2000 Edition

Background

Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be worked out.

Area

land

488,100 sq km

total

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

highest point

Ayrybaba 3,139 m

lowest point

Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at -60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)

Environment - current issues

contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

border countries

Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

total

3,736 km

Land use

arable land

3%

forests and woodland

8%

other

26% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

63%

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: 38% (male 887,088; female 850,384) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,277,176; female 1,321,465) 65 years and over: 4% (male 69,383; female 112,772) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

28.88 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.04 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

73.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.71 years (2000 est.)

male

57.29 years

total population

60.91 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97% (1989 est.)

male

99%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Turkmen

noun

Turkmen(s)

Net migration rate

-1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

4,518,268 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.87% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.63 children born/woman (2000 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)

Capital

Ashgabat

Constitution

adopted 18 May 1992

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Turkmenistan

former

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Turkmenistan

Data code

TX

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Steven R. MANN

embassy

9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

(9312) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, 51-13-06, Tie Line 962-0000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Halil UGUR

telephone

(202) 588-1500

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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

election results

Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next scheduled to be held NA); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the Assembly on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by the president

head of government

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

note

NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)

FAX

(202) 588-0697

(9312) 51-13-05

Flag description

green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Government type

republic

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

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 elected by popular vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT

elections

People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT

note

formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$521 million

Currency

1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi

Debt - external

$2.1 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$27.2 million (1995)

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. 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. 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. In 1998-99, Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations on extensive short-term external debt. Prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty and the burden of foreign debt. IMF assistance would seem to be necessary, yet the government is not as yet ready to accept IMF requirements. Turkmenistan's 1999 deal to ship 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas through Russia's Gazprom will help alleviate the 2000 fiscal shortfall, but will not make up for the absence of meaningful progress in economic reform.

Electricity - consumption

5.453 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

2.74 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

60 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

8.745 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.94%

hydro

0.06%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Turkmen manats per US$1 - 5,200 (January 2000), 5,350 (January 1999), 4,070 (January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)

Exports

$1.1 billion (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and gas 55%, cotton 22% (1998)

Exports - partners

Iran, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10%

industry

62%

services

28% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)

Imports

$1.25 billion (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 45%, chemicals, foodstuffs (1998)

Imports - partners

Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Germany, US, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

30% (1999 est.)

Labor force

2.34 million (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

1.225 million (1997)

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 - main lines in use

320,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

3 (much programming relayed from Russia and Turkey) (1997)

Televisions

820,000 (1997)

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

paved

19,488 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)

total

24,000 km

unpaved

4,512 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km

Ports and harbors

Turkmenbashi

Railways

broad gauge

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

total

2,187 km

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

$90 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,141,227 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 926,160 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

46,487 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

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

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

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS