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Turkmenistan
presidential republic; authoritarian
Present-day Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. Various Persian empires ruled the area in antiquity, and Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians conquered it. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road.
Profile
CapitalAshgabat (Ashkhabad)
Population5.7M
GDP$134.6B
Area488,100 km²
LanguageTurkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
CurrencyTurkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar -
Leadership
Head of State
Serdar Berdimuhamedow
Since 2022
At a Glance
Population
5.7M
GDP (PPP)
$135B
