Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 Government of Turkmenistan 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Asia
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 488,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 53
land: 469,930 sq km
water: 18,170 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
subtropical desert
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 3.89%
permanent crops: 0.12%
other: 95.98% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19,910 sq km (2006)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.77 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 27.95 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
per capita: 5,752 cu m/yr (2004)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,113,040 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 690,673/female 673,271)
15-24 years: 20.8% (male 535,131/female 528,473)
25-54 years: 41.8% (male 1,058,811/female 1,079,697)
55-64 years: 6.5% (male 157,474/female 176,088)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 92,891/female 120,531) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 48.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 42.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 %
potential support ratio: 16.5 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 26.2 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.6 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.15% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.53 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 48.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.91% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ASHGABAT (capital) 637,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.6 (2006 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 90
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 39.48 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 60
male: 47.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 69.16 years
country comparison to the world: 156
male: 66.18 years
female: 72.29 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.12 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
61.8% (2000)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 183
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.44 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 100 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2011 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic; in actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power concentrated within the presidential administration
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
adopted 18 May 1992; amended several times, last in 2008; note - sources disagree on whether the changes in 2008 are amendments or reflect a new constitution (2012)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system with Islamic law influences
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly (Mejlis) (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 December 2013 (next to be held in December 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 47, Organization of Trade and Unions of Turkmenistan 33, Women's Union of Turkmenistan 16, Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 14
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: provincial, district, and city courts; High Commercial Court; military courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Kasymguly BABAYEW]
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 pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOW (since 14 February 2001)
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 280-1003
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. PATTERSON (since 26 April 2011)
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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Akhal-Teke horse
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$48.51 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$34.69 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 50%
government consumption: 12.9%
investment in fixed capital: 10.3%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 62.8%
imports of goods and services: -36%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 7.5%
industry: 24.4%
services: 68.1% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cotton, grain, melons; livestock
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.3 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 48.2%
industry: 14%
services: 37.8% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
60% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
40.8 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 56
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $5.158 billion
expenditures: $4.667 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$526.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.652 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.561 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$622.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$15.48 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 69.6%, Italy 4.7% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$10.69 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 19.5%, Turkey 17%, Russia 12.6%, UAE 6.8%, Ukraine 6%, Germany 4.7%, UK 4.2% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$20.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$428.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.66 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.12 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.41 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.852 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
244,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
67,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
600 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 46
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
143,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
145,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
64,360 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,542 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
59.5 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
46.1 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 6
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
51.85 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
575,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 94
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.953 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 123
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.tm
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
714 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 176
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
80,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 126
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 7,500 km; oil 1,501 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,980 km
country comparison to the world: 57
broad gauge: 2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 58,592 km
country comparison to the world: 72
paved: 47,577 km
unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland waterways) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 56
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 112
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Turkmenbasy
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkmen Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-27 years of age for compulsory male military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, or 1 year for university students; 20 years of age for voluntary service; males may enroll in military schools from age 15 (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,380,794
females age 16-49: 1,387,211 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,066,649
females age 16-49: 1,185,538 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 53,829
female: 52,988 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
stateless persons: 8,947 (2012)
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: Turkmenistan is a source, and to a much lesser degree, destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Turkmen in search of work in other countries are forced to work in textile sweatshops, construction, and domestic service; some Turkmen women and girls are sex trafficked abroad; Turkey is the primary trafficking destination, followed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and, to a lesser extent, the UK, Kazakhstan, and Cyprus; labor trafficking occurs within Turkmenistan, particularly in the construction industry, with victims identified from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Turkmenistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to convict trafficking offenders under its anti-trafficking statute; it employs no formal victim identification procedures and does not provide services or fund NGOs to provide services to victims; authorities punish some victims for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked; there continues to be no governmental coordinating body for anti-trafficking efforts or a national anti-trafficking action plan (2013)