Azerbaijani people facts for kids
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|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| approx. 25–35 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Iran |
15 to 30 million |
 Azerbaijan |
8,172,800 |
 Russia |
621,800 to 1,500,000 |
 Turkey |
530,000 to 2,500,000 |
 Georgia |
284,761 to 500,000 |
 Kazakhstan |
78,295 |
 Ukraine |
45,176 |
 Uzbekistan |
44,400 |
 Turkmenistan |
33,365 |
 Netherlands |
18,000 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
17,823 |
 Germany |
15,219 |
 United Kingdom |
15,000 |
 Belarus |
6,362 |
 United States |
5,553 |
 Canada |
3,465 |
 Latvia |
1,697 |
 Austria |
1,000 |
 Estonia |
880 |
 Lithuania |
788 |
| Languages | |
| Azerbaijani | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Shia Islam; minorities practice Sunni Islam, Christianity, Bahá'í Faith, and Zoroastrianism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Turkic peoples, Iranian peoples, peoples of the Caucasus | |
The Azerbaijanis or Azeris are a group of people who mostly live in two main places: northwestern Iran and the country of Azerbaijan. You can also find smaller groups of Azerbaijanis in countries like Georgia, Russia, and Turkey. Most Azerbaijanis follow the Shi'a branch of Islam.
Long ago, the land where Azerbaijanis live was part of the Iranian Qajar dynasty. After two wars between Russia and Persia (Iran) in the early 1800s, some of this land was given to the Russian Empire. This land later became the country of Azerbaijan. The land Iran kept is now called Iranian Azerbaijan.
Even though Azerbaijanis live in two different countries, they are one ethnic group. However, those in the north (Azerbaijan) and south (Iran) have developed differently over the last 200 years. This is because of the separate ways their societies grew, influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union in the north.
The Azerbaijani language helps unite all Azerbaijanis. It is part of the Oghuz group of Turkic languages. This means it is similar to and can be understood by speakers of Turkmen, Turkish, and other related languages.
Contents
Discovering Azerbaijani Culture
The Azerbaijani Language
The language spoken by Azerbaijanis is called Azerbaijani. It is a very important part of their culture. It helps people from different regions understand each other. The Azerbaijani language is part of a bigger family of languages called Turkic languages.
This means it shares many similarities with other languages. For example, if you speak Azerbaijani, you might understand some words in Turkish or Turkmen. This is like how English and German are related.
Azerbaijani Traditions and Arts
Azerbaijanis have a rich culture with many interesting traditions. Their music, called Mugham, is very special. It often tells stories and feelings through beautiful melodies. People called Ashiks are traditional singers and storytellers. They play instruments and share old tales.
The clothing worn by Azerbaijani people is also very colorful and unique. It often features silk and detailed patterns. These clothes are worn for special events and celebrations.
Famous Azerbaijani People
Many Azerbaijanis have become famous in different fields. For example, Muhammad Fuzûlî was a very important poet. He lived a long time ago and is known for his beautiful poems.
In sports, there are also famous Azerbaijanis. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is a well-known chess player. Ilham Zakiyev is a Paralympic judo champion. These people show the talent and spirit of the Azerbaijani people.
Related pages
- Iranian Azerbaijanis
- Azerbaijan -Citizendium
Images for kids
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Painting of Atropates, meeting with Alexander the Great. Iran's historic Azerbaijan region (also known as Iranian Azerbaijan) is believed to be named after him.
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Shirvan Tatar (i.e. Azerbaijani). Engraving from book of Jean Baptiste Benoît Eyriès. Voyage pittoresque en Asie et en Afrique: résumé général des voyages anciens et modernes... T. I, 1839
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Map of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic presented by the Azerbaijani delegation Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
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Soldiers and officers of the army of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918
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Sattar Khan (1868–1914) was a major revolutionary figure in the late Qajar period in Iran.
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Azerbaijani girl from Shusha in silk national garments.
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Russian Empire postcard depicting Tatars (i.e. Azerbaijanis) from Alexandropol (Gyumri)
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Iran's highest-ranking official, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei is Iranian Azeri on his father's side.
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Azeri woman from Baku (1900 postcard)
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Portrait of Muhammad Fuzûlî by Azim Azimzade (1914). Fuzûlî is considered one of the greatest Azerbaijani poets.
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Mugham triads
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Chess player Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
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Two-time Paralympic judo champion (2004, 2008) Ilham Zakiyev
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See also
In Spanish: Azeríes para niños
