Baku, September 15, 2025
Azerbaijan’s draft budget for 2026 confirms that defense and security will remain the government’s top spending priority, outpacing social and education sectors. The Ministry of Finance released preliminary figures detailing allocations across key areas.
Defense and Security Dominate
The government plans to allocate 8.7 billion manats ($5.1 billion) for defense and security – a 3.8% rise compared with 2025 projections. Observers note the continued push to strengthen military capacity and border security.
Social Protection and Justice
Spending on social protection and welfare will reach 4.87 billion manats ($2.9 billion), marking a 2.55% increase. Judicial and law enforcement institutions are slated for 3.55 billion manats ($2.1 billion), reflecting a robust 11.3% year-on-year rise.
State Services and Economy
General government services are budgeted at 5.77 billion manats ($3.4 billion), up nearly 10%. By contrast, economic activity will decline, with 7.63 billion manats ($4.5 billion) earmarked – 9.75% lower than in 2025.
Education and Healthcare
Education funding will total 4.99 billion manats ($2.9 billion), a modest 1% rise. Healthcare is set at 2.05 billion manats ($1.2 billion), showing a 2.95% increase.
Housing, Agriculture, and Environment Cutbacks
Spending on housing and communal services is set at 298.2 million manats ($176 million), down sharply by 19.4%. Agriculture will receive 1.09 billion manats ($642 million) – a 9.3% drop. Environmental protection faces a cut as well, with 357.2 million manats ($210 million) allocated, 13.8% less than this year.
