2005 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: 35.7% (male 909,113/female 860,128) 15-64 years: 60.2% (male 1,462,198/female 1,516,836) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 78,119/female 125,687) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain; livestock

Airports

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

23 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Area

land

488,100 sq km

total

488,100 sq km

water

negl.

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Background

Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. 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 were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to develop alternative petroleum transportation routes in order to break Russia's pipeline monopoly. Geography Turkmenistan

Birth rate

27.68 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.05 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$3.05 billion

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 (code)

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Currency code

TMM

Current account balance

$114 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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 (1984) Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000

FAX

[9] (9312) 39-26-14

mailing address

7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-7070

telephone

[9] (9312) 35-00-45

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0697

telephone

[1] (202) 588-1500

Disputes - international

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan has started but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled

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; formerly it was the world's tenth-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years have led to a nearly 46% decline in cotton exports. 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 1998-2004, 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 perhaps 30% in 2003 and 19% in 2004, 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, the government's irrational use of oil and gas revenues, and its unwillingness to adopt market-oriented reforms. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain.

Electricity - consumption

8.908 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

1.136 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

11.41 billion kWh (2004 est.)

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 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)

Exchange rates

Turkmen manats per US dollar - 10,100 (2004), 10,034 (2003), 10,098 (2002), 5,200 (2001) note: in recent years the unofficial rate has hovered around 21,000 manats to the dollar

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)

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 in 2008 when NIYAZOV turns 70 and is constitutionally ineligible to run); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the People's Council 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

Exports

$4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles

Exports - partners

Ukraine 46.6%, Iran 17.3%, Turkey 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

28.5%

industry

42.7%

services

28.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

IMF estimate

7.5% note: official government statistics show 21.4% growth, but these estimates are notoriously unreliable (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$27.6 billion (2004 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; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Heliports

1 (2004 est.) Military Turkmenistan

Highways

paved

19,488 km

total

24,000 km

unpaved

4,512 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)

Illicit drugs

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$2.85 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 11.8%, Russia 9.7%, UAE 9.2%, Ukraine 9%, Turkey 8.6%, Germany 8%, France 5%, Georgia 4.6%, Iran 4.5% (2004)

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

official government estimate

22% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

69.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

76.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

73.08 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.tm

Internet hosts

524 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1

Internet users

8,000 (2002) Transportation Turkmenistan

Investment (gross fixed)

29% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

17,500 sq km (2003 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

2.32 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 48.2%, industry 13.8%, services 37% (2003 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

3.72%

other

96.14% (2001)

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 (supreme legislative body of up to 2,500 delegates, some of whom are elected by popular vote and some of whom are appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Parliament or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Mejlis - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - all 50 elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by President NIYAZOV note: in late 2003, a new law was adopted, reducing the powers of the Mejlis and making the Halk Maslahaty the supreme legislative organ; the Halk Maslahaty can now legally dissolve the Mejlis, and the president is now able to participate in the Mejlis as its supreme leader; the Mejlis can no longer adopt or amend the constitution, or announce referendums or its elections; since the president is both the "Chairman for Life" of the Halk Maslahaty and the supreme leader of the Mejlis, the 2003 law has the effect of making him the sole authority of both the executive and legislative branches of government

elections

People's Council - last held in April 2003; Mejlis - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.93 years (2005 est.)

male

58.02 years

total population

61.39 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.3% (1995 est.) Government Turkmenistan

male

99.3%

total population

98.8%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,132,833 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 759,978 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

56,532 (2005 est.)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

22.44 years (2005 est.)

male

20.68 years

total

21.56 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 3, combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2005)

total

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

Military branches

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$90 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY99) Transnational Issues Turkmenistan

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

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

43.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

58.57 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.43 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Net migration rate

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

273 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 6,549 km; oil 1,395 km (2004)

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 SHIKHMURADOV 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; the Union of Democratic Forces, a coalition of opposition-in-exile groups, is based in Europe

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,952,081 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

58% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.81% (2005 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 (2004)

total

2,440 km

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.034 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

poorly developed

international

country code - 993; 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

374,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

52,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

4 (government owned and programmed) (2004)

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

3.41 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

60% (2004 est.)

Waterways

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways) (2003)