BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Azerbaijan’s
external public debt totaled $4.509 billion as of October 1, 2026,
down 7.8% from a year earlier, according to a report on the
country’s macroeconomic indicators for January–September 2026
published by the State Statistical Committee.
The country’s strategic foreign exchange reserves reached
$89.381 billion as of October 1, up 9.7% year-on-year.
Speaking at an event titled “Unlocking the Potential of Tourism
to Stimulate Economic Growth and Diversify the Economy,” World Bank
Senior Economist for the South Caucasus Val Mansour said the
government had maintained a budget surplus, public debt remained
low, international reserves were adequate, and the banking sector
remained stable.
According to Mansour, as the oil and gas sector’s role as the
main driver of economic growth declines, Azerbaijan needs to
develop new sources of growth.
According to the State Statistical Committee, Azerbaijan’s gross
domestic product (GDP) reached approximately $38.36 billion in
January–June 2026, up 0.8% compared with the same period in
2025.
During the period, value added in the oil and gas sector fell by
0.7% to approximately $11.54 billion, while value added in the
non-oil and gas sector increased by 1.5% to about $26.82 billion,
the report said.
