AZE.US
Births in Azerbaijan fell by about 26% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to economist Natig Jafarli.
Citing official data from the State Statistical Committee, Jafarli said 38,836 children were born in Azerbaijan between January and May 2025. In the same period of 2026, the number dropped to 28,631.
That represents a decline of 10,205 births in just one year.
The birth rate also fell from 9.2 per 1,000 people in January-May 2025 to 8.5 per 1,000 during the same period in 2026.
Jafarli warned that the decline, combined with the continuing emigration of young people, could push Azerbaijan toward a demographic crisis.
He said that within 15 to 20 years, the number of pensioners could exceed the number of officially employed people, creating serious pressure on the country’s social and pension systems.
Jafarli compared the potential risks with the economic difficulties faced by Greece, noting that Athens was able to rely on large-scale financial assistance from the European Union.
“Azerbaijan will not have that kind of external support. What will we do?” he wrote.
According to the economist, many young people are leaving the country, postponing marriage or choosing to have fewer children because they do not see an attractive future at home.
He urged policymakers to adopt measures that would give people greater confidence, hope and a more positive outlook for the country’s future.
AZE.US