Updated
Overview
Russia has 14 times the population of Azerbaijan: 143.51 million people against 10.25 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 34 times the size of Azerbaijan's, at $2.56T versus $75.94B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $7,411 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Azerbaijan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $75.94B | 2025 | $2.17T / $74.32B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $7,411 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 5.6% | 2025 | 6.7% / 2.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 28 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $777 | $494 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $208 | $203 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $4.26 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 10.25 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 10.69 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 33.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.66 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 74.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 59% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 91% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 86,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 118.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 40 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 3.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $3.78B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 5.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 82,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.0% for Russia, 1.4% for Azerbaijan).
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 5.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $494 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Azerbaijan is the younger society: median age 33.6 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Azerbaijan (74.6 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 59%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 197 times the size of Azerbaijan: 17,098,242 km² versus 86,600 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Azerbaijan is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 39 times as much on defence as Azerbaijan: $148.97B versus $3.78B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 5.0%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 82,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Azerbaijan?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Azerbaijan covers 86,600 km², so Russia is 197 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Azerbaijan?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 10.25 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Azerbaijan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $7,411. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $75.94B for Azerbaijan.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Azerbaijan?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $3.78B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).