Turkmenistan

Broadcast media

broadcast media is government controlled and censored; 4 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 seizing satellite dishes (2007)

Internet country code

.tm

Internet hosts

794 (2010) country comparison to the world: 172

Internet users

80,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications network remains underdeveloped and progress toward improvement is slow; strict government control and censorship inhibits liberalization and modernization 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; mobile telephone usage is expanding with Russia's Mobile Telesystems (MTS) the primary service provider; combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity is about 40 per 100 persons 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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

478,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 99

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.5 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 139

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain; livestock

Current account balance

$3.081 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $1.065 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.8 (1998) country comparison to the world: 60

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 10% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country's workforce. 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 export revenues to sustain its inefficient 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. New pipelines to China and Iran, that began operation in late 2009 and early 2010, have given Turkmenistan additional export routes for its gas, although these new routes have not offset the sharp drop in export revenue since early 2009 from decreased gas exports to Russia. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, endemic corruption, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other 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, numerous bureaucratic obstacles impede international business activity.

Electricity - consumption

13 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - exports

2.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

15.5 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$9.672 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $6.737 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Exports - partners

Ukraine 22.3%, Turkey 10.27%, Hungary 6.75%, UAE 6.25%, Poland 6.16%, Afghanistan 5.79%, Iran 5.17% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.96 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$36.64 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $33.01 billion (2009 est.) $31.11 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.2% industry: 30% services: 59.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $6,800 (2009 est.) $6,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

11% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 6.1% (2009 est.) 10.5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.888 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $4.109 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 18.03%, Turkey 16.49%, Russia 16.45%, Germany 5.91%, UAE 5.81%, Ukraine 5.67%, US 5.41%, France 4.32% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 10% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

12.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Labor force

2.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 48.2% industry: 14% services: 37.8% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

20 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - exports

14 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - production

34 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - proved reserves

7.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - consumption

120,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Oil - exports

38,360 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Oil - production

197,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Population below poverty line

30% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.81 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $9.551 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.053 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $912.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.089 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $1.811 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$573 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 157 $469.5 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

60% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Area

total: 488,100 sq km country comparison to the world: 52 land: 469,930 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

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) highest point: Gora Ayribaba 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

total: 3,736 km border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Land use

arable land: 4.51% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 95.35% (2005)

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)

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

Capital

name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 26 September 2008

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 telephone: [993] (12) 35-00-45 FAX: [993] (12) 39-26-14

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

Executive branch

chief of state: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 11 February 2007 (next to be held in February 2012) election results: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 89.2%, Amanyaz ATAJYKOW 3.2%, other candidates 7.6%

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 note: 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 organization participation

ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings), 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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Legal system

transitioning to civil law system and influenced by Islamic law tradition; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly (Mejlis) (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 14 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2013) election results: 100% of elected officials are members of either the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or its pseudo-civil society parent organization, the Revival Movement, and are preapproved by the president note: 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

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW is chairman; Kasymguly BABAYEW is DPT Political Council First Secretary] note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; 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

Background

Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan; 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 between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country once extraction and delivery projects are expanded. The Turkmen Government is actively working to diversify its gas export routes beyond the still dominant 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,360,898 females age 16-49: 1,368,265 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,046,907 females age 16-49: 1,168,960 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 55,805 female: 54,908 (2010 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 713,698/female 697,222) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,618,678/female 1,646,992) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 90,352/female 117,945) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

19.62 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Death rate

6.27 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 110

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Infant mortality rate

total: 43.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 60 male: 52.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.2 years country comparison to the world: 151 male: 65.25 years female: 71.29 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.3% female: 98.3% (1999 est.)

Median age

total: 24.8 years male: 24.4 years female: 25.3 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate

-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Population

4,940,916 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Population growth rate

1.14% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Urbanization

urban population: 49% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan); less than 1,000 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Airports

27 (2010) country comparison to the world: 122

Airports - with paved runways

total: 22 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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 119 by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 6,417 km; oil 1,457 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Turkmenbasy

Railways

total: 2,980 km country comparison to the world: 56 broad gauge: 2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 58,592 km country comparison to the world: 77 paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Waterways

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland waterways) (2008) country comparison to the world: 56