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 armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) 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. The Government of Turkmenistan is moving to expand its extraction and delivery projects and has attempted to diversify its gas export routes beyond Russia's 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. In 2016, Russia and Iran halted their purchase of gas from Turkmenistan making China the only buyer of Turkmen gas. 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 reelected in 2012 and again in 2017 with over 97% of the vote in both instances, in elections widely regarded as undemocratic.

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

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Asia

slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California

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

none (landlocked)

subtropical desert

flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

arable land 4.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 67.8%

19,950 sq km (2012)

the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat

earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods

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

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

5,351,277 (July 2017 est.)

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

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

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

1.12% (2017 est.)

19.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat

ASHGABAT (capital) 746,000 (2015)

24.6 years (2006 est.)

42 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.07 children born/woman (2017 est.)

50.2% (2015/16)

2.1% of GDP (2014)

2.29 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

4 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 89.1% of population

rural: 53.7% of population

total: 71.1% of population

urban: 10.9% of population

rural: 46.3% of population

total: 28.9% of population (2012 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 98.2% of population

total: 99.1% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 1.8% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2012 est.)

NA

NA

NA

18.6% (2016)

3.2% (2015)

3% of GDP (2012)

presidential republic; authoritarian

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

civil law system with Islamic law influences

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

18 years of age; universal

Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or APT [Ovezmyrat ENERMYRADOW]

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Kasymguly BABAYEW]

Organization of Trade Unions of Turkmenistan

Magtymguly Youth Organization

Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs or PIE [Ovezmammed MAMMEDOW]

Women's Union of Turkmenistan

none

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

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

Akhal-Teke horse; national colors: green, white

Turkmenistan is largely a desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and significant natural 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 9% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country's workforce. Hydrocarbon exports (mainly natural gas) make up 25% of Turkmenistan’s GDP, the bulk of which is natural gas going to China. Ashgabat has explored two initiatives to bring gas to new markets: a trans-Caspian pipeline that would carry gas to Europe and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Both face major financing and security hurdles and are unlikely to be completed soon.

Turkmenistan’s autocratic governments under presidents NIYAZOW (1991-2006) and BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 2007) have made little progress improving the business climate, privatizing state-owned industries, and combatting corruption, limiting economic development outside the energy sector. High energy prices in the mid-2000s allowed the government to undertake extensive development and social spending, including providing heavy utility subsidies.

Low energy prices since mid-2014 are hampering Turkmenistan’s economic growth and reducing government revenues. The government has cut subsidies in several areas, and wage arrears have increased. In January 2014, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan devalued the manat by 19%, and downward pressure on the currency continues. There is a widening spread between the official exchange rate (3.49 TMM per US dollar) and the black market exchange rate (approximately 7 TMM per US dollar). Currency depreciation, corruption, isolationist policies, and limited spending on public services has resulted in a stagnate economy that is nearing crisis. Turkmenistan claims substantial foreign currency reserves, but non-transparent data limit international institutions’ ability to verify this information.

$95.5 billion (2016 est.)

$88.78 billion (2015 est.)

$82.5 billion (2014 est.)

$36.18 billion (2016 est.)

6.2% (2016 est.)

6.5% (2015 est.)

10.3% (2014 est.)

$17,500 (2016 est.)

$16,700 (2015 est.)

$15,900 (2014 est.)

23.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

19.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

cotton, grain, melons; livestock

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

1% (2016 est.)

2.305 million (2013 est.)

11% (2014 est.)

10.6% (2013)

0.2% (2012 est.)

40.8 (1998)

12.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

-1.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

23.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

3.6% (2016 est.)

16% (2015 est.)

5% (31 December 2014)

5% (31 December 2013)

$1.326 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.255 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.23 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$5.632 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$28.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$13.09 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$NA

$-7.605 billion (2016 est.)

$-1.113 billion (2015 est.)

$6.987 billion (2016 est.)

$9.561 billion (2015 est.)

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

China 70%, Turkey 5.3%, Italy 5.3%, Afghanistan 4.5%, Russia 4.1% (2016)

$5.001 billion (2016 est.)

$6.059 billion (2015 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Turkey 26.4%, Russia 10.5%, Japan 8.6%, Germany 8.2%, South Korea 7.8%, China 7.2%, Italy 5.2% (2016)

$25.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$26.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$425.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$402.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.061 billion (2013 est.)

$3.117 billion (2012 est.)

Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar -

3.5 (2016 est.)

3.5 (2015 est.)

3.5 (2014 est.)

2.85 (2013 est.)

2.85 (2012 est.)

21.18 billion kWh (2015 est.)

15.09 billion kWh (2015 est.)

3.201 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

4.001 million kW (2015 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

230,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

62,880 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

600 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

191,100 bbl/day (2014 est.)

158,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

53,780 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

83.7 billion cu m (2015 est.)

67.52 billion cu m (2015 est.)

40.3 billion cu m (2015 est.)

0 cu m (2014 est.)

7.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

67 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.tm

EZ (2016)

26 (2013)

1 (2013)

gas 7,500 km; oil 1,501 km (2013)

1,300 km (Amu Darya River and Kara Kum Canal are important inland waterways) (2011)

Turkmen Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)

18-27 years of age for compulsory male military service; 2-year conscript service obligation; 20 years of age for voluntary service; males may enroll in military schools from age 15 (2015)

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

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