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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

4.5 billion manats, 3.0% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,024,398 males fit for military service: 834,803 males reach military age (18) annually: 41,697 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is at least one state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

NA Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Turkmenistan introduced its national currency, the manat, on 1 November 1993

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993) note: commitments, $1,830 million ($375 million drawn), 1992-95

Economic overview [time series]

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 has 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 remained depressed through 1995 while inflation soared. 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. For 1996, Turkmenistan will face continuing constraints on its earnings because of its customers' inability to pay for their gas and a below average cotton crop in 1995. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey, but these will take many years to realize.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 2,480,000 kW production: 9.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

manats per US$1 - 2,400 (January 1996) note: government established a unified rate in mid-January 1996

Exports [time series]

$1.9 billion to states outside the FSU (1995) commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, electricity, textiles, carpets partners: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Argentina

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$400 million (of which $275 million to Russia) (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 32.5% industry: 33.4% services: 34.1% (1991 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$2,820 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

-10% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$777 million from states outside the FSU (1995) commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-7% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

25% monthly average (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.642 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1992)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 488,100 sq km land area: 488,100 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than California

Climate [time series]

subtropical desert

Coastline [time series]

0 km note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, 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 natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined

Irrigated land [time series]

12,450 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 69% forest and woodland: 0% other: 29%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt

Terrain [time series]

flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west lowest point: Sarygamysh Koli -110 m highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

5 welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from welayat name

Legislative branch (Assembly (Majlis)) [time series]

elections last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total) Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV

Capital [time series]

Ashgabat

Constitution [time series]

adopted 18 May 1992

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 737-4800

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occured) was elected to a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002); results - Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5% (ran unopposed); note - a 15 January 1994 referendum extended NIYAZOV's term an additional five years until 2002 (99.99% approval) head of government: Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), Hekim ISHANOV (since NA), Valeriy OTCHERTSOV (since NA), Yagmur OVEZOV (since NA), Matkarim RAJAPOV (since NA), Pirkuly ODEYEV (since NA), Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA), Amannazar ILAMANOV (since NA), Ilaman SHYKHYYEV (since NA) were appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently on 26 October 1995 at the annual elders meeting, to be "president for life," but that would require an amendment to the constitution

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 737-1152

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[7] (3632) 51-13-05

Flag [time series]

green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls

Independence [time series]

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council (Halk Maslahaty - having more than 100 members and meeting infrequently) and a 50-member unicameral Assembly (Majlis)

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat NIYAZOV; Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat HOJA-MUHAMEDOV, chairman; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. COTTER embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3632) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, Tie Line [8] 962-0000

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 39% (male 826,637; female 804,385) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,154,415; female 1,188,173) 65 years and over: 5% (male 65,447; female 110,226) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Turkmen 73.3%, Russian 9.8%, Uzbek 9%, Kazak 2%, other 5.9%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

81.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 61.48 years male: 56.68 years female: 66.52 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

4,149,283 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.82% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 87%, Eastern Orthodox 11%, unknown 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 64 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 23,000 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1990 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km

Ports [time series]

Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnowodsk)

Railways [time series]

total: 2,120 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,120 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Waterways [time series]

the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway