Turkmenistan

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

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

Televisions

NA

Agriculture--products

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget

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

Currency

1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi

Debt--external

$1.7 billion (1998 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. 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. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations on extensive short-term external debt.

Electricity--consumption

7.134 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

2.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

350 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

9.484 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 99.96% hydro: 0.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$689 million (1997 est.)

Exports--commodities

natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, textiles, electricity, carpets

Exports--partners

FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany, Turkey (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

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

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$1,630 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

5% (1998)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.1 billion (1997 est.)

Imports--commodities

machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles

Imports--partners

FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

19.8% (1998 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%

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: 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) highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

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 (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); 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 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party, 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 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--Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%

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) elections: People's Council--NA; Assembly--last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 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 holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$88 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

3% (1998)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 1,110,606 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

18 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: 45,050 (1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985) 65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)

Birth rate

25.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

8.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

73.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.11 years male: 57.48 years female: 64.91 years (1999 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

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.58% (1999 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: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.21 children born/woman (1999 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

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 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT (1998 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km

Ports and harbors

Turkmenbashy

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