Turkmenistan

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) country comparison to the world: 176

Internet users

80,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 166

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; 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 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) country comparison to the world: 94

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.511 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 120

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain, melons; livestock

Budget

revenues: $26.4 billion expenditures: $26.9 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Current account balance

$1.496 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $1.005 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $452.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.8 (1998) country comparison to the world: 56

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.) country comparison to the world: 79 $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 (official exchange rate)

$33.47 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$47.55 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $44.04 billion (2011 est.) $38.41 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7.6% industry: 24.4% services: 68% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $8,000 (2011 est.) $7,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 14.7% (2011 est.) 9.2% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$10.43 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $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.) country comparison to the world: 38

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 12% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Labor force

2.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Labor force - by occupation

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.) country comparison to the world: 58 $19.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.652 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $1.41 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.895 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $3.298 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$828.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $723.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

78.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Unemployment rate

60% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

62.05 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Crude oil - exports

67,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - production

222,200 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Crude oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - consumption

11.22 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - exports

1.568 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.852 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - production

15.02 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - consumption

25 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas - exports

34.5 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - production

59.5 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - proved reserves

24.3 trillion cu m (June 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Refined petroleum products - consumption

145,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Refined petroleum products - exports

74,430 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,542 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Refined petroleum products - production

160,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Area

total: 488,100 sq km country comparison to the world: 53 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 Robert E. PATTERSON embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 telephone: [993] (12) 94-00-45 FAX: [993] (12) 94-26-14

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 (eligible for a second term; election last held on 12 February 2012 (next to be held February 2017) election results: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 97.1%, Annageldi YAZMYRADOW 1.1%, other candidates 1.8%

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 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) elections: last held on 14 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2013) election results: 100% of elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan 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)

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) note: 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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,380,794 females age 16-49: 1,387,211 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,066,649 females age 16-49: 1,185,538 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 53,829 female: 52,988 (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: 34

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: 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.) country comparison to the world: 91

Death rate

6.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Education expenditures

NA

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: 160

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Health expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 186

Hospital bed density

4.06 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

total: 40.89 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 60 male: 48.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.84 years country comparison to the world: 153 male: 65.87 years female: 71.96 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

ASHGABAT (capital) 637,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 89

Median age

total: 25.8 years male: 25.4 years female: 26.3 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Physicians density

2.438 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

5,054,828 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Population growth rate

1.143% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

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

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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.14 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Urbanization

urban population: 50% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 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; 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

Airports

26 (2012) country comparison to the world: 126

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 11 country comparison to the world: 110 by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

Pipelines

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

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: 73 paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Waterways

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland waterways) (2011) country comparison to the world: 55