2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty

note

administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain; livestock

Airports

76 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

63 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m

41 (2002) Military Turkmenistan

Area

land

488,100 sq km

total

488,100 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

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. Geography Turkmenistan

Birth rate

28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$658.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

revenues

$588.6 million

Capital

Ashgabat

Climate

subtropical desert

Coastline

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

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

Currency

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Currency code

TMM

Death rate

8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON

embassy

9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[9] (9312) 35-00-45

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV

Disputes - international

prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; Turkmenistan has not committed to follow either Iran or the other littoral states in the division of the Caspian Sea seabed and water column; ICJ decision expected to resolve dispute with Azerbaijan over sovereignty over Caspian oilfields; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan is underway - maritime boundary not resolved

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.8 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$16 million from the US (2001)

Economy - overview

Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth-largest producer. 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. In 1998-2003, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports rose by 38% in 2003, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of foreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adopt market-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation with the international community in transporting humanitarian aid to Afghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreign investment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantially in 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapid industrial growth.

Electricity - consumption

8.509 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

980 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

20 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

10.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.9%

hydro

0.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

lowest point

Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Turkmen manats per US dollar - 5,200 (2002), 5,200 (2001), 5,200 (2000), 5,200 (1999), 4,890.17 (1998); note - the official exchange rate has not varied for the last four years; the unofficial rate has fluctuated slightly, hovering around 21,000 manats to the dollar

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 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)

Exports

$2.97 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)

Exports - partners

Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0697

[9] (9312) 39-26-14

chancery

2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 588-1500

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Turkmenistan

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 Economy Turkmenistan

GDP

purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

27%

industry

50%

services

23% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

21.1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau People Turkmenistan

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

19,488 km

total

24,000 km

unpaved

4,512 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.7% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Illicit drugs

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; small-scale government-run eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$2.25 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 60%, foodstuffs 15% (1999)

Imports - partners

Russia 19.8%, Turkey 12.8%, Ukraine 11.7%, UAE 10%, US 7.5%, China 6%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 4.4% (2002)

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

76.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

73.17 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Internet country code

.tm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1

Internet users

2,000 (2000) Transportation Turkmenistan

Irrigated land

17,500 sq km (2003 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

2.34 million (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 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

3.47%

other

96.39% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.14%

Languages

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

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 at least yearly) 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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.84 years (2003 est.)

male

57.72 years

total population

61.19 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97% (1989 est.) Government Turkmenistan

male

99%

total population

98%

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

22 years (2002)

male

20.2 years

total

21.1 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT

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) Transnational Issues Turkmenistan

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,239,737 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,005,686 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

53,825 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Nationality

adjective

Turkmen

noun

Turkmen(s)

Natural gas - consumption

9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

38.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

48.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.43 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt

Net migration rate

-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

273 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 6,634 km; oil 853 km (2003)

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; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

34.4% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.82% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Turkmenbasy

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

1.225 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)

total

2,440 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

poorly developed

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

363,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4,300 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

820,000 (1997)

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

Total fertility rate

3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as is the man-made Kara Kum canal