Baku, August 25 — Azerbaijan’s cultural life is showing mixed signals: fewer people are turning to books, while cinemas, concerts, and museums are seeing rising interest.
According to the State Statistics Committee, the number of libraries in the country has remained almost unchanged — 2,914 compared to 2,913 a year earlier. The book collection still stands at 27.7 million volumes, yet readership has dipped slightly: in 2023, there were 2,718 books per 1,000 people; in 2024, that number dropped to 2,710.
Cinemas, however, are on the rise. The number of theaters increased from six to seven, and attendance grew from 1.89 million to 1.95 million viewers. Traditional theaters are struggling in comparison: with the same 29 venues, attendance fell from 430,000 to 419,000.
Concerts are becoming more popular, with 52 out of every 1,000 residents attending — up from 50 the year before. Museums also drew bigger crowds, climbing from 2.53 million to 2.69 million visitors.
The biggest decline came in the circus sector: Azerbaijan’s only circus lost nearly its entire audience, plummeting from 124,000 spectators to just 14,000.
The number of cultural and recreational parks rose slightly from 436 to 439. Music and art schools for children remain steady at 236, but enrollment fell from 55,400 to 54,700 students.
Taken together, the data paints a fragmented picture: while cinema, concerts, and museums thrive, libraries, theaters, and especially the circus are losing ground. Experts warn that declining interest in reading and art among the younger generation could pose long-term challenges for the country’s cultural future.
