Statistical information Turkmenistan 1999

Turkmenistan in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map reference:
Commonwealth of Independent StatesAreaTotal: 488,100 km²
Land: 488,100 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundariesTotal: 3,736 km
Border countries: (4) Afghanistan 744 km;
, Iran 992 km;
, Kazakhstan 379 km;
, Uzbekistan 1,621 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note_Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at -60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)
Extremes highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land useArable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 63%
Forests and woodland: 8%
Other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,000 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Turkmen(s)
Adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)
65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.91 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.77 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 73.1 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 61.11 years
Male: 57.48 years
Female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 97% (1989 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turkmenistan
Local long form: none
Local short form: Turkmenistan
Former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular_welayat):Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief 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; Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996), Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993), Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995), Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA 1997)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently on 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party, to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status would require an amendment to the constitution
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002; note_extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January 1994); 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%
Legislative branch: 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 infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: People's Council_NA; Assembly_last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
Election results: Assembly_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_Democratic Party 45, other 5; note_all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
In the us chancery: 2,207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN
From the us embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [9] (9,312) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, 51-13-06, Tie Line [8] 962-0000
From the us FAX: [9] (9,312) 51-13-05
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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 possesses 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 bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued. 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. In 1996, the government set in place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations on extensive short-term external debt.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5% (1998)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,630 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 18%
Industry: 50%
Services: 32% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, grain; livestock
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 44%
By occupation industry and construction: 19%
By occupation other: 37% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $521 million
Expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83 million (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $689 million (1997 est.)
Commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, textiles, electricity, carpets
Partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany, Turkey (1996)
Imports: $1.1 billion (1997 est.)
Commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles
Partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: manats per US$1_5,350 (January 1999), 4,070 (January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 9.484 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 99.96%
Production by source hydro: 0.04%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 7.134 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1996)
Imports: 350 million kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: NA
Telephone system: 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
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $88 million (1998)
Percent of gdp: 3% (1998)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 64 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 22
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 13
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 8
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 42
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
RailwaysTotal: 2,187 km
Broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
RoadwaysWaterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
Merchant marine: total:1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan