Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan

Introduction

Background

Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan

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 between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country once extraction and delivery projects are expanded. The Turkmen Government is actively working to diversify its gas export routes beyond the still dominant 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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Map references

Asia

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

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

0 km

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

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

subtropical desert

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

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Land use

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

Irrigated land

18,000 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

60.9 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

NA

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

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective:Turkmen

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

4,997,503 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 696,749/female 679,936)
15-64 years:68.4% (male 1,692,885/female 1,724,019)
65 years and over:4.1% (male 88,590/female 115,324) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 25.3 years
male:24.9 years
female:25.8 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.138% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Birth rate

19.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Death rate

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Net migration rate

-1.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

ASHGABAT (capital) 637,000 (2009)

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

77 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 82

Infant mortality rate

total: 42.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 59 male:50.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female:33.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.52 years
country comparison to the world: 151 male:65.57 years
female:71.63 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Health expenditures

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

Physicians density

2.438 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 56

Hospital bed density

4.06 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 49

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 72% of population
total: 83% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 28% of population
total: 17% of population (2000)

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 (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

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

HIV/AIDS – deaths

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

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

Country name

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

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

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)

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)

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Constitution

adopted 26 September 2008

Legal system

civil law system with Islamic law influences

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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 the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term

election last held on 11 February 2007 (next to be held in February 2012)
election results:Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president

percent of vote – Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 89.2%, Amanyaz ATAJYKOW 3.2%, other candidates 7.6%

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 either the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or its pseudo-civil society parent organization, the Revival Movement, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW is chairman

Kasymguly BABAYEW is DPT Political Council First Secretary]
note:formal opposition parties are outlawed

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

International organization participation

ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings), 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
embassy:No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000
mailing address:7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
telephone:[993] (12) 35-00-45
FAX:[993] (12) 39-26-14

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

National symbol(s)

Akhal-Teke horse

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

Economy

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 10% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country’s workforce. 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 export revenues to sustain its inefficient 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. New pipelines to China and Iran, that began operation in early 2010, have given Turkmenistan additional export routes for its gas, although these new routes have not offset the sharp drop in export revenue since early 2009 from decreased gas exports to Russia. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, endemic corruption, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat’s reluctance to adopt market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan’s economic statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other 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, numerous bureaucratic obstacles impede international business activity.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$36.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 $33.79 billion (2009 est.)
$31.85 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.96 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

9.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 6.1% (2009 est.)
14.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$7,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126 $6,900 (2009 est.)
$6,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 8.3%
industry:21.8%
services:69.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.3 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

60% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Population below poverty line

30% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

40.8 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 60

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Budget

revenues: $3.018 billion
expenditures:$3.263 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

10.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200 4% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$435.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161 $402.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.053 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167 $912.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.158 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150 $1.263 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

cotton, grain

livestock

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity – production

15.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity – consumption

13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity – exports

2.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

1.476 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

202,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Oil – consumption

119,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Oil – exports

97,430 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Oil – imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Oil – proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas – production

38.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Natural gas – consumption

20.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Natural gas – exports

18 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas – proved reserves

7.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Current account balance

-$1.105 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139 -$2.808 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$10.55 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $8.946 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Exports – partners

China 28.6%, Turkey 10.6%, UAE 7.2%, Afghanistan 6.5%, Iran 6%, Italy 5.4%, Kazakhstan 4.5% (2010)

Imports

$8.277 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 $8.071 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports – partners

Russia 21.6%, Turkey 20%, China 9.2%, UAE 7.7%, Germany 5.7%, Malaysia 4.6%, Ukraine 4.5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $17.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$517.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162 $575.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar -
2.85 (2010)
2.85 (2009)
14,250 (2008)

Transportation

Airports

27 (2010)
country comparison to the world:125

Airports – with paved runways

total: 22
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 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 7,352 km

oil 1,457 km (2010)

Railways

total: 2,980 km
country comparison to the world: 56 broad gauge:2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 58,592 km
country comparison to the world: 75 paved:47,577 km
unpaved:11,015 km (2002)

Waterways

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland waterways) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 56

Merchant marine

total: 9
country comparison to the world: 118 by type:cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned:1 (Turkey 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Turkmenbasy

Military

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service

2-year conscript service obligation (2009)

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 expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Transnational Issues

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan)

less than 1,000 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Turkmenistan is a source country for men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution

women from Turkmenistan are subjected to forced prostitution in Turkey, and men and women from Turkmenistan are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Turkey, including in textile sweatshops, construction sites, and in domestic servitude

Turkmen trafficking victims were also identified for the first time in Russia, the United Kingdom, and within Turkmenistan
tier rating:Tier 3 – although the government continued discussions with IOM on providing shelter space, it did not fulfill its commitment to allocate financial or in-kind assistance to anti-trafficking organizations

the government did not show any significant efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes or to identify and protect victims of trafficking (2011)

Illicit drugs

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets

transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan