Turkmenistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Turkmenistan
Türkmenistan (Turkmen)
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| Anthem: Garaşsyz Bitarap Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Gimni State Anthem of Independent, Neutral Turkmenistan | ||||||
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Location of Turkmenistan (red)
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| Capital and largest city | Ashgabat 37°58′N 58°20′E | |||||
| Official languages | Turkmen | |||||
| Inter-ethnic languages | Russian | |||||
| Ethnic groups (2003) | ||||||
| Demonym | Turkmen | |||||
| Government | Unitarypresidential republic | |||||
| • | President | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow | ||||
| • | Chairman of the Mejlis | Akja Nurberdiýewa | ||||
| Legislature | Mejlis | |||||
| Formation | ||||||
| • | Khanate of Khiva | 1511 | ||||
| • | Turkestan ASSR | 30 April 1918 | ||||
| • | Turkmen SSR | 13 May 1925 | ||||
| • | Declared independence from the Soviet Union | 27 October 1991 | ||||
| • | Recognized | 25 December 1991 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| • | Total | 491,210 km2[1](53rd) 188,456 sq mi | ||||
| • | Water (%) | 4.9 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| • | 2014 estimate | 5,171,943[2](117th) | ||||
| • | Density | 10.5/km2 (208th) 27.1/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2014 estimate | |||||
| • | Total | $82.151 billion[3] | ||||
| • | Per capita | $14,174[3] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2014 estimate | |||||
| • | Total | $47.542 billion[3] | ||||
| • | Per capita | $8,203[3] | ||||
| Gini (1998) | 40.8 medium | |||||
| HDI (2014) |  0.688[4]medium · 109th | |||||
| Currency | Turkmen new manat (TMT) | |||||
| Time zone | TMT (UTC+5) | |||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Calling code | +993 | |||||
| ISO 3166 code | TM | |||||
| Internet TLD | .tm | |||||
Turkmenistan (
i/tɜrkˈmɛnɨstæn/ or i/tɜrkmɛnɨˈstɑːn/; Turkmen: Türkmenistan/Түркменистан, pronounced [tyɾkmeniˈθtan]) is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west.
i/tɜrkˈmɛnɨstæn/ or i/tɜrkmɛnɨˈstɑːn/; Turkmen: Türkmenistan/Түркменистан, pronounced [tyɾkmeniˈθtan]) is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west.
Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade withChina until the mid-15th century. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.[5]
Turkmenistan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources.[6] Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert. Since 1993, citizens have received government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge.[7]
Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov until his death in 2006. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was elected president in 2007. According to Human Rights Watch, "Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries. The country is virtually closed to independent scrutiny, media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions, and human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisal." President Berdymukhamedow promotes a personality cult in which he, his relatives, and associates enjoy unlimited power and total control over all aspects of public life.[8]