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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

Internet country code [time series]

.tm

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

363,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,300 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $588.6 million expenditures: $658.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

TMM

Debt - external [time series]

$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

40.8 (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$16 million from the US (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth-largest producer. 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. Privatization goals remain limited. In 1998-2003, 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 38% in 2003, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of foreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adopt market-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation with the international community in transporting humanitarian aid to Afghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreign investment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantially in 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapid industrial growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.509 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

980 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

20 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

10.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Turkmen manats per US dollar - 5,200 (2002), 5,200 (2001), 5,200 (2000), 5,200 (1999), 4,890.17 (1998); note - the official exchange rate has not varied for the last four years; the unofficial rate has fluctuated slightly, hovering around 21,000 manats to the dollar

Exports [time series]

$2.97 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)

Exports - partners [time series]

Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 27% industry: 50% services: 23% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)

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

21.1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.25 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 60%, foodstuffs 15% (1999)

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 19.8%, Turkey 12.8%, Ukraine 11.7%, UAE 10%, US 7.5%, China 6%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 4.4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.34 million (1996)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

38.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

48.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.43 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

273 million bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

34.4% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 488,100 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 488,100 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than California

Climate [time series]

subtropical desert

Coastline [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

17,500 sq km (2003 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3.47% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.39% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (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 [time series]

Ashgabat

Constitution [time series]

adopted 18 May 1992

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45 FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the Assembly on 28 December 1999); 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% note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

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 or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT elections: People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

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

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV] note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be worked out.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$90 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.4% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,239,737 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,005,686 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 53,825 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 73.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 61.19 years male: 57.72 years female: 64.84 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 21.1 years male: 20.2 years female: 22 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.82% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; Turkmenistan has not committed to follow either Iran or the other littoral states in the division of the Caspian Sea seabed and water column; ICJ decision expected to resolve dispute with Azerbaijan over sovereignty over Caspian oilfields; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan is underway - maritime boundary not resolved

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; small-scale government-run eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

Transportation

Airports [time series]

76 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 63 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 41 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 6,634 km; oil 853 km (2003)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Turkmenbasy

Railways [time series]

total: 2,440 km broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)

Waterways [time series]

the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as is the man-made Kara Kum canal