Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, the Turkic country is located in Central Asia. The country shares its border with Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the southwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the northwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. It is a single-party state. It was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, namely the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic until 1991. The city of Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan.

HISTORY:- Turkmenistan was a part of the Persian Empire. The Seljuk Turks ruled the land in the 11th century. In the 13th century, the nation came under the Mongol Empire as the region was conquered by Ghenghis Khan. The Mongol domination was ended in the 15th century when the Uzbeks invaded Turkmenistan. The territory of Turkmenia was divided between the khanate of Khiva and the khanate of Bukhara. In 1868, the khanate of Khiva was incorporated into the Russian Empire. The name of Turkmenia was changed to Transcaspia Region of Russian Turkistan. Turkistan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed in 1922. In 1925, Turkmenistan became an independent Soviet Socialist Republic. Following the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan declared its independence and joined the Commonwealth of Independent States in the same year along with ten other former Soviet republics.

GEOGRAPHY:-Turkmenistan is located at 40 00 N, 60 00 E in Central Asia. The country spans through 488,100 sq km area with no significant internal water source. Turkmenistan is a landlocked nation bordering Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The lowest point is Vpadina Akchanaya (-81 m) and the highest point is Gora Ayribaba (3,139 m). The terrain of Turkmenistan varies from flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south to low mountains along the border with Iran.

CLIMATE:- The Predominant climate of the country is subtropical desert.

GOVERNMENT:- Turkmenistan is a republic under authoritarian presidential rule. The constitution was adopted on adopted 18th May 1992. The legal system is modeled on the civil law system and the Islamic law. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state and head of government), and the Cabinet of Ministers. The president is elected by the popular vote on a 5-year term. The cabinet of ministers is appointed by the president. Authorized power is limited within the executive branch.

Legislative branch comprises two parliamentary bodies, consist of the People's Council (2,500 delegates) and the National Assembly or Mejlis (50 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court. The judges are appointed by the president.

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the ruling political part of Turkmenistan. Opposition parties are banned. Suffrage is universally imposed at the age of 18.

President                                                   Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow

Foreign Minister                                         Rashid Meredov

Ambassador to the United States              Meret B. Orazov

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:-Turkmenistan is composed of 5 provinces and 1 independent city of Ashgabat. The provinces are: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), and Mary Welayaty.

CULTURE:- The music of Turkmenistan is related to Kyrgyz and Kazakh folk forms. Cappella and dutar are the traditional musical instruments of the land. Magtumguly Feraghy is Turkmenistan's national poet.

ECONOMY:- Cotton is the base of the economy of Turkmenistan. It has the 5th largest resource of gas and oil in the world. Turkmenistan is a leading supplier of raw materials, notably natural gas, petrochemicals and raw cotton. Poverty, a poor educational system, government’ misuse of oil and gas incomes, and Ashgabat's delaying to adopt market-oriented reforms are the major hindrances to the economic boons to the country. The present government has introduced a State Agency for Statistics. GDP growth rate is uncertain and irregular and it ranks 11th largest in the world.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $26.73 billion; per capita $5,200.

Real growth rate: 11.6% (IMF est.).

Inflation: 6.4%.

Unemployment: 60% (2004 est.).

Arable land: 4%.

Agriculture: Cotton, grain; livestock.

Labor force: 2.089 million (2004 est.); agriculture 48.2%, industry 14%, services 37.8%.

Industries: Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing.

Budget:  

Revenues: $1.664 billion

Expenditures: $1.624 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $1.4 billion to $5 billion (2004 est.)

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt.

Exports: $4.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles.

Imports: $4.175 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs.

Major trading partners: Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, Italy, U.S., Russia, UAE, Germany, France, Georgia (2004).

Monetary unit: Manat

LANGUAGE:- Official language of Turkmenistan is Turkmen spoken by 72% of the entire population. Russian is spoken by 12% while Uzbek is spoken by  9% of the population.

CITIES:- The city of Ashgabat is the capital of the country as well as the largest city of Turkmenistan. Other large cities are Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, Mary, and Turkmenbashi.

POPULATION:- The population of Turkmenistan is estimated 5,136,262 with an average growth rate of 1.8%.

Density per sq mi: 27

Literacy rate: 98.9% (1999 est.)

RACE:-

Turkmen 85%

Uzbek 5%

Russian 4%

Other 6% (2003)

RELIGION:-

Muslim 89%

Eastern Orthodox 9%

Unknown 2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 25.07 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 51.81 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.6 years

Total fertility rate: 3.07 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2004 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 308

UNICEF:- UNICEF introduced life-skills health education in schools. This campaign educated more than 40,000 children and young people on HIV and HIV prevention. Turkmenistan was the first Central Asian country to achieve optimum iodine nutrition. More than 50% of hospitals are certified as baby friendly. Over 700,000 women, children and teenage girls received iron and folic-acid supplements. UNICEF and its partners provide basic training to thousands of parents and volunteers on child health, nutrition, hygiene and child protection. UNICE with the government combats child labour and violation of children rights. 55% of the population accesses safe drinking water.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,440 km (2002).

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

Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway.

Ports and harbors: Turkmenbasy

Airports: 76 (2002).