Population in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, East Zangazur regions nears 50,000 State Statistics Reveal

According to Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee, the population in the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions has reached nearly 50,000 people as of early June 2025. 

The latest figures from Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee indicate that approximately 50,000 individuals now reside in the Karabakh and East Zangazur regions, Caliber.Az reports.

This marks significant progress under the national initiative known as the “Great Return” programme.

During the reporting period, 3,721 families — totalling 14,843 people — have returned to their ancestral homes.

In addition, 32,216 people, including family members, are temporarily living in territories recently liberated from occupation, engaged in reconstruction and other professional activities.

The report also highlights that 1,150 students enrolled at Karabakh University in the city of Khankendi contribute to the overall population, bringing the total number of residents in the liberated areas to 48,209.

The “Great Return” program aims to resettle about 34,500 families — or around 140,000 people — back to the Karabakh and East Zangazur regions by 2026.

By Aghakazim Guliyev