Rayon	Cəbrayıl	Jabrayil	1,050	72,700
15	Jalilabad Rayon	Cəlilabad	Jalilabad	1,440	196,500
16	Dashkasan Rayon	Daşkəsən	Daşkəsən	1,050	33,200
17	Shabran Rayon	Şabran	Shabran Sabran Sabran is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...	1,090	53,000	Named Davachi (Dəvəçi) until 2010
18	Fizuli Rayon	Füzuli	Fizuli Füzuli Füzuli is a city in the Fizuli Rayon of Azerbaijan. It is currently an uninhabited ghost town.- Notable natives :...	1,390	118,900
19	Gadabay Rayon	Gədəbəy	Gadabay	1,290	95,000	Borders an exclave of Armenia Armenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
20	Ganja Ganja, Azerbaijan Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...  (city)	Gəncə		110	316,300
21	Goranboy Rayon	Goranboy	Goranboy Goranboy (city) Goranboy is a city in and the capital of the Goranboy Rayon of Azerbaijan...	1,760	96,200
22	Goychay Rayon	Göyçay	Goychay Goychay (city) Goychay is a city and municipality in and the capital of the Goychay Rayon of Azerbaijan...	740	111,100
23	Hajigabul Rayon	Hacıqabul	Qazimemmed	1,640	67,300
24	Imishli Rayon	İmişli	Imishli Imishli (city) Imishli is a city in and the capital of the Imishli Rayon of Azerbaijan.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	1,820	116,600
25	Ismailli Rayon	İsmayıllı	Ismailli Ismayilli İsmayıllı is a city and head town of the Ismailli Rayon of Azerbaijan. Population 14,435 .- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	2,060	80,900
26	Kalbajar Rayon	Kəlbəcər	Kalbajar Kalbajar ]Kalbajar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. Kalbajar is a Kurdish name meaning Stone City. The entire region is now under the control of Armenian forces who call the western half Karvajar. The eastern half is part of Nagorno-Karabakh, making up part of the province of Martakert...	3,050	83,200	De facto De facto De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...  partially in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
27	Kurdamir Rayon	Kürdəmir	Kurdamir	1,630	105,700
28	Lachin Rayon Lachin Rayon Lachin is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The capital is the city of Lachin. The region has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War....	Laçın	Lachin Lachin Lachin is a town in Azerbaijan and the regional center of the Lachin Rayon. Since 1992 the area has been under the control of the de facto independent unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which has renamed the town Berdzor . The town and its surrounding region serve as the strategic Lachin...	1,840	70,900
29	Lankaran Rayon	Lənkəran	Lankaran Lankaran -History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...	1,540	209,900
30	Lankaran Lankaran -History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...  (city)	Lənkəran		70
31	Lerik Rayon	Lerik	Lerik Lerik, Azerbaijan Lerik is the capital city of Lerik Rayon in the southern, ethnic-Talysh area of Azerbaijan not far from the Iranian border.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	1,080	76,400
32	Masally Rayon	Masallı	Masally Masalli Masallı is a city in and the capital of the Masally Rayon of Azerbaijan....	720	202,500
33	Mingachevir Mingachevir Mingachevir , sometimes spelled Mingecevir, is the fourth-biggest city in Azerbaijan with a population of about 100,000. It is known as city of lights because of its hydroelectric power station on the Kur River, which splits the city in half....  (city)	Mingəçevir		130	97,800
34	Naftalan Naftalan Naftalan is a sahar in Azerbaijan, surrounded by the rayon of Goranboy. It is on an agricultural plain near the Lesser Caucasus Mountains...  (city)	Naftalan		30	9,100
35	Neftchala Rayon	Neftçala	Neftchala Neftçala Neftçala is a city in and the capital of the Neftchala Rayon of Azerbaijan. In the city, there is palace of culture, regional study museum and gallery museum.-External links:*...	1,450	81,300
36	Oghuz Rayon	Oğuz	Oghuz Oguz Oghuz is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The population of the region consisted of Azerbaijanis....	1,220	40,900
37	Qabala Rayon	Qəbələ	Qabala Qabala Qabala is a rayon of Azerbaijan. Its administrative center is the historic town of Qəbələ, which in ancient times was known as the capital of Caucasian Albania....	1,550	95,600
38	Qakh Rayon	Qax	Qakh Qakh (city) Qakh , also Kakh is the capital of the Qakh Rayon in the north of Azerbaijan, near the Russian border.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	1,490	53,900
39	Qazakh Rayon	Qazax	Qazakh Qazax Qazax is a city in and the capital of the Qazakh Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 20,900.-History:...	700	90,800	Includes two exclaves in Armenia
40	Gobustan Rayon	Gobustan	Gobustan	1,370	41,100
41	Quba Rayon	Quba	Quba Quba Quba is a rayon in northeastern Azerbaijan. The capital is located on the Kudyal River at 41.37°N, 48.50°E....	2,580	155,600
42	Qubadli Rayon	Qubadlı	Qubadli Qubadli Qubadli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The region has been under the control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War. According to the last Soviet census of 1989, population was 28,110. According to undated Azerbaijani data, the...	800	36,700
43	Qusar Rayon	Qusar	Qusar Qusar (city) Qusar is a city in and the capital of the Qusar Rayon of Azerbaijan.-Economy:The economy of Qusar is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation.-External links:* – World-Gazetteer.com...	1,540	89,300
44	Saatly Rayon	Saatlı	Saatly Saatli (city) Saatlı is a city in and the capital of the Saatly Rayon of Azerbaijan.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	1,180	95,100
45	Sabirabad Rayon	Sabirabad	Sabirabad Sabirabad (city) Sabirabad is a city in and the capital of the Sabirabad Rayon of Azerbaijan...	1,470	155,400
46	Shaki Rayon	Şəki	Shaki	2,430	173,500
47	Shaki (city)	Şəki
48	Salyan Rayon	Salyan	Salyan Salyan, Azerbaijan Salyan is a city in and the seat of the Salyan Rayon of Azerbaijan. The city of Salyan is industrialized and known for processing caviar.-History:...	1,790	124,900
49	Shamakhi Rayon	Şamaxı	Shamakhi Samaxi Şamaxı is a city in and the capital of the Shamakhi Rayon of Azerbaijan. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city's estimated population as of 2010 was 31,704...	1,610	93,700
50	Shamkir Rayon	Şəmkir	Shamkir	1,660	196,100
51	Samukh Rayon	Samux	Nebiagali	1,450	54,600
52	Siazan Rayon	Siyəzən	Siazan	700	38,400
53	Sumqayit Sumqayit Sumgayit is one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea, about 31 kilometres away from the capital, Baku. The city has a population of 308,700 , making it the third-largest city in Azerbaijan after the capital Baku and Ganja. The city has a territory of 83 km². It...  (city)	Sumqayıt		80	314,800
54	Shusha Rayon	Şuşa	Shusha Shusha Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...	290	29,700	De facto part of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
55	Shusha Shusha Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...  (city)	Şuşa				De facto part of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
56	Tartar Rayon	Tərtər	Tartar Tartar (city) Tərtər is a city in and the capital of the Tartar Rayon of Azerbaijan.http://terterim.azersayt.com/- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	960	98,400	De facto partially in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
57	Tovuz Rayon	Tovuz	Tovuz Tovuz, Azerbaijan Tovuz is the capital of Tovuz in Azerbaijan.-History:The city takes its name from the turkic Oghuz tribe....	1,900	160,700	Borders an exclave of Armenia
58	Ujar Rayon	Ucar	Ujar Ucar, Azerbaijan Ucar is a city in and the capital of the Ujar Rayon of Azerbaijan.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	850	79,800
59	Khachmaz Rayon	Xaçmaz	Khachmaz Khachmaz (city) Khachmaz is a city in the Khachmaz Rayon of Azerbaijan.-Origin of the name:...	1,050	162,100
60	Khankendi Stepanakert Stepanakert is the largest city and capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto independent republic, though is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan...  (city)	Xankəndi		8	55,200	De facto capital of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...  named Stepanakert
61	Goygol Rayon	Xanlar	Goygol Goygol (city) Goygol is a city and municipality in and the capital of the Goygol Rayon in northwestern Azerbaijan. It is about 10 km south of Ganja, Azerbaijan's second largest city. The city of Goygol has a population of 19,000...	1,030	58,300	Formerly Khanlar
62	Khizi Rayon	Xızı	Khizi Xizi Xizi was a book of I Ching written during the fifth century BC. Its origins are unknown, but it is suspected of being the product of scholars who did not believe prevailing Daoist thought. Among the mythologies stressed in the book is that of Fuxi, the emperor-god.Xizi is also a nickname for the...	1,850	14,700
63	Khojali Rayon	Xocalı	Khojali Khojali (city) Khojali or Ivanyan , also, Ay-Khodzhaly, Khodgalou, Khodzhalv, Khodzhaly, Khojalu, and Khozhali, is a town in Nagorno Karabakh, located some 10 km northeast of its capital Stepanakert...	940	26,500	De facto part of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
64	Khojavend Rayon	Xocavənd	Khojavend	1,460	42,100	De facto part of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Republic The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
65	Yardymli Rayon	Yardımlı	Yardymli Yardimli Yardımlı is a city in and the capital of the Yardymli Rayon of Azerbaijan.- References :* – Yardimli haqqinda sayt...	670	59,600
66	Yevlakh Rayon	Yevlax	Yevlakh Yevlakh Yevlakh is a small city in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of capital Baku. It is surrounded by, but administratively separate from, the rayon of the same name...	1,540	119,600
67	Yevlakh Yevlakh Yevlakh is a small city in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of capital Baku. It is surrounded by, but administratively separate from, the rayon of the same name...  (city)	Yevlax
68	Zangilan Rayon	Zəngilan	Zangilan	710	40,500
69	Zaqatala Rayon	Zaqatala	Zaqatala Zaqatala (city) Zaqatala ; is a city in northwest Azerbaijan. With a municipal population of 31,300 inhabitants, it is located northwest of Sheki, by the Tala River and is the main municipality of the Zaqatala rayon...	1,350	120,300
70	Zardab Rayon	Zərdab	Zardab Zardab (city) Zərdab is a city in and the capital of the Zardab Rayon of Azerbaijan.- Notable natives :* Hasan bey Zardabi — publicist, founder of the first Azeri-language newspaper.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...	860	54,000
			Total	81,100	8,700,600

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

The territory of Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...

 presently forms part of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

i rayons of Khojavend, Tartar, Goranboy, Shusha and Kalbajar. In Soviet times the region was known as Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast

Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast

The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....

; however on November 26, 1991, the Parliament of the Azerbaijan SSR

National Assembly of Azerbaijan

The National Assembly , also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional...

 abolished the autonomous status of the NKAO

Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast

Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast is the Resolution No. 279-XII passed by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and signed into law by the President of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov on November 26, 1991.-History:...

. Since then the territory of the autonomous oblast has been administratively split between the neighboring rayons, but most of it remains under the control of the ethnic Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...

 and Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

 as result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War

Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...

.

The seven rayons and one municipality of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are listed and numbered separately.

Map ref.	Administrative division	Azerbaijani name	Capital	Area (km²)	Population (2011 est.)	Notes
1	Babek Rayon	Babək	Babek Babek (city) Babək is a city and municipality in and the capital of Babek Rayon, in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.-History:...	900	65,100	Formerly known as Nakhchivan; renamed after Babak Khorramdin Babak Khorramdin Bābak Khorram-Din was one of the main Persian revolutionary leaders of the Iranian Khorram-Dinān , which was a local freedom movement fighting the Abbasid Caliphate. Khorramdin appears to be a compound analogous to dorustdin and Behdin "Good Religion" , and are considered an offshoot of...  in 1991
2	Julfa Rayon	Culfa	Julfa	1,000	42,600	Also spelled Jugha or Dzhulfa.
3	Kangarli Rayon	Kəngərli	Givraq Qivraq Qıvraq is a village and municipality in, and is the administrative center of, the Kangarli Rayon of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 4,444....	680	28,600	Split from Babek in March 2004
4	Nakhchivan (city)	Naxçıvan		130	84,700	Split from Nakhchivan (Babek Rayon) in 1991
5	Ordubad Rayon	Ordubad	Ordubad	970	46,100	Split from Julfa during Sovietization Sovietization Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
6	Sadarak Rayon	Sədərək	Sədərək	150	14,400	Split from Sharur in 1990; includes the Karki exclave Enclave and exclave In political geography, an enclave is a territory whose geographical boundaries lie entirely within the boundaries of another territory.An exclave, on the other hand, is a territory legally or politically attached to another territory with which it is not physically contiguous.These are two...  in Armenia
7	Shakhbuz Rayon	Şahbuz	Shahbuz Sahbuz Şahbuz is a city and municipality in and capital of Shakhbuz Rayon, in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 3,127....	920	23,200	Split from Nakhchivan (Babek) during Sovietization Territory roughly corresponds to the Čahuk (Չահւք) district of the historic Syunik region within the Kingdom of Armenia
8	Sharur Rayon	Şərur	Sharur	810	105,400	Formerly known as Bash-Norashen during its incorporation into the Soviet Union and Ilyich (after Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Vladimir Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a... ) from the post-Sovietization period to 1990
			Total	5,560	410,100