Language
The official languge is Turkmen, but Russian is also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	5.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	4.9 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	4.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	4.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	4.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	4.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	4.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	4.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	4.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
6.8 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Turkmeni 77 percent, Uzbek 9 percent, Russian 7 percent, with smaller number of Kazakhs, Tatars and others.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Predominantly Sunni Muslims (87 percent), with some Russian Orthodox Christians (6 percent). Unregistered religious activity is a criminal offence.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	46.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	46.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	46.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	46.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	45.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	45.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	45.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	45.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1927
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available

Percentage of population under 15

2005	31.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	32.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	33.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	34.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	35.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	37.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +5

Climate description
Severely continental. Very hot summers and cold winters.

Currency
Manat

Telephone dialling code
(+) 993

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	62.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	62.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	62.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	66.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	66.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	66.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	58.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	58.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	58.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	63.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	63.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	62.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	67.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	66.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	66.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	69.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	45 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	45 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	81 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	80 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	79 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	69 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	52 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	50 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	51 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	104 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	103 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	102 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	87 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	130 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	31 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	109	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	105	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	97	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	86	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	87	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	87	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	11 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	11 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	12 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	12 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	6 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	7 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	8 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	72 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	71 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	62 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	98.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	99.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	98.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Landlines telephones

2008	92 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	92 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	86 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	82 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	81 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	80 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	81 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	85 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	81 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	70 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	70 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	44 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	166 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	162 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	142 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	155 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	133 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	No data available percent
1990-2004	No data available percent
1990-2002	No data available percent
1990-2001	12.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	No data available current US$
2006	No data available current US$
2005	No data available current US$
2004	No data available current US$
2003	No data available current US$
2002	No data available current US$
2001	No data available current US$
2000	650 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	12.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	10.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	8.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	6.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	6.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	18.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	No data available percent
2006	No data available percent
2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	No data available percent
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	9.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
31.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	418 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	418 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	300 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	300 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	No data available percent
2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	No data available percent

Malaria
Risk from P.vivax from June to October in some villages in the south eastern part of the country in Mary district.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	68 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	69 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	70 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	75 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	79 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	85 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	88 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	92 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	736	UNHCR
2007	678	UNHCR
2006	692	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	820	UNHCR
2004	812	UNHCR
2003	840	UNHCR
2002	801	UNHCR
2001	310	UNHCR
2000	300	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	79	UNHCR
2007	125	UNHCR
2006	750	UNHCR
2005	11963	UNHCR
2004	13253	UNHCR
2003	13511	UNHCR
2002	13693	UNHCR
2001	14005	UNHCR
2000	14188	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2007

Undetermined

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	No data available percent
2000	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	4.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003