BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 19. Azerbaijan's state budget expenditures for this year are set to hit 40.7 billion manat ($23.9 billion), which is a tad lower by 1.7 percent than the green-lighted figure.
Data obtained by Trend from the country's Ministry of Finance indicates that current expenditures will account for 59.8 percent of total spending according to the forecast for 2025, amounting to 24.3 billion manat ($14.2 billion), which is 407.2 million manat ($239.5 million), or 1.6 percent, less than the approved indicator.
Capital expenditures will make up 34.3 percent of the budget, totaling 13.9 billion manat ($8.1 billion), down by 312.8 million manat ($184 million), or 2.2 percent, while debt servicing will require 5.9 percent, equaling 2.4 billion manat ($1.4 billion), remaining at the approved level.
The structure of the budget is expected to remain largely unchanged, with the share of current expenditures staying the same, capital expenditures decreasing by 0.1 percentage points, and debt servicing increasing by 0.1 percentage points. The draft budget sets aside 2.4 billion manat ($1.4 billion) for debt servicing, including 1.4 billion manat ($823.5 million) for foreign debt and 958 million manat ($563.5 million) for domestic debt.
By functional classification, spending for social protection and welfare is projected at 4.7 billion manat ($2.7 billion) against 4.75 billion manat ($2.79 billion) (1 percent) approved earlier, while environmental protection will receive 410.1 million manat ($241.2 million) compared to 414.2 million manat ($243.6 million). Culture, arts, information, youth, and related activities are allocated 615.6 million manat ($362.1 million) against 621.8 million manat ($365.7 million).
The projected economic throughput, encompassing public sector capital allocations and the revitalization of emancipated regions, is anticipated to reach 8.21 billion manat ($4.8 billion), a decrement from the previous estimate of 8.37 billion manat ($4.9 billion). This reflects a contraction of 167.6 million manat ($98.5 million), translating to a 2 percent reduction in fiscal performance. Expenditures allocated for defense and national security are projected to total 8.24 billion manat ($4.84 billion), reflecting a contraction from the previous figure of 8.39 billion manat ($4.93 billion). This represents a decrement of 151.1 million manat ($88.8 million), equating to a reduction of 1.8 percent.
Judiciary, law enforcement, and prosecution expenditures are forecast at 3.14 billion manat ($1.84 billion) compared to 3.19 billion manat ($1.87 billion), showing a reduction of 47.9 million manat ($28.1 billion), or 1.5 percent. Agricultural spending will reach 1.17 billion manat ($688.2 million) compared to 1.2 billion manat ($705.8 million), down by 24.1 million manat ($14.1 million), or 2 percent. Education expenditures are projected at 4.83 billion manat ($2.8 billion) compared to 4.93 billion manat ($2.89 billion), decreasing by 98.7 million manat ($58 million), or 2 percent. General government services, including legislative and executive authorities, international relations, foreign aid, inter-budget transfers, and state debt, are expected to total 5.17 billion manat ($3 billion) compared to 5.26 billion manat ($3 billion), falling by 81.8 million manat ($48.1 million), or 1.6 percent.
Healthcare spending is set at 1.96 billion manat ($1.1 billion) compared to 1.99 billion manat ($1.16 billion), which is 23.9 million manat ($14 million), or 1.2 percent less. Housing and communal services expenditures will total 361.4 million manat ($212.4 million) compared to 369.9 million manat ($217.4 million), down by 8.5 million manat ($4.9 million), or 2.3 percent. Finally, expenditures not classified under the main categories are expected at 1.82 billion manat ($1 billion) compared to 1.88 billion manat ($1.1 billion), reflecting a decline of 58.5 million manat ($34.4 million), or 3.1 percent.
