Masally District () is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the southeast of the country and belongs to the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lankaran, Lerik, Yardimli, Jalilabad, and Neftchala. Its capital and largest city is Masally. As of 2020, the district had a population of 227,700.
In the east, the district is washed by the Caspian Sea, and in the west it approaches Talysh Mountains, Burovar ridge. Height of the territory reaches . There are mineral and geothermal springs in Masally. Average temperature is in January, and in July. The amount of annual precipitation is . The Vilash is the largest river of the district. There are broad-leaved forests of Girkan type-chestnut-leaved oak, hornbeam, beech, Persian ironwood tree, Girkan boxwood, Caucasian persimmon, medlar and others in the mountainous part of the district. Total area of the district's forests equals . There are 107 villages in Masally.
Masally district was established in 1930. Formerly, the territory of the district was part of Arkevan area of Lankaran District. Before that, the territory of the district belonged to ancient Manna and Atropatena states. It was included in Talysh Khanate in the middle of the 18th century.
The head of Masally District is chief executive. Chief executives:
The center of the district is the city of Masally. The average population density is 159 people per km<sup>2</sup>. Boradigah township, Badalan, Arkevan, Banbashi, Gizilagaj, Teze Alvadi, and Chakhirli villages are the other largest population aggregates.
According to data of 2020, the population of the rayon consists of 228,977 people; 92% are Azerbaijanis and 7.9% are the Talysh people.
The total area of the district is 72,097 ha. 22,783 ha (31.6%) of the territory belongs to the state. (73.1%) of this area is covered with forests, which Forest Agriculture department owns 15,960 ha, and the rest is for the domestic economy. (1.9%) area is included to water fund and (20.02%) area belongs to the state reserve fund.
Municipality owns (26.0%) of the area. of this territory is for the perspective development of municipality bodies and 1,393 ha of area belongs to the reserve fund of the municipality.
(42.4%) of the area is private property. (88%) of the territory is privatized and (12%) belong to the local people.
The decree of the President dated 15 March 2012 granted 2.0 million manats to the executive of Masally District for the acceleration of the socio-economic development in the region.
Agriculture, construction, industry, transportation, and telecommunication are the cores of economy in Masally district.
In JanuaryâÂÂDecember 2015, there was 37,366 thousand manats worth of goods and service production in the Masally industry. It is more 4.6% more than the previous year. 85.1% of the total industrial production was goods and 14.9% was serviced.
In 2015, cargo transportation by automobiles was 2,368 thousand ton. It is 113 thousand ton more than the previous year. Transportation of passengers was 13,324 thousand persons, which is 813 thousand people more than the previous years. The total worth of transportation was 10,832,4 thousand manats in 2015.
In 2015, the total worth of telecommunication services was 1,375 thousand manats. It is 5.4% more than the previous year.
The construction of the museum stated in 2014 and completed in 2016. The president Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the museum. The museum has an exhibition hall, administrative room, ideological center, fund, and drawing gallery.
The museum has more than 7,000 exhibits, which illustrates the history of Masally from Eneolithic period to the 20th century. Exhibits include sculptures, carvings, drawings, clothing, photos, arts, crafts, and documents.