1998 Edition

Area

total: 488,100 sq km land: 488,100 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

subtropical desert

Coastline

0 km note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sarygamysh Koli -110 m highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m

Environment-current issues

contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Geography-note

landlocked

Irrigated land

13,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,736 km border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Land use

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 63% forests and woodland: 8% other: 26% (1993 est.)

Location

Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt

Terrain

flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

Age structure

0-14 years: 39% (male 843,839; female 813,837) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,211,477; female 1,249,085) 65 years and over: 4% (male 67,842; female 111,549) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

26.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)

Infant mortality rate

72.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.3 years male: 57.68 years female: 65.11 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate

-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

4,297,629 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.6% (1998 est.)

Religions

Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.26 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

5 welayatlar (singular-welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Constitution

adopted 18 May 1992

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code

TX

Executive branch

chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV; note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996), Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993), Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995), Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently on 26 October 1995 at the annual elders meeting, to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status would require an amendment to the constitution elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002; note-extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved-99.9% of total vote in favor-by national referendum held 15 January 1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by the president election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without opposition; percent of vote-Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5%

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0697 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. COTTER embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, 51-13-06, Tie Line [8] 962-0000

[9] (9312) 51-13-05

Flag description

green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs associated with five different tribes); a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls note: a new flag has been reported

Government type

republic

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV] note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are popularly elected and some are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: People's Council-no elections; Assembly-last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Democratic Party 45, other 5; note-all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV

National capital

Ashgabat

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget

revenues: $521 million expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Tukmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi; Turkmenistan introduced its national currency on 1 November 1993

Debt-external

$400 million (of which $275 million to Russia) (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993) note: commitments, $1,830 million ($375 million drawn), 1992-95

Economy-overview

Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize.

Electricity-capacity

3.95 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

2,013 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

9.204 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

manats per US$1-4,070 (January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996) note: government established a unified rate in mid-January 1996

Exports

total value: $1.7 billion to states outside the FSU (1996) commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, textiles, electricity, carpets partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany, Turkey (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$12.5 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 18% industry: 50% services: 32% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$3,000 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

-0.3% (1996)

Imports

total value: $1.5 billion from states outside the FSU (1996) commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Inflation rate-consumer price index

992% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 2.34 million (1996) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)

Radio broadcast stations

1 state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type

Radios

NA

Telephone system

poorly developed domestic: NA international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations-1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat

Telephones

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 state-run

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

64 (1994 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km (note-these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1 oil tanker ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnowodsk)

Railways

total: 2,187 km broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)

Waterways

the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway

Military branches

Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard

Military expenditures-dollar figure

4.5 billion manats (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

3% (1995)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 1,080,486 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 878,274 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 43,901 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs

limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan (dependent territory of the UK)