BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 27. Over the past year, total social expenditures — covering salary funds, food procurement, pensions and social benefits, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, compulsory health insurance, utility and communication services, and housing and compensation for military personnel with over twenty years of service — accounted for 38.9 percent of the state budget, reaching 14.6 billion manat ($8.5 billion).
Data obtained by Trend from the draft law on the execution of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2024 shows that this marks an increase of 303.6 million manat ($178.5 million), or 2.1 percent, compared to 2023.
Over the past five years, Azerbaijan has seen a substantial rise in social-oriented expenditures, growing by 4 billion manat ($2.3 billion) or 37.7 percent in absolute terms compared to 2020.
The budget allocation included 8.4 billion manat ($4.9 billion) allocated for labor costs, reflecting an increase of 276.4 million manat ($162.5 million) or 3.4 percent compared to 2023. Additionally, 4.3 billion manat ($2.5 billion) were directed toward social payments, 463.6 million manat ($272.7 million) for the purchase and provision of food products (up by 55.7 million manat ($32.7 million) or 13.7 percent), and 126.8 million manat ($74.5 million) for medicines, dressing supplies, and medical materials (an increase of 10.7 million manat ($6.2 million) or 9.3 percent). A total of 1.4 billion manat ($823.5 million) was spent on implementing state programs and initiatives related to compulsory health insurance and public healthcare (104.2 million manat ($61.2 million) or 8.2 percent more than in 2023), while 35 million manat ($20.5 million) were allocated for housing support for active and reserve military personnel.
