Investigating Spatial Distribution of Population in Urban System of Huge Area, Azerbaijan

Imbalance in settlement system is one of the most important challenges of urbanization development and urban system in Iran. Considering Imbalance in population distribution is the cause of inequality in other sections such as economic, social and political activities, any efforts to regulate it requires the study of current situation and trends in this field. This article aims to investigate the spatial distribution of population in urban system of huge area, Azerbaijan and its development in the last fifty-five years (1956-2011). The research was applicatory and its method was descriptive-analytic. Using Moran index and prime city techniques and indexes concentration and equilibrium were considered. The studied statistical population included cities of western Azerbaijan, eastern Azerbaijan, and Ardebil (124 cities). The findings resulting from Moran index indicated the random distribution of urban centers and urban population in Azerbaijan. Also the results showed that the equilibrium of the region increased and the distance between big cities and central and small cities declined over time in the urban system as a whole. In addition, any movement towards optimal distribution of urban population in the region and returning to equilibrium conditions in the urban hierarchy was observed in Azerbaijan.