Azerbaijan is one of the countries that widely celebrates International Women's Day. March 8 is an official holiday in the country.

As every year, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, congratulated the country's women on March 8 - International Women's Day.

In the congratulation of the head of state, it was emphasized that the people of Azerbaijan have always held deep respect for women and have esteemed the rights of mothers highly. It was noted that the primary principles of the state’s women’s policy have evolved from this centuries-old foundation.

The congratulations also stated that the preservation of our rich spiritual and moral values, and their rightful survival to this day, is closely associated with our mothers. Azerbaijani women, distinguished by their beauty, elegance, and nobility, have also written bright pages in our history by demonstrating exceptional skill and courage. They have always been a true moral support for our society in moments of fateful ordeals, and proved this again with self-sacrifice during the 44-day Patriotic War.

Azerbaijani women have always deserved special respect in our society.

Some 46.9% of the 112,600 babies born last year were girls. 82.7% of teachers in general educational institutions of the country, 79.4% in secondary specialized educational institutions, 58.7% in higher schools, and two-thirds of doctors are women. Girls comprise 46.6% of students in general educational institutions, 62.5% of students in secondary specialized educational institutions, and half of the students in higher schools.

Women have an exceptional role in the development of science. Some 59.2% of scientific workers are women.

Azerbaijani women actively participate in the socio-economic life of the country, and they constitute 47.9% of the total number of employed population. The proportion of women among civil servants is 29.4%, and 22.7% among private entrepreneurs.