Discover Fascinating Turkmenistan Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan
Background
π Present-day Turkmenistan has a rich history, sitting at the crossroads of many civilizations over the centuries! πΊβ¨ This area was once ruled by various Persian empires, and notable figures like Alexander the Great and Muslim armies left their mark as well. ποΈπ€Ί Later on, it was conquered by the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and even the Russians! π
In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic, but the big moment came in 1991 when it gained independence as the USSR dissolved! ππΉπ² What a journey through time! β³
Year Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic
1924
Year Turkmenistan achieved independence
1991
Exports - commodities
Turkmenistan is rich in various natural resources that it exports to other countries! π In 2022, the country had a diverse lineup of exported commodities, which included:
- Natural Gas π¨
- Refined Petroleum β½
- Fertilizers π±
- Crude Petroleum π’οΈ
- Electricity β‘
These exports play a vital role in the economy of Turkmenistan, showcasing its strength in energy and agriculture sectors.
Exported Commodities Types
5
Exports - partners
π Turkmenistan has some interesting export partners that keep its economy thriving! In 2022, a whopping 71% of Turkmenistan's exports went to China! π That's a huge chunk! Let's look at the other partners: Turkey comes in second at 7%, followed closely by Uzbekistan at 5%. Then, we have Azerbaijan at 4% and Morocco wrapping things up with 2%. π This information shows us who Turkmenistan trades with the most. It helps us understand its economic relationships with these countries!
Percentage of Exports to China
71%
Percentage of Exports to Turkey
7%
Percentage of Exports to Uzbekistan
5%
Percentage of Exports to Azerbaijan
4%
Percentage of Exports to Morocco
2%
Exports Partners of Turkmenistan in 2022
Capital
π The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashgabat (also known as Ashkhabad). This city is known for its stunning architecture, beautiful white marble buildings, and grandiose boulevards! ποΈβ¨
Imports - commodities
π Turkmenistan loves to bring in goods from around the world! In 2022, its imports included a variety of interesting commodities:
- Broadcasting Equipment π»
- Cars π
- Wheat πΎ
- Computers π»
- Iron Structures ποΈ
These imports help the country to stay connected, move around, grow food, and build stuff!
Climate
π΅ Turkmenistan has a subtropical desert climate! This means it's mostly dry and hot, with lots of sunshine year-round. Get ready for some sandy adventures under the sun! βοΈ
Executive branch
πΉπ² Executive Branch of Turkmenistan π
In Turkmenistan, the executive branch is interestingly led by just one person! π€ That person is President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, who has been serving as both the chief of state and the head of government since 19 March 2022. This means he is the main leader of the country and makes important executive decisions! πΌ
Fascinating, right? It's always good to know who is in charge! ποΈ
Current President
Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV
Took office since
19 March 2022
Legislative branch
In Turkmenistan, the legislative branch is made up of a unicameral Assembly, which means there is only one house. ποΈ This Assembly has a total of 125 seats! Each seat represents a member who plays a crucial role in making laws and governing the country. π©ββοΈπ¨ββοΈ
Total seats in the Assembly
125
Natural resources
π Turkmenistan is rich in natural resources! The country has a treasure trove including petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, and salt. These valuable resources play a vital role in Turkmenistan's economy, providing energy and materials for various industries. Let's dive into this fascinating world of resources! π
Natural resources in Turkmenistan
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Economic overview
π Turkmenistan is an upper middle-income economy located in Central Asia! Did you know that it holds a whopping 10% of the world's natural gas reserves? π This makes Turkmenistan a big player in the natural resource game, exporting valuable resources to both Russia and China.
The country's economy is mostly driven by state-owned enterprises, and it is characterized by its rich natural resources. π With ongoing major development of pipeline projects in the central-south Asian region, the future looks bright for this authoritarian economy!
Economic Classification
Upper Middle-Income
Percentage of Global Natural Gas Reserves
10%
Major Exports
Natural Gas to Russia and China
Economic Structure
State-Owned Enterprises Dominated
Distribution of Natural Gas Reserves
Government type
In Turkmenistan, the government is a presidential republic! πΉπ² But it is also considered to be authoritarian. This means that while there is a president, the power is not shared equally among the people. Instead, the president has a lot of control. ποΈ This kind of government can lead to fewer freedoms for citizens, as decisions are often made at the top without much input from the public.
Government Type
Presidential Republic; Authoritarian
Ethnic groups
In Turkmenistan, the ethnic landscape is quite colorful! π The majority of the population is made up of Turkmen, accounting for a whopping 85%! Following them are the Uzbeks, who make up about 5%. Russians come next with 4%, and the remaining 6% represent various other ethnicities. This diversity helps paint a vibrant picture of the countryβs culture! π¨
Percentage of Turkmen
85%
Percentage of Uzbeks
5%
Percentage of Russians
4%
Percentage of Other Ethnic Groups
6%
Ethnic Groups in Turkmenistan
Religions
π Religions in Turkmenistan
In Turkmenistan, the religious landscape is predominantly Islamic, with a remarkable 93% of the population identifying as Muslim! π After Islam, 6.4% of the people follow Christianity βοΈ. The other religions, including Buddhism, folk religions, Judaism, and unspecified beliefs, make up less than 1% each. π±
This diverse mix of beliefs showcases how different cultures and traditions can coexist in harmony. Let's take a closer look at the religious breakdown:
- Muslim: 93%
- Christian: 6.4%
- Buddhist: <1%
- Folk Religion: <1%
- Jewish: <1%
- Other: <1%
- Unspecified: <1%
It's fascinating to see how these religions shape the lives of Turkmenistan's citizens! π
Percentage of Muslims
93%
Percentage of Christians
6.4%
Percentage of Other Religions
<1%
Distribution of Religions in Turkmenistan
Languages
In Turkmenistan, multiple languages bring a colorful diversity to the culture! πΉπ² The official language is Turkmen, spoken by 72% of the population. π Next up is Russian, spoken by 12% of the people. Then we have Uzbek, which is used by 9%. Finally, there are other languages that fill in the remaining 7%! π
This linguistic rainbow shows how languages can vary across a country, making Turkmenistan a rich tapestry of communication! π
Official Language
Turkmen
Percentage of Turkmen speakers
72%
Percentage of Russian speakers
12%
Percentage of Uzbek speakers
9%
Percentage of speakers of other languages
7%
Language Distribution in Turkmenistan
Imports - partners
π Let's take a look at who Turkmenistan loves to trade with the most! In 2022, their imports came from different countries, and here's how it breaks down:
- UAE: 27% β¨
- Turkey: 24% πΉπ·
- China: 19% π¨π³
- Kazakhstan: 7% π°πΏ
- Germany: 4% π©πͺ
Isn't it interesting to see how many of these partners play a big role in Turkmenistan's import business? π
Total percentage of imports accounted for
81%
Imports Partners of Turkmenistan (2022)
Population
π Turkmenistan is home to a total population of 5,744,151 people! That's a lot of wonderful people living in this unique country. Let's take a closer look at this vibrant population!
Total Population
5,744,151
Area
ποΈ Area Overview of Turkmenistan ποΈ
Turkmenistan covers a whopping 488,100 sq km total! That's a lot of space to explore! π
Here's the breakdown of this vast area:
- Land Area: 469,930 sq km πΎ
- Water Area: 18,170 sq km π
Let's dive into how much of Turkmenistan is land versus water!
Total Area
488100 sq km
Total Land Area
469930 sq km
Total Water Area
18170 sq km
Area Distribution in Turkmenistan
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
π€ Real GDP of Turkmenistan is a measure of the country's economic performance. Let's take a look at how it has changed over the last few years:
- In 2022, Turkmenistan's Real GDP was $94.79 billion!
- In 2021, it was $93.205 billion.
- Back in 2020, Turkmenistan's economy generated $89.192 billion.
Isn't it cool to see how the numbers grow? π±π
Real GDP in 2022
94.79 billion
Real GDP in 2021
93.205 billion
Real GDP in 2020
89.192 billion
Turkmenistan's Real GDP Over Time
Real GDP per capita
π Let's talk about Turkmenistan's Real GDP per capita! This number shows how much money, on average, each person in Turkmenistan makes each year. It's an important indicator of the country's economic health.
Hereβs a simple breakdown of the Real GDP per capita over recent years:
- 2020: $14,300
- 2021: $14,700
- 2022: $14,700
As we can see, from 2020 to 2021, there was an increase of $400. And in 2022, the GDP per capita stayed the same as in 2021! π This stability could mean that Turkmenistan's economy is holding strong in recent times!
Let's visualize this data with a line chart π!
GDP per capita in 2020
14,300
GDP per capita in 2021
14,700
GDP per capita in 2022
14,700
Turkmenistan - Real GDP per Capita Over Years
Imports
π Let's take a look at the imports of Turkmenistan over the last few years! Imports are goods and services that a country buys from others outside its borders. Here's how much Turkmenistan has spent on imports in recent years:
- 2021: $6.25 billion π΅
- 2020: $8.301 billion π°
- 2019: $8.844 billion πΈ
We can see that there has been a decrease in imports from 2019 to 2021. π This kind of data helps us to understand how economies can change over time!
Total decrease from 2019 to 2021
$2.594 billion
Highest import value recorded
$8.844 billion
Lowest import value recorded
$6.25 billion
Turkmenistan Imports Over the Years
Exports
π Turkmenistan's Exports Over the Years π
Hereβs a look at how Turkmenistan's exports have changed over the last few years:
- 2021: $10.282 billion
- 2020: $8.164 billion
- 2019: $11.188 billion
As we can see, exports had a good jump from 2020 to 2021 after a dip in 2019. It's exciting to see how these numbers can trend upwards! π
Total Exports in 2021
$10.282 billion
Total Exports in 2020
$8.164 billion
Total Exports in 2019
$11.188 billion
Turkmenistan's Exports (Billion USD)
Population growth rate
π Population Growth Rate in Turkmenistan π
Turkmenistan is experiencing a population growth rate of 0.92% for the year 2024! π This means that the number of people in the country is increasing, leading to exciting changes in its communities and economy. Let's cheer for development and growth! π
Estimated Population Growth Rate (2024)
0.92%