Ilham Heidar oglu Aliyev was born on 24 December 1961 year in Baku. He is Aserbaijanian and was graduated from University. He was graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1982 and then in 1986 he completed a post-graduated course at the same Institute. He is a Candidate of historical science.
He lectured in Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1985 –1990. In 1991-1994 he was a General Director of “Orient” Company in Moscow. In May 1994 he was appointed for the post of Vice –President on external economic links in State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and in 1996 he became the First Vice –President of this Company.
He was elected as a Deputy of Milli Medjlis (Parliament) of the Azerbaijan Republic twice in 1995 and 2000 years correspondingly.
In July of 1997 he was nominated as the President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Azerbaijan.
In December 1999, on the 1-st Congress of “Yeni Azerbaijan” Party he was elected to hold a post of Vice- Chairman of this Party. In November 2001 on the 2-nd Congress he was elected as the First Vice –Chairman of the Party.
In 2001 he was appointed to be a Head of the permanent delegation of Milli Medjlis of Azerbaijan in the Parliament Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE).
In January 2003 he was elected to be Vice-Chairman and PACE Bureau member.
Ilham Aliyev was registered as a candidate for the president post of the Azerbaijan Republic on 04 July 2003 year.
He was appointed to hold a post of the Prime Minister of the Azerbaijan Republic on 04 August 2003 year.
On 20 October 2003 year the Central Election Commission officially declared on Ilham Heidar oglu Aliyev election as a President of the Azerbaijan Republic.
He is a fluent speaker and speaks English, French, Turkish and Russian fluently.
He is married and has two daughters and a son.