Introduction
Background
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 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.
Geography
Area
total: 488,100 sq km
land: 469,930 sq km
water: 18,170 sq km
Climate
subtropical desert
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
People and Society
Population
5,690,818 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.)
Languages
Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Religions
Muslim 93%, Christian 6.4%, Buddhist <1%, folk religion <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified <1% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
0.95% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic; authoritarian
Capital
name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Assembly or Mejlis (125 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms); formerly the Assembly was the lower house of the bicameral National Council or Milli Genes, which consisted of an upper house, the People's Council or Halk Maslahaty, and the Assembly or Mejlis
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Central Asian economy; has 10% of global natural gas reserves, exporting to Russia and China; natural resource rich; authoritarian and dominated by state-owned enterprises; major central-south Asian pipeline development
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$92.331 billion (2019 est.)
$86.859 billion (2018 est.)
$81.788 billion (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$15,000 (2019 est.)
$14,300 (2018 est.)
$13,700 (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sugar beets, beef, rice
Industries
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Remittances
0% of GDP (2019 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.01% of GDP (2017 est.)
Exports
$7.458 billion (2017 est.)
$6.987 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - partners
China 82% (2019)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cotton fibers, fertilizers (2019)
Imports
$4.571 billion (2017 est.)
$5.215 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners
Turkey 25%, Russia 18%, China 14%, Germany 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
iron products, harvesting machinery, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, tractors (2019)
Exchange rates
Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
4.125 (2017 est.)
3.5 (2016 est.)
3.5 (2015 est.)
3.5 (2014 est.)
2.85 (2013 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
