and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 488,100 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to
mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran;
borders Caspian Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note--Sarygamysh Koli is a
lake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate
widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at
-60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)
highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 63%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging
of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution;
diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into
irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the
Aral Sea; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)
65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.11 years
male: 57.48 years
female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%,
other 5.1% (1995)
Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TX
Government type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular--welayat): Ahal
Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty
(formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
presidential election occurred); note--the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
direct presidential election occurred); note--the president is both
the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the
Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy
AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996),
Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993),
Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995),
Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA
1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently
on 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party,
to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status
would require an amendment to the constitution
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002;
note--extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five
years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January
1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by
the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote--Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular
vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a
unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council--NA; Assembly--last held 11 December 1994
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 45, other 5; note--all 50 preapproved by
President NIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the
hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing
rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive
branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars
appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the
red stripe
Economy
Economy--overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with
nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases,
and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is
planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It
also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and
substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had
experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states
because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and
gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994,
Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and
mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas
deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and
caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The
economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued.
Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and
a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious
approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to
sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in
place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based
exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and
strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain
limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export
channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many
years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due
to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and
obligations on extensive short-term external debt.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,630 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 50%
services: 32% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $521 million
expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83
million (1996 est.)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 9.484 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 7.134 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 350 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, grain; livestock
Exports: $689 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products,
textiles, electricity, carpets
Exports--partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany,
Turkey (1996)
Imports: $1.1 billion (1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food,
plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles
Imports--partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)
Debt--external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $27.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi
Exchange rates: manats per US$1--5,350 (January 1999), 4,070
(January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (much programming relayed from
Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,187 km
broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km (note--these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashy
Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 64 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 42
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air
Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,110,606 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,050 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $88 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet
determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly
for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program;
increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment
point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan
======================================================================
@Turks and Caicos Islands
------------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and
relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove
swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
People
Population: 16,863 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697)
15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085)
65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.35 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 74.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code: TK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986;
restored and revised 5 March 1988
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a small
number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of
which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDM 8,
PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party or PNP
International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer
half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell,
lobster, and cactus
Economy
Economy--overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the
leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of
the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include
fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$117 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,700 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995)
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and
financial and other services (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus
fruits; fish
Exports: $4.7 million (1993)
Exports--commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports--partners: US, UK
Imports: $46.6 million (1993)
Imports--commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing,
manufactures, construction materials
Imports--partners: US, UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $5.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; cable television is established) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km
Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics
destined for the US
======================================================================
@Tuvalu
------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls
in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in
1997, there were three cyclones
Environment--current issues: since there are no streams or rivers
and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by
catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because
of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of
forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the
spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned
about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect
on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water
table
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 10,588 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,870; female 1,799)
15-64 years: 61% (male 3,062; female 3,360)
65 years and over: 4% (male 225; female 272) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.15 years
male: 63.01 years
female: 65.34 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%
Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English