Turkmenistan

Geography
Area: 488,100 sq. km. (303,292 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Ashgabat. Other cities--Turkmenabat (formerly Chardjou/Charjew), Dashoguz (formerly Dashowuz), Mary, Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk).
Terrain: 80% covered in subtropical, sandy Karakum Desert, with dunes rising to the Kopet Dag Mountains in the south along the border with Iran; borders the Caspian Sea to the west and the Amu Darya River and Uzbekistan to the east; borders Afghanistan to the southeast, Kazakhstan to the north.
Climate: Subtropical desert.

People
Nationality: Turkmenistani.
Population (2004 est.): 4.9 million.
Population growth rate (2004 est.): 1.81%.
Ethnic groups (2003 est.): Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6%.
Religion: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%.
Language: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%.
Education (2002 est.): Literacy--98.8%.
Health (2004 est.): Infant mortality rate-73.1. Life expectancy-61.3.

Government
Type: Republic.
Independence Day: October 27, 1991
Constitution Day: May 18, 1992
Branches: Executive--President. Legislative-- Majlis (Parliament); Halk Maslahaty (People's Council). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 5 Velayaty (provinces)--Ahal Velayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Velayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Velayaty (formerly Dashowuz), Lebap Velayaty (Turkmenabat, formerly Chardjou/Charjew), Mary Velayaty.

Economy (2004)
GDP: $28 billion.
GDP per capita: $5,730.
GDP growth: 21.4%.
Inflation rate: 9.5%.
Agriculture: Products--cotton, grain, livestock.
Industry: Types--natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing.
Trade: Exports--$3.996 billion: gas 50%; oil 29%; petrochemicals 18%; cotton fiber 3%; textiles 2%.
Trade Partners--Germany, Italy, Iran, Turkey, Russia, UAE, Ukraine, United States. Imports-- $2.450 billion: machinery and equipment 46%; chemicals 11%; food and live animals 5.3%.

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