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Updates: 

Mario Pezza and Celvin Ruisdael sent the results of the 1999 census. Mr. Pezza also sent the areas of the subdivisions. I've added the data to the table. I have some other messages in my queue regarding Azerbaijan, which I'll try to process soon.

Andrew Leonard writes that someone on Wikipedia has asserted that there is a new rayon in the Naxçıvan exclave named Kəngərli. It was formed from parts of Babək and Şərur on 2004-03-14. This seems to be confirmed by the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic  (retrieved 2009-01-27), but I haven't found any other information about it (outside of Wikipedia, which is not authoritative).

Some sources show Nakhchivan autonomous republic as a single unit; others show it divided into Babek, Julfa, Nakhchivan [city], Ordubad, Sedarak, Shahbuz, and Sherur. I have chosen the latter representation.

The Azerbaijan postal authority had a Web page (http://www.azerpost.bakinter.net/htmlaz/indexler.html) for postal codes, now defunct. It had a slightly different list of rayons from any of the other sources. In those cases where a rayon and a city have the same name, it only listed the rayon. That may only mean that they're combined for postal purposes. The postal site also listed the autonomous republic (MR) of Naxçıvan as being divided up into seven rayons, one of which was also named Naxçıvan.

ISO 3166-2 Newsletter Number I-2 was published on 2002-05-21. It changes the ISO code for Naxçıvan from MM to NX. It also corrects the diacritical marks on four district names. Finally, it identifies the six rayons that are part of Naxçıvan.

International standard ISO 3166-2 was published on December 15, 1998. It superseded ISO/DIS 3166-2 (draft international standard), which came out in fall 1996. Change Notice 1 for FIPS PUB 10-4 is dated December 1, 1998. All three of these documents show Azerbaijan divided into units of three kinds: one autonomous republic, ten or eleven cities, and sixty-some rayons, or districts. They differ on the exact numbers.

Country overview: 

Short name	AZERBAIJAN
ISO code	AZ
FIPS code	AJ
Language	Azeri (az)
Time zone	+4 ~
Capital	Baku

 

Modern Azerbaijan corresponds quite closely to the Russian districts of Baku, Elizabethpol, and Zakataly at the beginning of the 20th century. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan declared its independence on 1918-05-28. It was reconquered and incorporated into the Soviet Union on 1922-12-30, becoming part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. Under the Soviets, the territory of Zangezur (27,400 km.²) was transferred from Azerbaijan to Armenia, separating Nakhichevan from the rest of Azerbaijan. In 1936, Azerbaijan became a separate republic within the U.S.S.R. Azerbaijan declared its independence from the U.S.S.R. on 1991-08-30. Later that year, it abolished the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region as a separate entity.

Other names of country: 

1. Azeri: Azərbaycan Respublikası (formal)
2. Danish: Aserbajdsjan
3. Dutch: Azerbaidzjan, Azerbeidzjan, Republiek Azerbeidzjan (formal)
4. English: Azerbaijani Republic (formal)
5. Finnish: Azerbaidžan
6. French: Azerbaïdjan f
7. German: Aserbaidschan n
8. Icelandic: Aserbaídsjan
9. Italian: Azerbaigian
10. Norwegian: Aserbajdsjan, Republikken Aserbajdsjan (formal)
11. Portuguese: Azerbaidjão (Brazil), Azerbaijão (Portugal), República f do Azerbaijão m (formal)
12. Russian: Azerbaydzhan
13. Spanish: Azerbaiyán, República f Azerbaiyana (formal)
14. Swedish: Azerbajdzjan
15. Turkish: Azerbaycan, Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti (formal)

Origin of name: 

Named for Atropates, one of Alexander the Great's generals

Primary subdivisions: 

Azerbaijan is divided into 66 rayons (districts) and 11 cities, according to this list.

Rayon	Typ	HASC	ISO	FIPS	Post	Population	Area(km.²)	Area(mi.²)	Capital	ISO Name
Absheron	r	AZ.AR	ABS	AJ01	01	81,798	1,360	525	Xirdalan	Abşeron
Aghdam	r	AZ.AM	AGM	AJ03	02	153,292	1,150	444	Aghdam	Aǧdam
Aghdash	r	AZ.AS	AGS	AJ04	03	89,214	1,050	405	Aghdash	Aǧdaş
Aghjabedi	r	AZ.AC	AGC	AJ02	04	107,833	1,760	680	Aghjabedi	Aǧcabədi
Aghstafa	r	AZ.AF	AGA	AJ05	05	73,944	1,500	579	Aghstafa	Aǧstafa
Aghsu	r	AZ.AU	AGU	AJ06	06	62,281	1,020	394	Aghsu	Aǧsu
Ali-Bairamly	c	AZ.AB	AB	AJ07	18	69,524	30	12	Ali-Bairamly	Əli Bayramlı
Astara	r	AZ.AA	AST	AJ08	07	84,319	620	239	Astara	Astara
Babek	r	AZ.BB	BAB		67	71,396	1,170	452	Babek	Babək
Baku	c	AZ.BA	BA	AJ09	10-11	1,788,854	2,130	822	Baku	Bakı
Balaken	r	AZ.BL	BAL	AJ10	08	83,732	920	355	Balaken	Balakən
Barda	r	AZ.BR	BAR	AJ11	09	129,600	960	371	Barda	Bərdə
Beilagan	r	AZ.BQ	BEY	AJ12	12	78,458	1,130	436	Beilagan	Beyləqan
Bilasuvar	r	AZ.BS	BIL	AJ13	13	74,906	1,400	541	Bilasuvar	Biləsuvar
Dashkesan	r	AZ.DS	DAS	AJ16	16	30,418	1,050	405	Dashkesan	Daşkəsən
Devechi	r	AZ.DV	DAV	AJ17	17	45,999	1,090	421	Devechi	Dəvəçi
Fizuli	r	AZ.FU	FUZ	AJ18	19	136,481	1,390	537	Fizuli	Füzuli
Gabala	r	AZ.QA	QAB	AJ38	36	82,803	1,550	598	Gabala	Qəbələ
Gadabey	r	AZ.GD	GAD	AJ19	21	86,193	1,290	498	Gadabey	Gədəbəy
Gakh	r	AZ.QX	QAX	AJ39	34	51,161	1,490	575	Gakh	Qax
Ganja	c	AZ.GA	GA	AJ20	20	299,342	110	42	Ganja	Gəncə
Gazakh	r	AZ.QZ	QAZ	AJ40	35	81,015	700	270	Gazakh	Qazax
Geranboy	r	AZ.GR	GOR	AJ21	22	86,645	1,790	691	Geranboy	Goranboy
Gobustan	r	AZ.QO	QOB	AJ41	37	34,184	1,370	529	Maraza	Qobustan
Goychay	r	AZ.GY	GOY	AJ22	23	100,511	740	286	Goychay	Göyçay
Guba	r	AZ.QB	QBA	AJ42	40	136,845	2,580	996	Guba	Quba
Gubadly	r	AZ.QD	QBI	AJ43	39	32,949	800	309	Gubadly	Qubadlı
Gusar	r	AZ.QR	QUS	AJ44	38	80,816	1,540	595	Gusar	Qusar
Hacuqabul	r	AZ.HA	HAC	AJ23	24	57,944	1,640	633	Hacuqabul	Hacıqabul
Imishli	r	AZ.IM	IMI	AJ24	30	104,026	1,820	703	Imishli	İmişli
Ismailly	r	AZ.IS	ISM	AJ25	31	72,144	2,060	795	Ismailly	İsmayıllı
Jalilabad	r	AZ.CL	CAL	AJ15	15	169,960	1,440	556	Jalilabad	Cəlilabad
Jebrail	r	AZ.CB	CAB	AJ14	14	59,318	1,050	405	Jebrail	Cəbrayıl
Julfa	r	AZ.CF	CUL		72	35,896	1,000	386	Julfa	Culfa
Kelbajar	r	AZ.KA	KAL	AJ26	32	66,211	3,050	1,178	Kelbajar	Kəlbəcər
Khachmaz	r	AZ.XZ	XAC	AJ60	27	144,332	1,050	405	Khachmaz	Xaçmaz
Khankendy	c	AZ.XA	XA	AJ61	26	54,515	8	3	Khankendy	Xankəndi
Khanlar	r	AZ.XR	XAN	AJ62	25	53,266	1,030	398	Khanlar	Xanlar
Khojaly	r	AZ.XC	XCI	AJ64	29	23,757	940	363	Khojaly	Xocalı
Khojavend	r	AZ.XD	XVD	AJ65	28	39,620	1,460	564	Khojavend	Xocavənd
Khyzy	r	AZ.XI	XIZ	AJ63		13,080	1,850	714	Khyzy	Xizı
Kyurdamir	r	AZ.KU	KUR	AJ27	33	92,230	1,630	629	Kyurdamir	Kürdəmir
Lachin	r	AZ.LC	LAC	AJ28	41	63,162	1,840	710	Lachin	Laçın
Lenkaran	r	AZ.LN	LAN	AJ29	42	189,929	1,540	595	Lenkaran	Lənkəran
Lenkaran	c	AZ.LA	LA	AJ30	42				Lenkaran	Lənkəran
Lerik	r	AZ.LE	LER	AJ31	43	63,314	1,080	417	Lerik	Lerik
Masally	r	AZ.MA	MAS	AJ32	44	173,937	720	278	Masally	Masallı
Mingechevir	c	AZ.MI	MI	AJ33	45	94,039	130	50	Mingechevir	Mingəçevir
Naftalan	c	AZ.NA	NA	AJ34	46	7,551	2	1	Naftalan	Naftalan
Nakhchivan	c	AZ.NX	NX	AJ35	70	63,196	130	50	Nakhchivan	Naxçıvan
Neftchala	r	AZ.NE	NEF	AJ36	47	71,480	1,450	560	Neftchala	Neftçala
Oghuz	r	AZ.OG	OGU	AJ37	48	36,488	1,220	471	Oghuz	Oǧuz
Ordubad	r	AZ.OR	ORD		69	40,596	970	375	Ordubad	Ordubad
Saatly	r	AZ.ST	SAT	AJ45	49	82,702	1,180	456	Saatly	Saatlı
Sabirabad	r	AZ.SB	SAB	AJ46	54	136,933	1,470	568	Sabirabad	Sabirabad
Salyan	r	AZ.SL	SAL	AJ49	52	111,973	1,790	691	Salyan	Salyan
Samuh	r	AZ.SX	SMX	AJ52	51	49,697	1,450	560	Nabiagali	Samux
Sedarak	r	AZ.SD	SAD		73	11,996	150	58	Sedarak	Sədərək
Shahbuz	r	AZ.SH	SAH		71	20,296	920	355	Shahbuz	Şahbuz
Shamakhy	r	AZ.SI	SMI	AJ50	56	80,625	1,610	622	Shamakhy	Şamaxı
Shamkir	r	AZ.SM	SKR	AJ51	57	173,401	1,660	641	Shamkir	Şəmkir
Sheki	r	AZ.SK	SAK	AJ47	55	157,353	2,430	938	Sheki	Şəki
Sheki	c	AZ.SA	SA	AJ48	55				Sheki	Şəki
Sherur	r	AZ.SR	SAR		68	110,696	1,160	448	Sherur	Şərur
Shusha	r	AZ.SU	SUS	AJ55	58	24,340	290	112	Shusha	Şuşa
Shusha	c	AZ.SS	SS	AJ56	58				Shusha	Şuşa
Siazan	r	AZ.SY	SIY	AJ53	53	33,462	700	270	Siazan	Siyəzən
Sumgayit	c	AZ.SQ	SM	AJ54	50	283,184	80	31	Sumgayit	Sumqayıt
Terter	r	AZ.TA	TAR	AJ57	59	92,201	960	371	Terter	Tərtər
Tovuz	r	AZ.TO	TOV	AJ58	60	142,854	1,900	734	Tovuz	Tovuz
Ujar	r	AZ.UC	UCA	AJ59	61	71,327	850	328	Ujar	Ucar
Yardymly	r	AZ.YR	YAR	AJ66	65	49,039	670	259	Yardymly	Yardımlı
Yevlakh	r	AZ.YV	YEV	AJ67	66	108,188	1,540	595	Yevlakh	Yevlax
Yevlakh	c	AZ.YE	YE	AJ68	66				Yevlakh	Yevlax
Zagatala	r	AZ.ZQ	ZAQ	AJ70	62	107,240	1,350	521	Zagatala	Zaqatala
Zangilan	r	AZ.ZG	ZAN	AJ69	64	35,336	710	274	Zangilan	Zəngilan
Zerdab	r	AZ.ZR	ZAR	AJ71	63	46,091	860	332	Zerdab	Zərdab
77 divisions						7,953,438	86,530	33,410
Type: r = rayon; c = city. Sumqayıt is a rayon according to FIPS. HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes. ISO: Province codes from ISO 3166-2. For full identification in a global context, prefix "AZ-" to the code (ex: AZ-SAL represents Salyan). FIPS: Codes from FIPS PUB 10-4, a U.S. government standard. Where this column is blank, FIPS has no listing. Post: Azerbaijan has adopted a new system of postal codes. They have the format AZ nnnn, where the n's represent digits, and the first two digits correspond to the rayon. Population: 1999-01-27 census (source [1]). ISO Name: Name according to the ISO standard.

Territorial extent: 

Nakhichevan is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian territory. Nakhichevan includes a tiny exclave inside Armenia, near Ararat. The chief village in this exclave is Kiarki (Tigranashen). Azerbaijan also has two small exclaves inside Armenia, north of Idzhevan. They contain the Azerbaijani villages of Yukhari Askipara and Barkhudali (Sofulu), respectively. There are also two even tinier exclaves in Armenia belonging to Tatly, Azerbaijan.

Under the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh was an autonomous region (avtonomnaya oblast') within Azerbaijan, formed on 1923-07-07. It is now treated as an integral part of Azerbaijan. It has a substantial Armenian population which would like to unite with Armenia. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have no common border, but are only a few kilometers apart.

Origins of names: 

Nakhichevan: = City of Nakhich (man's name)

Change history: 

Under the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan was the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (Azerbaydzhanskaya Sovyetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika). Nakhichevan was an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Nakhichevanskaya Avtonomnaya Sovyetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika). Nagorno-Karabakh was an autonomous oblast (Nagorno-Karabakhskaya Avtonomnaya Oblast') with Stepanakert as its capital.

1. 1991-11-26: Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region abolished. Its territory was redistributed to rayons.
2. 2004-03-14: Kangerli rayon may have been formed from parts of Babek and Sherur.

Other names of subdivisions: 

The Azeri alphabet includes some characters from the Turkish alphabet, as well as the schwa (Ə, ə). The Azerbaijan post office website listed names using the order ... D, Ə, F, ....

The FIPS standard spells two names slightly differently from ISO: Mingəcevir instead of Mingəçevir, and Xızı instead of Xizı. The Azerbaijani postal site spells several names differently from ISO. It shows Göranboy instead of Goranboy, Səlyan instead of Salyan, and Tər-Tər instead of Tərtər. The postal site identifies Cəbrayıl, Füzuli, Kəlbəcər, Laçın, Qubadlı, Şuşa, Xankəndi, Xocalı, Xocavənd, and Zəngilan as RRQ. Dominic Heaney, of Europa Publications (now owned by Routledge), suggests that RRQ may designate areas not under the control of the central government.

1. Aghdam: Agdam (variant)
2. Aghdash: Agdas, Agdash (variant)
3. Aghjabedi: Agcabadi, Agdjabadi (variant)
4. Aghstafa: Agstafa (variant)
5. Aghsu: Agsu (variant)
6. Ali-Bairamly: Ali Bayramli (variant)
7. Babek: Babak (variant)
8. Baku: Bakı (Azeri); Bakü (Turkish)
9. Balaken: Balakan (variant)
10. Beilagan: Beylagan, Beylaqan (variant)
11. Dashkesan: Dashkasan, Daskasan (variant)
12. Devechi: Davachi (variant)
13. Fizuli: Füzuli (variant)
14. Gadabey: Gadabay (variant)
15. Gakh: Qax (variant)
16. Ganja: Ganca (variant)
17. Gazakh: Qazax (variant)
18. Geranboy: Goranboy (variant)
19. Guba: Quba (variant)
20. Gubadly: Gubadli, Qubadli (variant)
21. Hacuqabul: Haciqabul, Hajigabul (variant)
22. Imishli: Imisli (variant)
23. Ismailly: Ismayilli (variant)
24. Jalilabad: Calilabad (variant)
25. Jebrail: Cabrayil, Jabrail (variant)
26. Julfa: Culfa (variant)
27. Kelbajar: Kalbacar, Kalbajar (variant)
28. Khachmaz: Xaçmaz (variant)
29. Khankendy: Khankendi, Xankandi (variant); Stepanakert (obsolete, Armenian); Xankəndi (Azeri)
30. Khanlar: Xanlar (variant)
31. Khojaly: Xocali (variant)
32. Khojavend: Khojavand, Xocavand (variant)
33. Khyzy: Khyzi, Xizi (variant)
34. Kyurdamir: Kurdamir, Kürdamir (variant)
35. Lachin: Laçin (variant)
36. Lenkaran: Lankaran (variant)
37. Masally: Masalli (variant)
38. Mingechevir: Mingacevir (variant)
39. Nagorno-Karabakh: Artsakh, Arzach (Armenian)
40. Nakhchivan: Nahcivan (Turkish), Nakhichevan' (Russian); Naxçıvan (Azeri)
41. Neftchala: Neftçala (variant)
42. Oghuz: Oguz (variant)
43. Saatly: Saatli (variant)
44. Samuh: Samukh (variant)
45. Sedarak: Sadarak (variant)
46. Shahbuz: Sahbuz (variant)
47. Shamakhy: Samaxi (variant)
48. Shamkir: Samkir (variant)
49. Sheki: Shaki (variant)
50. Sherur: Sarur, Sharur (variant)
51. Shusha: Susa (variant)
52. Siazan: Siyazan (variant)
53. Sumgayit: Sumgait, Sumqayit (variant)
54. Terter: Tartar (variant)
55. Ujar: Ucar (variant)
56. Yardymly: Yardimli, Yardimliy (variant)
57. Yevlakh: Yevlax (variant)
58. Zerdab: Zardab (variant)

Sources:

1. [1] "The Population Census of the Azerbaijan Republic 1999", State Statistical Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic. Note: this source combined the populations of the six rayons and one city of Nakhchivan into a single figure for the whole region. Mario Pezza supplied a spreadsheet that shows the populations of the component divisions separately, but they are all rounded to the nearest 100. To make the populations add up to the correct total, I subtracted 4 from the population of each of the seven divisions in Nakhchivan.