Turkmenistan

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Turkmenistan spends US$456 million on its military, or 0.95 percent of its GDP. This makes Turkmenistan the 98th highest military spender in the world and represents 0.024 percent of total global military expenditure.

The military of Turkmenistan, the armed forces of Turkmenistan, consists of an army, a Navy and an air force. Despite being a landlocked state, it borders the Caspian Sea where it holds maritime patrols. Most of its equipment and training has been provided by Russia with which it also has a security treatment.

Military membership

Turkmenistan is also a member of 4 international military organizations. This makes it the 138th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
International Atomic Energy Agency
Non-Aligned Movement

Military membership

International wars

Turkmenistan has not partaken in international wars.

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Turkmenistan is a member of 7 international political organizations. This makes it the 190th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
Turkic Council
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
International Organization of Turkic Culture
Interpol
World Organization for Animal Health

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 169th most democratic state in the world. Despite having elections, these elections are tightly controlled by the state, which is accused of widespread corruption. Aside from this, there are limitations to individual freedom and political protests can result in imprisonment.

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Turkmenistan take place in the form of a presidential republic where the president serves as head of state as well as head of government. Since its independence, Turkmenistan has been dominated by a single political party which has limited opposition parties.

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Known for its wild horses, its large oil and gas reserves as well as a gas crater that has been burning for more than 50 years, Turkmenistan, or the Republic of Turkmenistan has been under the rule of many empires throughout the centuries. In its early history, the area was inhabited by Indo-European people that lived in several clans. Alexander the great conquered the territory in the fourth century and after the dissolution of its empire, the area came under control of several Islamic Sultanates after the Arab conquest in the seventh century. From the 10th century, the area was conquered by the Mongol Empire and subsequently conquered by the Persian Empire in the 15th century. At the end of the 19th century, the area was taken over by the Russian Empire and subsequently the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan gained its independence in 1991. Since then, Turkmenistan has opened up its economy allowing for the transfer of oil and gas to other states. Simultaneously, there has been a centralization of power to the president of Turkmenistan which has created a cult around its leadership.

Located in central Asia, Turkmenistan is a landlocked state that borders Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the north, Afghanistan to the southeast and Iran to the south. Most of its geography consists of flat terrain with the exception of a mountain range that runs along its southern border. Most of its terrain is covered by deserts with the exception of its mountainous terrain to its south which is lightly forested.

It is the 52nd largest state with a total surface area of 490.541 square kilometers or 189.443 square miles. This makes Turkmenistan slightly smaller than Cameroon and slightly larger than Spain.

It has a total water surface area of 18.261 square kilometers or 7.055 square miles. This makes Turkmenistan the 31st largest state in the world.

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of its water is derived from groundwater as well as surface water. Most of its rivers can be found running along its borders with the Amu Darja River being the largest. Most of its tap water is considered safe to drink, but rural tap water is of lower quality.

The climate of Turkmenistan is a continental desert climate which has high temperature fluctuations throughout the year. During summer, from May to September, most of Turkmenistan is hot and dry while during winter, it regularly sees freezing temperatures. The average temperature is 15.25 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Turkmenistan the 130th warmest state in the world.

The average high temperature is 22.1 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average low temperature is 8.9 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit.

Turkmenistan has a low amount of precipitation throughout the year. This is mostly attributed to its distance to nearby oceans. On average, Turkmenistan receives 17.5 centimetres or 6.9 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 187th highest in the world.

The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, is home to roughly 750,000 people. The closest capital is Tehran, Iran, with a distance of 670 kilometers or 416 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Santiago, Chile, with a distance of 15.457 kilometers or 9.605 miles.

The economy of Turkmenistan is an underdeveloped economy. After becoming independent, governmental corruption grew which limited its profits and foreign investments. Most of its economy is still controlled by the government which allows for limited private ownership and is mostly a centrally planned economy. Most of its exported goods are oil and gas as well as unprocessed cotton which are mainly exported to Russia which is solely responsible for more than 40 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from Russia and Turkey which combined represent nearly 30 percent of all imports.

Turkmenistan is a member of 12 international economic organizations. This makes it the 113th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Asian Development Bank
Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges
International Monetary Fund
Islamic Development Bank
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization
Economic Cooperation Organization
TRACECA Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia
Energy Charter Treaty
International Renewable Energy Agency
Group of 77

It has a GDP of US$43.737 million, which makes it the 92nd highest in the world and represents 0.052 percent of total global GDP.

Its GDP per surface area is the 151st highest in the world with US$89.161 per square kilometer or US$230.874 per square mile.

Its GDP per capita is the 84th highest in the world with US$7.360.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 79th highest in the world with US$16.873.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

It is the 111th most populous state in the world with a total population of nearly 6 million people. Its population consists of multiple tribes which united represent most of the population in Turkmenistan. Other minorities are Russians and Uzbeki's.

It has the 180th highest population density in the world with 12 people per square kilometer or 31 people per square mile.

4.1 percent of its population, or nearly 250,000 people, have migrated to other states. This makes Turkmenistan the 132nd state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.095 percent of total global emigration. The main reason for migration has been limited economic opportunities and a lack of economic development in Turkmenistan. The main destination has been Russia which is responsible for nearly 80 percent of all migrants.

Immigration to Turkmenistan is represented by 3.3 percent of the population, or nearly 200.000 people. This makes Turkmenistan the 88th state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 0.08 percent of total global immigration. Immigration has been mostly fuelled by Russia and Uzbekistan which combined represent roughly 90 percent of all immigrants.

During the time of the Soviet Union, a strong educational system was provided. This has led to the current literacy rate of 99.4 percent which is the 18th highest in the world. However, investment in education has started to decline in recent years and a lower percentage of children, mostly girls, started to attend school.

The health care system of Turkmenistan is a public health care system which was based on the health care system of the Soviet Union. Since its independence, Turkmenistan has had limited investments in its healthcare system which is slowly becoming underdeveloped. In order to combat this underfunding, the government of Turkmenistan changed the free and universal healthcare for a mandatory health insurance at the start of the 21st century. The average life expectancy is 68.6 years which is the 142nd highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 72.1 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 65.1 years.

The government of Turkmenistan provides freedom of religion towards all religions. However, religious minorities have underwent large bureaucratic pressure and not adhering to these laws can result in fines or imprisonment.

Christianity is represented by 5.3 percent of the population. This makes Turkmenistan the 161st most Christian state in the world. The largest denomination is eastern orthodoxy which is mainly practiced by the Russian minority in Turkmenistan.

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed

Islam is the largest religion in Turkmenistan and is represented by 93.1 percent of the population which makes it the 26th most Islamic state in the world. The largest denomination is the Sunni denomination. Despite the repressive policies of the Soviet Union in regards to religion, Islam flourished after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Buddhism is represented by 0.03 percent of the population.

Hinduism is represented by 0.03 percent of the population and are mainly missionaries of the Hare Krishna movement.

Judaism is represented by 0.01 percent of the population and are mainly located in larger cities.

Other religions are represented by 0.13 percent of the population and are mainly adherents of the Baha'i faith. This number is likely higher, but due to governmental limitations, this religion is mostly practiced privately.

Irreligion is represented by 0.34 percent of the population.