Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do regional (city) statistical offices have authority to impose a fine?

“The Law on Official Statistics”, Article 27. Responsibility for violation of the procedure of submission of statistical data. Persons responsible for non-submission or unpunctual submission of data required for the production of Official Statistics for the distortion of reports, as well as for not providing access to administrative sources is brought to account in accordance with the procedure set out in the legislation. Responsibility on the part of legal and natural persons, for violation of the procedure shall not constitute justification for not submitting the statistical data.

2. What is a sum of a fine?

According to the Administrative Offences Code, Article 389, non-presentation or untimely presentation of data, necessary for conducting of statistical observations or state register of registration units or distortion of reports entails imposition of penalty in amount of 300 to 500 manats.

3. How to get a job in the State Statistical Committee? What documents are needed and where to appeal?

Please appeal to State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Address: AZ1022, Baku city, Nasimi district, Akademik Hasan Aliyev street 299, phone 465-87-93, 465-87-94.

4. What is a quality management?

Quality management in statistics entails compatibility of the degree of accuracy and correctness of the calculated indicators, the level of conformity of the used statistical models to its actual value, compliance of information requested by users, easy access and timely delivery of publications to users, improvement of statistical processes in line with international standards, documentation based on unique standards etc.

5. What is the metadata and for what are they used?

All objects organizing statistical survey, structure and coverage of data collection, rules and formulas of calculation of the aggregated statistical indicators, definitions of statistical indicators are called – metadata. During data processing, the classifications used for grouping of output data of statistical information system, also refer to the concept of metadata. Thus, along with standard international and European classifications it includes classifications on specific researches. All corresponding tables between different classifications are considered metadata. Statistical units observed, their characteristics, conduction of statistical researches and data dissemination calendars are also metadata.

6. What is the audit?

Internal audit of the quality is a systematic, independent and documented process on obtaining of audit evidence, its objective assessment in order to determine to what extent the audit criterions (ISO 19011:2002) are met.

7. What is the discrepancy?

Discrepancy means non-compliance with accepted requirements and methodologies and is assessed as of more or less importance.

8. What is a Gross Domestic Product?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reflects the results of the economic activity of the country's residents during the relevant period and is measured by the value of goods and services produced by the country's residents and used for final consumption, harvesting or export. GDP is equal to the sum of the added value produced in all (production and service) sectors of the economy.

9. What is the reason why the figure obtained by dividing the volume of GDP by its volume in the previous year differs from the growth rate of GDP published by the State Statistical Committee?

The growth rate of GDP is calculated not by dividing the volume of GDP in actual prices by the volume of GDP in actual prices of the previous year, but by dividing the volume of GDP expressed in comparative prices (that is, in the prices of the comparable year) by the volume of GDP in the actual prices of the previous year.

10. What is the difference between GDP calculated by production and use method?

In fact, the volume of GDP calculated by all methods should be the same. However, the data sources used in each calculation method are different, and the degree of reliability of these data sources also differs. Therefore, in some cases there is a difference called “statistical deviation” between the volumes of GDP indicators calculated by various methods.

11. What is the physical volume index of an industrial product?

The physical volume index of an industrial product is a relative indicator characterizing the change in the mass of products produced as a result of industrial activity in proportion to the comparable period. According to the methodology applied since 2001, when calculating the physical volume index of an industrial product, along with relying on the production of the product in kind, the “value added” indicator is applied in accordance with international practice but not the “product output” indicator as weight in value terms during aggregation.

12. What is the total and commodity products output in kind?

The total output also considers the commodity product output and products consumed for internal needs of the enterprise, processed within the enterprise and the amount of other similar products. Commodity output indicates industrial products prepared either from the enterprise’s or the customer’s raws and materials determined for delivering to the outside, for own capital construction and non-industrial economies, given to its employees in exchange for wages, consumed by the producer to industrial-production needs.

13. Where in kind production of main types of industrial products could be obtained from?

In kind production of main types of industrial products and other main indicators of industry could be found from the section of industry on the web-page of the State Statistical Committee (www.stat.gov.az).

14. What is the volume and growth rate of investments directed to fixed capital?

The volume of investments directed to fixed capital is a set of costs aimed at the acquisition, creation and reproduction of all types of fixed assets. The growth rate of investments in fixed capital by the country is calculated not by dividing the volume of investments in fixed capital in actual prices by its volume in actual prices of the previous year, but by dividing the volume of investments in fixed capital expressed in comparative prices by its volume in the actual prices of the previous year.

15. What is the volume and growth rate of investments directed to oil sector?

It includes the funds directed to fixed capital of enterprises engaged in the extraction of crude oil, natural gas and the production of oil products.

16. How the wages and salaries of employees working in the construction sector is calculated?

It is the salary calculated in average per employee or unit of time worked. It is calculated by dividing the wage fund by the average payroll of employees and the number of actually worked months.

17. What the total area of dwellings submitted into use includes?

It includes the total area of all parts of the residential area, including the area of subsidiary areas (with the exception of balconies, terraces) intended for the satisfaction of citizens’ living and other needs in the residential area.

18. Where can I get information about the production, consumption, import and export of crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, liquefied gas, natural gas, electricity and other energy products?

All indicators characterizing the movement of 23 main types of energy products characteristic to Azerbaijan are presented in more detail in the Commodity balances section (Section 3) of the Statistical Yearbook “Energy of Azerbaijan” published in the State Statistical Committee.

19. What are the main indicators that characterize the development index of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)?

The number of main telephone sets per 100 population, mobile phone subscribers per 100 population, the volume of international internet bandwidth per internet user, the share of households with computers, the share of households with internet access at home, the number of internet users per 100 persons, the number of broadband internet users per 100 persons, the number of broadband mobile users per 100 persons, the population’s literacy level, the total registration rate of higher and secondary education are all taken into account when calculating the ICT development index.

20. What is the difference between internet subscribers and internet users?

Internet subscribers are individuals who have paid a connection fee. All subscribers are considered regardless of connection speed, internet access and form of payment. Internet users are those who have connected to and used the internet.

21. What is the unified register of crimes?

Unified register of crimes consists of the initial registration of detected crimes and persons committed crimes.

22. How is the number of visitors of cultural institutions per 1000 population is calculated?

The number of visitors of cultural institutions during the year is divided by the average annual population size and multiplied by 1000.

23. What are the degrees and levels of education in the Republic of Azerbaijan?

In accordance with the “Law on Education” of the Republic of Azerbaijan approved in June 2009, the degrees and levels of education are determined as follows:
• Preschool education;
• General education:
   - primary education;
   - general secondary education;
   - complete secondary education.

• Vocational education;
   - primary vocational education;
   - technical vocational education;
   - higher technical vocational education.

• Secondary specialized education;

• Higher education:
   - bachelor's degree (basic (higher) medical education);
   - master's degree (residency);
   - doctorate (post-graduate) degree.

24. What includes medical institutions that provide outpatient care to the population?

It includes all medical institutions (polyclinics, ambulatories, dispensaries, outpatient departments of hospitals, health centers, etc.) rendering outpatient services to the population.

25. What is the domestic tourism?

It comprises inbound and outbound tourism, i.e., the tourism activity of residents or non-residents within the country of reference, either as part of a domestic or outbound travel.

26. How is the occupancy level of hotels calculated?

The number of nights spent during the reporting period is divided by the sum total number of nights in the reporting period and multiplied by 100.

27. How is the information society organized in Azerbaijan by the State Statistical Committee?

Information society Statistics have been organized by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport since 2005, and the data collected is released once a year in the form of yearbook. It includes the detailed information on ICT systems in households and enterprises, availability and use of computers, Internet access, its use, electronic knowledge of the population, as well as key macro indicators on the ICT sector and the import and export of ICT products.

28. Which economies are the private entrepreneurship economy?

Private entrepreneurship economy is a form of farming that is based on private labour, engaged in the production, processing and sale of agricultural products on land and property owned or leased and officially registered as a legal entity.

29. What are the family-peasant farms?

Family peasant farm is a form of farming that carries out production and other economic activities (processing, storage, transportation and sale of products) in rural areas without establishing a legal entity on the basis of personal labour and property owned or rented by family members and persons acting jointly with them. As a result of the agrarian reform, the farms that received the share of land and the head of the farm (family) worked directly on his own farm are recorded for as family peasant farms.

30. What are the households?

A household is defined as a group of individuals and persons living together and keeping a household together, or a group of individuals or persons united to provide themselves. Most households reflect family farms. However, unlike families, households could be presented as joint activities of several people having no blood relations and kinship.

31. Which lands are identified as arable?

Arable lands include lands aimed and regularly used for agricultural production. These include fallow areas, sown areas, perennial crops (orchards), pastures and hayfields.

32. Which methods are used to collect data on livestock production?

Data on livestock production is calculated on the basis of statistical reports on agricultural enterprises and sample surveys of private entrepreneurs, family-peasant farms and households.

33. Which plants belong to cereals and legumes (grains)?

Cereals and legumes include spring and winter wheat, rye, barley, oat, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, paddy, spelt, maize for seed, bitter beans, peas, green peas, dry beans, lentils, sorghum grain, bean.

34. What is CPI?

Consumer Price Index (CPI) - a relative indicator that characterizes the change in the general level of prices by time for a set of goods and services purchased by the population for personal consumption.

35. Which information is used in calculation of CPI?

In calculation of CPI two database sources are used:
• price record data;
• survey materials on the structure of household consumer expenses.

36. How price data is obtained?

The work on price data collection is carried out by visiting specially selected trading points and places served for this purpose, reading from price papers by price collectors or making inquiries from sellers and registering them on special survey forms.

37. How prices are recorded?

The main condition – is the record of prices for any type of goods (services) in a particular trading point at the same time as the date of the previous month. Deviations can be 1-2 days at the most. Based on a special schedule developed depending on the social significance of the product group, collectors visit trading points and make their records during a month.

38. How is the population calculated?

The current calculation of the population is carried out based on the results of the recent census. Each year, the number of births and new permanent residents in the area is added to the population, and the number of deaths and displacements is deducted from the population. Based on the results of the next census, relevant clarifications are made on the number and composition of the population in the period after the previous census. The population is divided into urban and rural population according to their place of residence. Urban areas include cities and towns, and all other settlements are considered rural areas.

39. What does the fertility rate show?

The total fertility rate reflects the average number of children a woman would have over the course of her reproductive life. It is calculated by multiplying and summing up an age rate of birth by length of each age interval (for one-year rates the multiplying is equal to one and for five-years – five). At the result the sum should be divided by 1000, i.e. this indicator is calculated at average per woman.

40. What does life expectancy at birth show?

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years each person would live. Here it is accepted that the mortality rate will remain unchanged throughout the life of the newborn at the level of the year in which the indicator was calculated for each age group. Life expectancy at birth is obtained by calculating life tables.

41. What characterizes the number of children died under one year of age?

Infant mortality – characterizes the death of children under one year of age. It is difficult to calculate the average annual number of deaths of infants under one year of age, as they fluctuate sharply throughout the year. Therefore, instead of the death rate, the probability of death in the first year of life is calculated by the ratio of the number of deaths of infants under one year of age to the total number of live births, rather than their average annual number (traditionally this probability called “rate”).

42. What is the source of maternal mortality information?

Maternal mortality – is the number of mothers died during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium based on the data of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

43. What does the volume of retail commodity turnover represent?

Retail trade turnover - represents cash payment or credit cards, bank invoice checks, the value of commodity sold to population through transfer from the accounts of depositors and is accounted for in the amount of the full value of the goods sold and by time of sale to population, regardless of the time of payment of the fee.

44. How is the physical volume index of retail trade calculated?

It characterizes the change of the real volume of indicators. It is calculated as the ratio of the volume of the indicator for the reporting period with the prices of the base period to the actual indicator for the base period as a percentage.

45. What does wholesale trade turnover mean?

Wholesale trade turnover - is the volume of re-sale of new or used imported goods without processing to retailers, industrial, commercial enterprises, professional users, other wholesale enterprises, as well as agents acting on behalf of such persons and companies in the purchase and sale of goods.

46. How to get information about the average monthly nominal salary?

Information on the monthly and average monthly nominal salary in the country with the period from the beginning of the year is provided in the section “Press-Release”, “Macroeconomic indicators” and “The Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)” of the www.stat.gov.az webpage, and information on the average monthly nominal wage by years for the country and economic regions is provided in the section “Statistical domains”, “Labour Market”.

47. How to get information about the number of employees in the country?

The “Press-Releases” section of the www.stat.gov.az webpage provides information on the total number of employees in the country on a monthly basis, as well as the number of types of economic activity, the number by the public and private sectors, and the “Millennium Development Goals” section provides information about “Annual data on the share of women employed in the agricultural sector”, in the section “Statistical domains” the “Labour Market” - the total number of employees by country and economic regions, as well as information by the relevant distributions by the country.

48. How to get information on the number of economically active population in the country, including the employed and unemployed?

Information on the number of economically active population in the country, including the employed and unemployed, is provided on a quarterly basis in the “Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS)” section of the www.stat.gov.az webpage, the information on the number of economically active population, including employed and unemployed, by their distributions, is provided in the section “Labour Market” of the “Statistical domains” section, and the information on the level of youth unemployment in the country and economic regions, by the years, is provided in the section “Millennium Development Goals”.

49. How can natural and legal entities obtain a statistical code and password?

Legal entities must use the statistical code and natural persons must use the TIN to submit statistical reports online. The statistical code is issued to legal entities by regional statistical offices. To access the system for the first time, register in the section E-services / Presentation of official statistical reports of the www.stat.gov.az webpage by following the information link on the reports to be submitted. When registering, choose a password and enter it. This password is used to log in each time. To protect your information from outsiders, keep your password confidential.

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