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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.tm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

714 (2012) country comparison to the world: 176

Internet users [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

547,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 94

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, grain, melons; livestock

Budget [time series]

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

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

40.8 (1998) country comparison to the world: 56

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

$16.16 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $14.78 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Exports - partners [time series]

China 59.2%, Turkey 5%, Italy 4.7%, UAE 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$33.47 billion (2012 est.)

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

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

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

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

$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

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

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$10.43 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $9.604 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

Turkey 21%, Russia 14%, China 11.1%, UAE 7.9%, Germany 5.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

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

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$20.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $19.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

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

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money [time series]

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

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

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

Crude oil - exports [time series]

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

Crude oil - imports [time series]

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

Crude oil - production [time series]

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

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

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

Electricity - consumption [time series]

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

Electricity - exports [time series]

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

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

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

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

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

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

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

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

Electricity - imports [time series]

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

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

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

Electricity - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

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

Natural gas - exports [time series]

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

Natural gas - imports [time series]

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

Natural gas - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 488,100 sq km country comparison to the world: 53 land: 469,930 sq km water: 18,170 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

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]

18,000 sq km (2003)

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

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

60.9 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

adopted 26 September 2008

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 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic; in actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power concentrated within the presidential administration

Independence [time series]

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Commercial Court

Legal system [time series]

civil law system with Islamic law influences

Legislative branch [time series]

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(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

National symbol(s) [time series]

Akhal-Teke horse

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

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

none

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 53,829 female: 52,988 (2010 est.)

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

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

Military expenditures [time series]

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

19.55 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Death rate [time series]

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

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

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

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

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

Hospital bed density [time series]

4.06 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

ASHGABAT (capital) 637,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.438 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

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

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [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]

26 (2012) country comparison to the world: 126

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Heliports [time series]

1 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Turkmenbasy

Railways [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 58,592 km country comparison to the world: 73 paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Waterways [time series]

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