Coastal zone is characterized by long-standing history of human living. Here ancient monuments of long stages of culture development starting from Paleolithic (ancient stone age) including Neolithic (new stone age), eneolithic (copper-stone age), bronze and iron epoch. Ancient rock carvings of Gobustan were created 14 15 thousands years ago. In different epochs territory of region or its various parts were in the content of azerbaijanian states like Manna, Midia, Atropatena, Albania, Arabian khalifat, Sefedides, Shiravanschakh, Afshar, Adzharov as well as empire of sasanides empire of great Seldjuks. At the beginning of XIX century Northern Azerbaijan was captured by ussia and just in 1992 after collapse of USSR gained its state independence.

During all periods of history of coastal zone represented territory through of which passed migration of various people and tribes mainly in the direction of the north-south and south-north. The given factor reflected on the population living there differentiating by its polyethnicity. During the period before XIX century the main mass of population were Azerbaijani Turkish, among of which Force, Arabians, Jewish were settled by compact groups. In mountains of Great Caucasus considerable percent of population were Lezgins as well as small peoples of caucasian group-khynalgyl, budug, kryzy etc, and in Talysh mountains-talysh.

Starting since 30s of XIX century commenced a purposive settling of territory by Russians and Ukrainian settlers a bit later-by Armenians. To the end of XIX century - beginning of XX century coastal turned into important trading-commercial region of Pri-Caspian mainly owing to scaled oil production and processing as well as development of offshore and onshore cargo-transportation. During the period of Soviet Power economics and social infrastructure of region was intensively developed. Favorable natural-resource factors stimulated demographic growth and promoted the development and formation of social-economics space of recent economic-geographic regions differentiating from each other by character of territorial-production complexes, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Coastal zone is considered to be the most densely populated territory of Azerbaijan Republic. According to data of the recent census 1999) 3978,5 thousands of people or 49,8% of population (not accounting refugees, forced migrants and season migrants) live here. The most density falls to Apsheron peninsula and Lenkaran lowland-accordingly 833,5 and 160 men per 1 km² by average density of population of coastal zone 120,4 men per 1 km².

General regularity of population location is its historical correspondence (in general and by density settlement) to the lower part of the Caspian coast, river valleys, railway and motor-road arteries connecting the economical-geographical regions between each other and the state country - Baku city as well. At the same time 53,8% of population is living in three large cities-Baku, Sumgayit, Ali-Bairamly, and 13,4% in other cities and suburban.

Due to a high density of population and low number of areas suitable for agriculture use per head falls to 1,4 ha (minimal performance 0,34 ha) of lands.

In the recalculation on the whole population of coastal this performance decrease to 0,46 ha, that for 33% is lower of average Republican performance.

Dynamics of population number in the XX century and for the last decades reflects subsequent increase of human resources. According to performances of natural population movement coastal zone occupies the first in Azerbaijan.

Mode of family life is differed by stability of divorces number especially in country, low and varies within 0,5-1,0 divorces per 100 men of population. In over 60% of rural families infants number makes 3 and more children.

By previous evaluations of census of coastal zone Azerbaijan Turkish make more 85% of a whole number, the rest population-Russians, Lezgins, Talysh, Jewish, Ukrainians Tatarians etc. Over 31% of population makes children of 14 years 65,5% of population is of 35%, 8,4% of population is over 60 years old. Coastal is famous for its long-livers. Population over 80 years of old is 0,6% of common population number or 25,7 thousands of men. 457 men are of 100 years old and over. Thus, their most number (136 men) live on the north of region, in Guba-Khachmaz EGR, 105 men-in Apsheron EGR, 122 men in central Aran and 94 men in the territory of Lenkaran EGR.

Data on population number, age ratio, ratio of rural and urban population are given in Table 3-1, by increase groups in Table 3-2, by depth and birth rate in Table 3-3.

Table 3-1. Number of population (th. person)

Table 3-2. Number of population by age groups (th. person)

Table 3-3. Dynamics of population number in the 1999

1. Azerbaijan history. – Baku; "Elm", 1995.

2. Report of the State Statistical Committee on results of census of Azerbaijan Republic in 1999.

INTRODUCTION

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

SECTION 5

APPENDIX 15

APPENDIX 16

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