Location: Asia
Status: UN Country
Capital City: Ashkhabad
Population: 4,400,000
Area: 488,000 km2
Currency: 1 manat
Languages: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek
Religions: Sunni Muslim
More about
Turkmenistan: a republic in central Asia: the area has been occupied by a succession of empires; a Turkmen state was established in the 15th century but suffered almost continual civil strife and was gradually conquered by Russia; in 1918 it became a Soviet republic and gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991: deserts including the Kara Kum cover most of the region; agricultural communities are concentrated around oases; there are rich mineral deposits. Official language: Turkmen. Religion: believers are mainly Muslim. Currency: manat. Capital: Ashkhabad. Pop.: 4 940 000 (2004 est.). Area: 488 100 sq. km (186 400 sq. miles)