Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan

Primary subdivisions

The country proper (excluding the autonomous territory described below) is commonly described as comprising several dozen districts and a small number of cities with special status. Official counts list 59 districts and 11 cities; the term used locally for district is rayonlar and the singular form is often given as rayon or explained as rayon (term). Cities that are administratively distinct from surrounding districts include the national capital and a number of regional centers; these are treated separately from rayons in many legal and statistical sources and are sometimes called şəhərlər (cities).

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

One constitutionally recognized entity within Azerbaijan is the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It is a landlocked exclave separated from mainland Azerbaijan by foreign territory and has its own local government institutions. The autonomous republic contains its own internal subdivisions, commonly enumerated as seven districts and one city; administrative arrangements there are described under the autonomous status entry (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic).

Lower-level units and local government

Districts and cities are further divided into municipalities and settlements that provide day-to-day public services. Municipalities (often referred to in Azerbaijani sources with a specific term) are the basic elected local bodies that manage local utilities, small infrastructure and community affairs; these are listed and discussed in municipal registers (municipalities). Larger urban centers may have internal districts or administrative boroughs.

Territorial disputes and special cases

A number of rayons overlap with territories that have been the subject of long-running disputes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The area commonly known as Nagorno-Karabakh has at times been governed by a de facto authority that is not widely recognized internationally; references to it appear in many descriptions of Azerbaijan’s administrative map (Nagorno-Karabakh). Where a district lies wholly or partially within such disputed territory, sources usually note this status and may present alternate administrative arrangements for practical governance.

Functions and significance

Administrative divisions in Azerbaijan serve multiple roles: they organize the delivery of public services, collect statistics, implement central and regional policy, and provide a framework for local government elections. The arrangement of districts and cities reflects a balance between historical settlement patterns, economic geography and the administrative legacy of the 20th century. Reforms over time have adjusted boundaries and statuses to respond to changing needs.

Quick reference

• National level: Republic of Azerbaijan (country overview).
• Primary subdivisions: 59 districts (rayonlar) and 11 separate cities (şəhərlər).
• Autonomous unit: Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (autonomous republic) with its own 7 districts and 1 city.
• Local government: municipalities and settlements (municipalities) provide local services.
• Disputed areas: some rayons are affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh situation (Nagorno-Karabakh).

For more detailed lists and maps consult national administrative registries or regional studies; many overviews use the same basic categories and counts but annotate boundaries where local circumstances produce exceptions. Additional legal and statistical detail is available from appropriate government and research sources (administrative terms, rayon).