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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.tm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

524 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

8,000 (2002)

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: country code - 993; 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]

374,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

52,000 (2004)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (government owned and programmed) (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, grain; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.05 billion expenditures: $3.05 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Current account balance [time series]

$114 million (2004 est.)

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; formerly it was the world's tenth-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years have led to a nearly 46% decline in cotton exports. 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 1998-2004, 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 perhaps 30% in 2003 and 19% in 2004, 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, the government's irrational use of oil and gas revenues, and its unwillingness to adopt market-oriented reforms. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.908 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.136 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

11.41 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Turkmen manats per US dollar - 10,100 (2004), 10,034 (2003), 10,098 (2002), 5,200 (2001) note: in recent years the unofficial rate has hovered around 21,000 manats to the dollar

Exports [time series]

$4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles

Exports - partners [time series]

Ukraine 46.6%, Iran 17.3%, Turkey 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$27.6 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 28.5% industry: 42.7% services: 28.8% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2004 est.)

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

IMF estimate: 7.5% note: official government statistics show 21.4% growth, but these estimates are notoriously unreliable (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.85 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

US 11.8%, Russia 9.7%, UAE 9.2%, Ukraine 9%, Turkey 8.6%, Germany 8%, France 5%, Georgia 4.6%, Iran 4.5% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

official government estimate: 22% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

29% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.32 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 48.2%, industry 13.8%, services 37% (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

43.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

58.57 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.43 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

273 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

58% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.034 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

60% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 488,100 sq km land: 488,100 sq km water: negl.

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: 3.72% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.14% (2001)

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, 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 local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON embassy: 9 Pushkin (1984) Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-7070 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 chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

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: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held in 2008 when NIYAZOV turns 70 and is constitutionally ineligible to run); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the People's Council 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%

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; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Independence [time series]

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

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

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 (supreme legislative body of up to 2,500 delegates, some of whom are elected by popular vote and some of whom are appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Parliament or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003; Mejlis - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009) election results: Mejlis - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - all 50 elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by President NIYAZOV note: in late 2003, a new law was adopted, reducing the powers of the Mejlis and making the Halk Maslahaty the supreme legislative organ; the Halk Maslahaty can now legally dissolve the Mejlis, and the president is now able to participate in the Mejlis as its supreme leader; the Mejlis can no longer adopt or amend the constitution, or announce referendums or its elections; since the president is both the "Chairman for Life" of the Halk Maslahaty and the supreme leader of the Mejlis, the 2003 law has the effect of making him the sole authority of both the executive and legislative branches of government

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 SHIKHMURADOV 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; the Union of Democratic Forces, a coalition of opposition-in-exile groups, is based in Europe

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 1924. 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 were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to develop alternative petroleum transportation routes in order to break Russia's pipeline monopoly.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,132,833 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 759,978 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 56,532 (2005 est.)

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

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$90 million (FY99)

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

3.4% (FY99)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35.7% (male 909,113/female 860,128) 15-64 years: 60.2% (male 1,462,198/female 1,516,836) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 78,119/female 125,687) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.68 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2004 est.)

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

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 73.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 61.39 years male: 58.02 years female: 64.93 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.3% female: 98.3% (1995 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.56 years male: 20.68 years female: 22.44 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

4,952,081 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.81% (2005 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: 1.06 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 (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.41 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan has started but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 23 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 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT by type: cargo 3, combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 6,549 km; oil 1,395 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Turkmenbasy

Railways [time series]

total: 2,440 km broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)

Waterways [time series]

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways) (2003)