Policy of Progress and Prosperity
As a victorious state that has ensured its territorial integrity and sovereignty - and in doing so upheld justice and international law - Azerbaijan pursues a strong social policy that enables significant progress toward stability, rapid development, and the welfare of its citizens.
The strong and successful social policy initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev stems from close bond with the people and a caring attitude toward the welfare of the country’s citizens. As a result of the continuation and development of this policy at a high level by President Ilham Aliyev over the past 22 years, with the principle of ensuring citizens’ welfare placed at the center of the Head of State’s policy, Azerbaijan has achieved significant progress in strengthening social protection and enhancing the well-being of the population.
Owing to the successful socio-economic policy of the Head of State and the targeted state programs implemented under his leadership, sustainable economic development has been achieved in the country, accompanied by a sharp reduction in poverty to 5%. In recognition of its positive experience in this field, Azerbaijan has been included among the countries selected to conduct national consultations on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Through Decrees and Orders signed by President Ilham Aliyev, important steps have been taken to ensure the continuous increase of social payments. Since 2003, the minimum monthly wage has increased 44 times, the minimum monthly pension 16 times, while the average monthly wage has increased 14 times, the average monthly pension 23 times, and the average monthly old-age pension 23 times. One of the key pillars of the successful social policy implemented in the country is the strengthening of social protection of pensioners. Another indicator of this progress is that the annual funding allocated to pension provision has increased 37 times compared to 2003, exceeding 7.2 billion AZN.
Whereas in 2003 the average monthly pension was half of the subsistence minimum for pensioners, it now exceeds the subsistence minimum for pensioners by 2.3 times.
The targeted state social assistance program, which provides vital support to low-income families, was launched in 2006 under a Law approved by President Ilham Aliyev. Since then, the need criterion has increased 9.5 times, from 30 AZN to 285 AZN, and is expected to rise to 300 AZN in the following year. The average monthly amount of targeted social assistance per family has increased 9.4 times. The Decree of the Head of State dated December 22, 2025, “On the provision of one-time financial assistance to low-income families,” represents another measure of support for the social protection of low-income families. The Decree provides for the allocation of a one-time financial assistance of 200 AZN to each family receiving targeted state social assistance as of December 30, 2025, on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year holiday, with 15.3 million AZN allocated for this purpose.
In addition, since 2003 more than 15 new types of monthly social payments have been introduced, citizen-oriented and humane approaches have been implemented in the social security system, state support for vulnerable population groups has increased year by year, and the coverage of the social protection and social security system has been significantly expanded.
Five consecutive social reform packages were implemented in 2018-2025, following the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, who emphasized that the Azerbaijani people should live better year by year, the growing economic power should be directed toward strengthening the country and improving the welfare of people, which are already implemented by state”. As a result of these social reforms, which covered more than 4 million citizens and involved the annual allocation of an additional 7.6 billion AZN, since 2018 the minimum pension has nearly tripled, rising from 110 AZN to 320 AZN, while the minimum wage has increased 3.1 times, from 130 AZN to 400 AZN.
During the same period, the average monthly pension increased 2.6 times from 208 AZN to 540 AZN (including the average monthly old-age pension, which rose 2.5 times from 234 AZN to 576 AZN), while the average monthly wage doubled, from 545 AZN to 1,086.3 AZN as of November 1, 2025. The wage fund also increased 3.2 times, and the annual funds allocated for social benefits and stipends increased fivefold. The continuous rise in pensions has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in funds allocated for pension provision. Thus, the annual funds for pensions have doubled compared to 2018, exceeding 7.2 billion AZN in 2025.
In 2018-2025, the average monthly amount of targeted assistance per family, which provides significant support to low-income families, increased 2.4 times from 175 AZN to 425 AZN. During the same period, the subsistence minimum increased by 65%, from 173 AZN to 285 AZN, and the need criterion rose 2.2 times, from 130 AZN to 285 AZN.
Based on legislative acts signed by the Head of State, ten new types of social payments were established in 2018–2025, including the President’s monthly grant for war veterans, individuals with first-degree disabilities and caregivers of children with disabilities, Heroes of the Patriotic War, unemployed pensioners holding doctoral degrees, and allowances for adoptive parents and foster families, among others. As a result of these measures, the coverage of the social security system has been significantly expanded.
In recent years, a number of humane approaches have also been introduced into Azerbaijan’s pension legislation, taking significant steps to make pension provision more accessible and to establish a system that is close to everyone. For example, since 2019, pension assignment has been based on a proactive mechanism, whereby individuals who had even the smallest amount recorded in their personal accounts between 2006 and 2018 are credited with 25 years of insurance record and are automatically assigned an old-age pension through the electronic system, without the need to apply. Thousands of people gain pension rights each year on this basis. Likewise, individuals who reach pension age and have 25 years of insurance record are granted pension rights regardless of whether they have pension capital, and so on.
Programs aimed at increasing employment opportunities for the population have been expanded year by year. Under the instructions of the Head of State, more than 110,000 families have been involved in the self-employment program, which has significant socio-economic importance. Through this program, participants have received assets and support to establish small family enterprises.
At the same time, within the first phase (2020–2025) of the ‘Employment Support Project,’ which is implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population with financial support from the World Bank and aimed at expanding the self-employment program, small family businesses in the production and service sectors were established for 26.7 thousand individuals from vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, members of martyrs’ families, low-income households, etc. During the second phase of the project for 2026–2029, the involvement of additional 30 thousand individuals is expected.
In accordance with the directives of the President of the country, one of the key achievements of the social reforms carried out in recent years has been the establishment of DOST centers since 2019. The DOST concept, initiated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, has been included among the world’s leading practices and has been recognized with numerous international awards. At present, several countries are showing significant interest in the DOST model. DOST centers provide 160 social services to the population through a unified single platform ‘one-stop shop,’ delivering them in a transparent and efficient manner, guided by the principles of citizen satisfaction and convenience, with citizen satisfaction rate exceeding 98%.
At the opening ceremony of the DOST Agency and the first DOST center, the Head of State commended the DOST model and said: “Our policy is almost fully reflected in DOST centers through reforms, innovation, the fight against corruption and bribery, the adoption of new technologies, the engagement of young people in these activities, and the promotion of volunteerism. In other words, these centers represent modern Azerbaijan, and our country’s development must continue along this path. Modernity, innovation, reforms, and the active involvement of young people in these activities will contribute to the continued development of our country.”
Over the past period, 7 DOST centers, 1 DOST branch, 1 ‘Smart DOST,’ and 2 DOST points have been opened in Baku and across the regions of our country. To ensure that residents relocated to liberated territories of our country have access to DOST services, a ‘Smart DOST’ service point in Agaly village of Zangilan district, the Karabakh Regional DOST Center in Barda city, its Shusha branch, and DOST points in Kalbajar and Fuzuli have been launched. During the previous period, 4 million citizens received services at DOST centers, and new DOST centers are currently under construction in Nakhchivan, Guba, Sabirabad, Sumgayit, Ganja, and Masalli.
President Ilham Aliyev consistently demonstrates particular attention and care toward the families of martyrs and individuals with war-related disabilities. Under the directive of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, a program was launched in the 1990s to provide apartments and private houses to the families of martyrs and individuals with war-related disabilities.
By the order of the Head of our State, this program has been successfully continued year after year and was expanded fivefold following the Patriotic War that culminated in our glorious Victory. In the post-war period, 6,900 apartments were provided to the families of martyrs and individuals with war-related disabilities, bringing the total number of apartments to nearly 16,000 over the past period. At the same time, the provision of cars to individuals with war-related disabilities has been successfully continued, with 567 cars provided in the post-war period, bringing the total number of 7,700 cars allocated to persons with disabilities over the entire period.
At the same time, monthly presidential grants have been assigned to the families of martyrs since early 2007, and to individuals with war-related disabilities since 2008. Over the previous period, the amounts of these grants have been increased sevenfold for the families of martyrs and for individuals with first and second degree war-related disabilities, and eightfold for those with third degree war-related disabilities. The families of martyrs and individuals with war-related disabilities are provided not only with grants but also with monthly pensions and benefits.
Their children, as well as those with first and second degree war-related disabilities, have their tuition fees covered by the state budget when enrolled in paid educational programs. Members of martyrs’ families and individuals with war-related disabilities are involved in active employment programs, including the self-employment program on a priority basis within the shortest possible timeframe, and are also granted a range of benefits under tax and labor legislation, among others. In recent years, programs have been successfully implemented to provide one-time allowances to the families of military servicemen who became martyrs before August 2, 1997, and to individuals who sustained injuries during military service by that date and were determined to have disabilities.
In the period following the 44-day Patriotic War, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population implemented a large-scale social support package for the families of martyrs and war veterans which covered 132 thousand unique individuals and provided them with 406 thousand services. This included the assignment of social payments (pensions, benefits, stipends) to 106 thousand individuals, employment support for 28.7 thousand individuals, 93 thousand social-psychological support and rehabilitation services for 11 thousand individuals, and the provision of 620 high-tech prostheses for up to 500 military servicemen.
Providing special care for vulnerable population groups, creating equal opportunities for their active participation in social life, and promoting inclusiveness play an important role in the successful social policy of President Ilham Aliyev. Four years ago, in 2021, the DOST Center for Inclusive Development and Creativity, was inaugurated with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva, and has been providing vital support for the development of an inclusive society in our country.
The Center was established at the initiative of First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, and represents the first and largest inclusive space in the South Caucasus. At the institution and its subsequently established regional branches, the creative potential of individuals with disabilities, members of martyrs’ families and low-income households, orphans and children deprived of parental care, as well as other vulnerable groups, is nurtured through training programs, while these individuals are also provided with social, pedagogical, and psychological support services.
As further evidence of the Head of State’s attention and care for vulnerable groups, including individuals with disabilities, rehabilitation and social service institutions have been established in line with modern standards, and their network has been significantly expanded across the regions. Alongside traditional methods, these centers have also begun to implement new rehabilitation methods aligned with advanced international practices at these centers. As a result of these efforts, the annual number of individuals receiving rehabilitation services increased more than tenfold between 2018 and 2025.
In recent years, a program to build services in the fields of labor, employment, and social protection on electronic technologies has been successfully implemented, with more than 90% of these services digitalized, and more than 50 proactive services, as well as e-reference services in various fields of activity established. In 2019, the e-sosial.az portal, the country’s social registry, was launched, and in 2022, the ‘Labor and Employment’ subsystem was established, ensuring the transition to a unified labor relations platform and digital personnel records in labor relations.
Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, a victorious Azerbaijan is set to achieve further historic successes and victories in the coming period, alongside its continued social accomplishments.
