2012 Edition

Background

Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim crusaders, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times Merv (today known as Mary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited, have begun to transform the country. Turkmenistan is moving to expand its extraction and delivery projects. The Turkmen Government is actively working to diversify its gas export routes beyond the still important Russian pipeline network. In 2010, new gas export pipelines that carry Turkmen gas to China and to northern Iran began operating, effectively ending the Russian monopoly on Turkmen gas exports. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy cabinet chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president; he was chosen as president again in February 2012, in an election that the OSCE said lacked the freedoms necessary to create a competitive environment.

Area

488,100 sq km 469,930 sq km 18,170 sq km

total

488,100 sq km

water

18,170 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

Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m 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) Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

highest point

Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

lowest point

Vpadina Akchanaya -81 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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

24.65 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%) 5,104 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

5,104 cu m/yr (2000)

total

24.65 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%)

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

Irrigated land

18,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

3,736 km Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

border countries

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

total

3,736 km

Land use

4.51% 0.14% 95.35% (2005)

arable land

4.51%

other

95.35% (2005)

permanent crops

0.14%

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, 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

Total renewable water resources

60.9 cu km (1997)

Age structure

27.1% (male 692,297/ female 675,224) 68.8% (male 1,723,403/ female 1,755,457) 4.1% (male 90,703/ female 117,744) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

27.1% (male 692,297/ female 675,224)

15-64 years

68.8% (male 1,723,403/ female 1,755,457)

65 years and over

4.1% (male 90,703/ female 117,744) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

19.55 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

6.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.06 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

40.89 deaths/1,000 live births 48.77 deaths/1,000 live births 32.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

32.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

40.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Life expectancy at birth

68.84 years 65.87 years 71.96 years (2012 est.)

female

71.96 years (2012 est.)

total population

68.84 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 98.8% 99.3% 98.3% (1999 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.3% (1999 est.)

male

99.3%

total population

98.8%

Major cities - population

ASHGABAT (capital) 637,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

25.8 years 25.4 years 26.3 years (2012 est.)

female

26.3 years (2012 est.)

male

25.4 years

total

25.8 years

Nationality

Turkmen(s) Turkmen

adjective

Turkmen

noun

Turkmen(s)

Net migration rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

2.438 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

5,054,828 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.143% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population

rural

3% of population

total

2% of population

urban

1% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.14 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

50% of total population (2010) 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

50% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*

Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty

Capital

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) 37 57 N, 58 23 E UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

37 57 N, 58 23 E

name

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)

time difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 26 September 2008

Country name

none Turkmenistan none Turkmenistan Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Turkmenistan

former

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Turkmenistan

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Robert E. PATTERSON No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 [993] (12) 94-00-45 [993] (12) 94-26-14

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert E. PATTERSON

embassy

No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000

FAX

[993] (12) 94-26-14

mailing address

7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070

telephone

[993] (12) 94-00-45

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-1500 [1] (202) 588-0697

chancery

2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0697

telephone

[1] (202) 588-1500

Executive branch

President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007) Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term; election last held on 12 February 2012 (next to be held February 2017) Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 97.1%, Annageldi YAZMYRADOW 1.1%, other candidates 1.8%

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 97.1%, Annageldi YAZMYRADOW 1.1%, other candidates 1.8%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term; election last held on 12 February 2012 (next to be held February 2017)

head of government

President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007)

Flag description

green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon represent Islam; the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan; the guls reflect the national identity of Turkmenistan where carpet-making has long been a part of traditional nomadic life the flag of Turkmenistan is the most intricate of all national flags

Government type

defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic; in actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power concentrated within the presidential administration

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings and held the chairmanship of the CIS in 2012), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Commercial Court

Legal system

civil law system with Islamic law influences

Legislative branch

unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly (Mejlis) (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 14 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2013) 100% of elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by the president in 26 September 2008, a new constitution of Turkmenistan abolished a second, 2,507-member legislative body known as the People's Council and expanded the number of deputies in the National Assembly from 65 to 125; the powers formerly held by the People's Council were divided up between the president and the National Assembly

election results

100% of elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by the president

elections

last held on 14 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2013)

National anthem

"Garassyz, Bitarap Turkmenistanyn" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem) collective/Veli MUKHATOV adopted 1997, lyrics revised 2008; following the death of the President Saparmurat NYYAZOW, the lyrics were altered to eliminate references to the former president

lyrics/music

collective/Veli MUKHATOV

name

"Garassyz, Bitarap Turkmenistanyn" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

National symbol(s)

Akhal-Teke horse

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, Chairman; Kasymguly BABAYEW, DPT Political Council First Secretary]; Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs or PIE [Orazmammet MAMMEDOW] (party registered 21 August 2012) a law authorizing the registration of political parties went into effect in January 2012; unofficial, small opposition movements exist abroad; the three most prominent opposition groups-in-exile are the National Democratic Movement of Turkmenistan (NDMT), the Republican Party of Turkmenistan, and the Watan (Fatherland) Party; the NDMT was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 attack on President NYYAZOW's motorcade

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain, melons; livestock

Budget

$26.4 billion $26.9 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$26.9 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$26.4 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Current account balance

$1.496 billion (2012 est.) $1.005 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) $452.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.8 (1998)

Economy - overview

Turkmenistan is largely a desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and sizeable gas and oil resources. The two largest crops are cotton, most of which is produced for export, and wheat, which is domestically consumed. Although agriculture accounts for roughly 8% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country's workforce. Turkmenistan's authoritarian regime has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton export revenues to sustain its inefficient and highly corrupt economy. Privatization goals remain limited. From 1998-2005, 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 an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-08, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Additional pipelines to China, that began operation in early 2010, and increased pipeline capacity to Iran, have expanded Turkmenistan's export routes for its gas. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of endemic corruption, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt market-oriented reforms. The majority of Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets. The present government established a State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other publicized figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW unified the country's dual currency exchange rate, ordered the redenomination of the manat, reduced state subsidies for gasoline, and initiated development of a special tourism zone on the Caspian Sea. Although foreign investment is encouraged, and some improvements in macroeconomic policy have been made, numerous bureaucratic obstacles impede international business activity.

Exchange rates

Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar - 2.85 (2012 est.) 2.85 (2011 est.) 2.85 (2010 est.) 2.85 (2009) 14,250 (2008)

Exports

$16.16 billion (2012 est.) $14.78 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Exports - partners

China 59.2%, Turkey 5%, Italy 4.7%, UAE 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

7.6% 24.4% 68% (2012 est.)

agriculture

7.6%

industry

24.4%

services

68% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,500 (2012 est.) $8,000 (2011 est.) $7,100 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8% (2012 est.) 14.7% (2011 est.) 9.2% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$33.47 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$47.55 billion (2012 est.) $44.04 billion (2011 est.) $38.41 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.6% 31.7% (1998)

highest 10%

31.7% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Imports

$10.43 billion (2012 est.) $9.604 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Turkey 21%, Russia 14%, China 11.1%, UAE 7.9%, Germany 5.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (2012 est.) 12% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.3 million (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

48.2% 14% 37.8% (2004 est.)

agriculture

48.2%

industry

14%

services

37.8% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

30% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $19.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.652 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.41 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.895 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.298 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$828.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) $723.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

78.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

60% (2004 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

62.05 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

67,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

222,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

11.22 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.568 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.852 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

15.02 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

25 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - exports

34.5 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

59.5 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

24.3 trillion cu m (June 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

145,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

74,430 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,542 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

160,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

broadcast media is government controlled and censored; 7 state-owned TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes and programming provide an alternative to the state-run media; officials sometimes limit access to satellite TV by removing satellite dishes (2007)

Internet country code

.tm

Internet hosts

714 (2012)

Internet users

80,400 (2009)

Telephone system

telecommunications network remains underdeveloped and progress toward improvement is slow; strict government control and censorship inhibits liberalization and modernization Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign partners, has installed high speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of the country's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digital technology; combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity is about 80 per 100 persons; Russia's Mobile Telesystems, the only foreign mobile-cellular service provider in Turkmenistan, had its operating license suspended in December 2010 but was able to resume operations in September 2012 country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; an exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2012)

domestic

Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign partners, has installed high speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of the country's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digital technology; combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity is about 80 per 100 persons; Russia's Mobile Telesystems, the only foreign mobile-cellular service provider in Turkmenistan, had its operating license suspended in December 2010 but was able to resume operations in September 2012

general assessment

telecommunications network remains underdeveloped and progress toward improvement is slow; strict government control and censorship inhibits liberalization and modernization

international

country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; an exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2012)

Telephones - main lines in use

547,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.511 million (2011)

Airports

26 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

9

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

21

Airports - with unpaved runways

4 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

5

under 914 m

4 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

total

11

Pipelines

gas 7,352 km; oil 1,457 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Turkmenbasy

Railways

2,980 km 2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

total

2,980 km

Roadways

58,592 km 47,577 km 11,015 km (2002)

total

58,592 km

unpaved

11,015 km (2002)

Waterways

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland waterways) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

1,380,794 1,387,211 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,387,211 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,380,794

Manpower fit for military service

1,066,649 1,185,538 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,185,538 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,066,649

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

53,829 52,988 (2010 est.)

female

52,988 (2010 est.)

male

53,829

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010)

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009)

Disputes - international

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate the sea's waters and seabed; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian

Illicit drugs

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan