The Lachin District, known in Azerbaijani as Laçın rayonu, is an administrative district in western Azerbaijan. It is one of the country's 66 districts and forms part of the Eastern Zangezur Economic Region. The district seat and largest settlement is the city of Lachin, which serves as the administrative center and key local hub for transport and services.
Geographically the district occupies a largely mountainous zone and lies along an important east–west axis in the South Caucasus. It borders several Azerbaijani districts and a province of neighboring Armenia, including:
Its topography includes highland valleys, forested slopes and seasonal pastures. The location of the district has long given it strategic importance as a corridor linking different highland regions; terrain and climate influence local agriculture, settlement patterns and transport.
Administratively the district comprises urban and rural settlements and had a nominal population reported around 78,600 in 2020. Economic activity historically included pastoralism, small-scale farming and services concentrated in the district center. Infrastructure and public services vary by settlement and, in many places, require repair and investment.
Historically the district was organized within the Soviet administrative system and was home to mixed communities. In the early 1990s, during the conflict that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenian forces took control of the district in 1992 and the majority of the pre-conflict Azerbaijani population were displaced. These events greatly affected the district's demographic and built environment.
Following renewed hostilities in 2020, a ceasefire agreement associated with the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war led to the district being returned to Azerbaijani control. Since that time, efforts have focused on demining, rebuilding roads and public infrastructure, and planning for the possible return and resettlement of displaced persons. Reconstruction and security measures have been prominent elements of the post-ceasefire agenda.
Today Lachin District remains notable for its strategic position, its mountain landscapes and the practical and political challenges of reconstruction after prolonged conflict. International actors, national authorities and local communities continue to engage over humanitarian needs, heritage protection and economic recovery as the district's future development proceeds under close observation.