Turkmenistan (formerly Turkmenia) is bounded by the Caspian Sea in the west, Kazakhstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the east, and Iran and Afghanistan in the south. About nine-tenths of Turkmenistan is desert, chiefly the Kara-Kum. One of the world's largest sand deserts, it is approximately 138,966 sq mi (360,000 sq km).
Country lead by President: Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov (2007)
Population
5,042,920 (growth rate: 1.8%); birth rate: 27.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 72.6/1000; life expectancy: 61.8; density per sq mi: 27
Land Area
188,455 sq mi (488,100 sq km)
Monetary unit
Manat Language
Turkmen 72%; Russian 12%; Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Ethnicity Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)
Religion Islam 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Transportation Railways: total: 2,440 km (2002). Highways: total: 24,000 km; paved: 19,488 km; unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.). Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway. Ports and harbors: Turkmenbasy Airports: 76 (2002).
