Dialing code +993
ISO 2 code TM
ISO 3 code TKM
Capital Ashgabat
Main Language None
Currency Manat (TMT)
GDP $29.7 billion 104th
Population 4,940,916 117th

Geography

Continent Asia
Location Central Asia bordering the Caspian Sea between Iran and Kazakhstan
Land 488,100 km2 53rd
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
Climate Subtropical desert
Natural Hazards Flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Note: 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

Neighbouring Countries

Afghanistan Iran Kazakhstan Uzbekistan

History

Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan; 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 between 1865 and 1885 Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to develop alternative petroleum transportation routes to break Russia's pipeline monopoly. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006 and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential electoral process in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW a vice premier under NYYAZOW emerged as the country's new president.
Read more on Wikipedia

Demographics

Life Expectancy 67.87 years 140th
Median Age 24.4 years 124th
Birth Rate 19.69 births/1,000 population 95th
Death Rate 6.31 births/1,000 population 138th
Sex Ratio 0.77 male(s)/female 108th
Literacy 98.8% 46th
Population

4.9 million

Transportation

Roadways 58592 km 74th
Railways 2980 km 55th
Airports 28 120th
Waterways 1300 km 54th
Heliports 1 61st
Airports paved 1 118th

Economy

Currency Manat (TMT)
GDP $29.7 billion 104th
GDP per capita (PPP) $6100 118th