Azerbaijan has celebrated Youth Day, a significant date marking the country's commitment to the development of its younger generation. Azerbaijan was the first country among the CIS and Eastern European nations to establish such a day, a legacy tied to National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who signed the decree in 1997 designating February 2 as Azerbaijan Youth Day.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship, highlighted the progress and current status of the nation's youth in a recent statement.
The lawmaker noted that out of Azerbaijan's population of 10.224 million, approximately 2.3 million are citizens aged 14-29. "Of this group, 1.206 million are men and 1.094 million are women. According to official statistics, the youth unemployment rate stands at 5.3 percent. Specifically, the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent for young men and 6.1 percent for young women," Bayramov stated.
Regarding academic pursuits, 2,726 young people are currently pursuing PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy), while 578 are working toward Doctor of Science degrees. While interest in PhD programs has increased, there has been a slight decline in those seeking the higher Doctor of Science qualification. In the public sector, youth representation remains steady; of the 27,400 civil servants in Azerbaijan, 2.5 percent are under 25, and 13.7 percent are aged 25-29. Furthermore, at the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, 1,111 Azerbaijani students were studying abroad through state-funded programs, with 212 in CIS countries and the remainder in other international institutions.
The celebration of Youth Day in Azerbaijan serves as a platform to evaluate state programs aimed at youth employment, education, and social integration. Since the restoration of independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has prioritized youth policy as a cornerstone of national development, fostering a generation that contributes actively to the country's economic and intellectual potential. The state continues to provide scholarships and support for students attending top-tier global universities to ensure a highly skilled workforce for the future.
