On October 15, 2003, our people unanimously supported the political successor and worthy follower of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Mr Ilham Aliyev, by electing him President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, thereby ensuring the country’s dynamic and comprehensive development, success, and victories. During the past period, as a result of President Ilham Aliyev’s successful domestic and foreign policy, Azerbaijan, which has rapidly strengthened its economic and military power and reached the glorious peak of the historic Victory, has also achieved important social progress.
The increase of social payments constitutes one of the main priorities of the state policy, and continuous steps have been ensured in this direction through the Decrees and Orders signed by the President. Since 2003, the minimum monthly wage has increased 44.4 times, reaching 400 manats, and the minimum monthly pension has increased 16 times, reaching 320 manats. The average monthly wage has grown 14.2 times, from 77 manats to 1,093.8 manats as of 1 September 2025; the average monthly pension has increased 22.6 times to 539 manats, and the average monthly old-age pension has risen 23.1 times to 574 manats.
In particular, during 2018–2025, five social reform packages were implemented on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. These reforms, covering more than 4 million citizens, required an additional annual allocation of 7.6 billion manats in total. As a result, since 2018, the minimum wage has increased 3.1 times, the average monthly wage 2 times, the total wage fund 3.2 times, the minimum pension nearly 3 times, the average monthly pension 2.6 times, annual spending on benefits and pensions 5 times, and the average amount of targeted social assistance 2.5 times. The annual funds allocated for pension payments have doubled over the past seven years, exceeding 7.2 billion manats. In addition, 10 new types of social payments have been introduced.
In recent years, several humanistic approaches have been applied in Azerbaijan’s pension system to improve accessibility and bring the system closer to every citizen. For example, since 2019, pension assignment has been based on a proactive mechanism: a person whose individual account shows even the smallest amount between 2006–2018 is automatically granted a 25-year insurance record and receives an old-age pension electronically without the need to apply. At the same time, the range of categories eligible for early retirement has been significantly expanded in recent years.
The housing and private house provision programme for families of martyrs and persons with war-related disabilities has been successfully continued every year and expanded fivefold after the glorious Victory in the Patriotic War. During the post-war period, 6,900 apartments have been provided to martyr families and war-related disabled persons, bringing the total number to 16,000. Moreover, during the post-war period, 567 vehicles and, in total, 7,800 vehicles have been presented to persons with war-related disabilities.
One of the achievements of the President’s successful social reform programme is the establishment of DOST centres in Azerbaijan since 2019 under his Decree. Initiated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, the DOST model, recognised among the world’s best practices and awarded numerous international prizes, allows 161 social services to be delivered to citizens from a single platform — through a “one-stop shop” — in a transparent, efficient, and citizen-oriented manner. So far, 7 DOST Centres, a Smart DOST service point, 1 DOST branch, and 1 DOST office have been opened in Baku and regions. During this period, 3.9 million citizens have been served in DOST centres, with a satisfaction rate of 98.6 percent, confirming the DOST model as a successful reform example.
The DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Centre, established at the initiative of First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, is the first and largest inclusive space in the South Caucasus. It provides significant support to developing the creative potential of persons with disabilities, members of martyr and low-income families, orphans and children deprived of parental care, and other vulnerable groups. The centre offers training in dance, visual arts, pottery, music, tailoring, carpet weaving, embroidery, woodcarving, culinary arts, stage performance, and other areas, as well as socio-pedagogical and psychological support. More than 800 people have benefited from services at the Centre and its branches in Ismayilli and Barda districts.
Thanks to President Ilham Aliyev’s constant attention and care for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, the network of social service and rehabilitation institutions has also expanded considerably. The Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities, the Assistance Centre for Victims of Human Trafficking, the Shelter and Social Rehabilitation Institution for persons from vulnerable groups, and a network of day-care, community-based social rehabilitation, and social service centres have been established, along with Rehabilitation Centres for persons with disabilities in Sumgayit, Sheki, Shirvan, Khachmaz, Naftalan, Lankaran, Yevlakh, Gabala, Shamkir, and other regions.
Based on the instructions of the Head of State, in recent years, the programme for digitalising social services has been successfully implemented, and more than 90 percent of labour, employment, and social protection services have now been digitalised. Sixty proactive social services and over 30 types of e-certificates have been created. In 2019, the e-sosial.az portal — the country’s social registry — was launched, and in 2022, the “Labour and Employment” subsystem was introduced, providing a unified digital HR accounting system. In 2024 alone, 663 million requests, applications, and services were processed through electronic systems for labour, employment, and social protection.
In recent years, the successes of Azerbaijan’s social reforms — including the DOST concept and digital services — have been recognised with over 240 international awards and certificates.
President Ilham Aliyev’s special attention to the social sphere will continue to bring Azerbaijan new historical achievements, remarkable victories, and significant progress in ensuring citizens’ welfare in the years ahead.
