Baku

For other uses, see Baku (disambiguation).
"Bakı" redirects here. For other uses, see Baki.

Baku
Bakı
Capital city
Shirvanshah's Palace; Old City; Maiden Tower; Palace of Happiness; evening in Baku; Ismailiyya Palace; Heydar Aliyev Center; National Art Museum of Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan Carpet Museum; Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall; Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre; Nizami Cinema Center; Ateshgah; Church of the Saviour; Heydar Mosque; view over city and Bay of Baku
Shirvanshah's Palace; Old City; Maiden Tower; Palace of Happiness; evening in Baku; Ismailiyya Palace; Heydar Aliyev Center; National Art Museum of Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan Carpet Museum; Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall; Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre; Nizami Cinema Center; Ateshgah; Church of the Saviour; Heydar Mosque; view over city and Bay of Baku
Flag of Baku
Flag
Coat of arms of Baku
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
City of Winds
(Küləklər şəhəri)
Location of Baku in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Location of Baku in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku is located in Azerbaijan
Baku
Baku
Location of Baku in Azerbaijan
Baku is located in Caucasus Mountains
Baku
Baku
Location of Baku in the Caucasus
Baku is located in Asia
Baku
Baku
Location of Baku in Asia
Coordinates: 40°23′43″N 49°52′56″E / 40.39528°N 49.88222°E / 40.39528; 49.88222
Country Azerbaijan
RegionBIR
Government
 • MayorEldar Azizov
Area
[2]
2,140 km2 (830 sq mi)
Elevation
−28 m (−92 ft)
Population
 (2019)
2,616,948[1]
 • Density1,214/km2 (3,140/sq mi)
 • Metro
3,675,000[3]
DemonymBakuvian[4] (Bakılı)
GDP
[5]
 • Capital cityAZN 55.4 billion
(US$32.2 billion) (2017)
 • Per capitaAZN 20,700
(US$12,045) (2017)
Time zoneUTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code
AZ1000
Area code+994 12
Vehicle registration10, 90, 99, 77
Websitewww.baku-ih.gov.az
Official nameWalled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower
TypeCultural
Criteriaiv
Designated2000 (24th session)
Reference no.958
Endangered2003–2009
RegionAsia

Baku (US: /bɑːˈkuː, ˈbɑːkuː/, UK: /bæˈkuː, ˈbækuː/;[7][8] Azerbaijani: Bakı [bɑˈcɯ] ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region.[9] Baku is 28 metres (92 ft) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world below sea level. Baku lies on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, on the Bay of Baku. Baku's urban population was estimated at two million people as of 2009.[10] Baku is the primate city of Azerbaijan—it is the sole metropolis in the country, and about 25% of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area.

Baku is divided into twelve administrative raions and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, as well as the industrial settlement of Neft Daşları built on oil rigs 60 kilometres (37 miles) away from Baku city in the Caspian Sea. The Old City, containing the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.[11]

The city is the scientific, cultural, and industrial centre of Azerbaijan. Many sizeable Azerbaijani institutions have their headquarters there. In the 2010s, Baku became a venue for major international events. It hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, the European Grand Prix in 2016, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017, the final of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference.[12][13] The Baku International Sea Trade Port is capable of handling two million tonnes of general and dry bulk cargoes per year.[14] Baku is renowned for its harsh winds, reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds".

  1. ^ Census of 1 October 2019 - State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (web).
  2. ^ "Administrative, density and territorial units and land size by economic regions of Azerbaijan Republic for January 1. 2007". Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Major Agglomerations of the World". Citypopulation.de.
  4. ^ Thomas de Waal (2010). The Caucasus: An Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-19-975043-6.
  5. ^ "Capital and Regions: Main Socio-Economic Differences", bakuresearchinstitute.org
  6. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Baku". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins.
  8. ^ "Baku". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Seven astounding facts about the city of Baku". Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Population by economic and administrative regions, urban settlements at the beginning of the 2009". Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower". UNESCO. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  12. ^ James, William. "Explainer: What is the point of a UN climate COP?". Reuters. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  13. ^ Khan, Yusuf. "Welcome to Baku, a City Built on Oil Hosting the World's Climate Conference". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Port of Baku". World Port Source. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2010.