AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s population is aging rapidly as birth rates decline and the number of people aged 65 and older continues to rise, economist Natig Jafarli has warned.
The country had 152 people aged 65 or older for every 1,000 residents of working age – defined as ages 15 to 64 – at the beginning of 2026, Jafarli wrote on Facebook.
That compares with 83 older residents per 1,000 working-age people in 2000, meaning the demographic burden associated with population aging has increased by more than 83% over 26 years.
The trend has accelerated in recent years:
- 104 older people per 1,000 working-age residents in 2020;
- 122 in 2023;
- 131 in 2024;
- 142 in 2025;
- 152 in 2026.
The total number of Azerbaijanis aged 65 and older has meanwhile surged from 419,500 in 2000 to 1.086 million in 2026 – an increase of nearly 2.6 times.
Pressure on Pensions and Health Care
Jafarli said the aging trend, combined with a sharp decline in births, could eventually place significant pressure on Azerbaijan’s pension and health care systems.
“Births are falling sharply, and the population is aging rapidly. After some time, this will create a major burden for the pension and health care systems,” he said.
The economist criticized the government for focusing on current conditions without adequately preparing for long-term demographic challenges.
He said governments should develop demographic and economic projections covering at least the next 20 to 25 years and begin adapting public services and social programs before the pressure becomes critical.
If action is delayed, Jafarli warned, addressing the consequences of population aging will become more expensive and socially painful.
AZE.US