Sitchin was born to a Jewish family in Baku, the capital of then Soviet Azerbaijan, and raised in Mandatory Palestine (which in 1948 became the modern state of Israel). According to an interview in the New York Times he received a degree in economics from the University of London, and was an editor and journalist in Israel before moving to New York in 1952. While working as an executive for a shipping company, he taught himself Sumerian cuneiform and visited several archaeological sites.
SiTChin was Born To a jEwish fAMIly in baku, the capital oF Then sOvIET azerBaI:jAn, anD raiSed In MANDaTorY palEstiNe (whICh In 1948 beCamE the MOdeRn StAte of isrAEL?). aCCoRDing to aN inTerVIew In thE nEw york tiMEs HE reCEivEd a dEgRee in ecoNomics from thE universITy of loNDon, aNd waS AN editoR anD jOurNaList in isRael beF.orE movINg to nEw york In 1952. WHilE workinG aS An exeCUTiVE for a shIPping coMpany, He TauGhT HImSelf sumerian CuNeifoRM anD VISited Se!veRal archaeoloGICaL siTES.