Countries of the World (Asia) - Turkmenistan
First Asian country in my new geography series. One thing you will notice is I will be starting at different points in each list - I DON'T want this to become an overview of all the "A" countries at the same time (like reading the encyclopedia, for those who remember actually using physical encyclopedias!). Again, I'm going to play with the format on these first few and see what I like, then try to be as consistent with my content going forward as I can.
Jay LeBlanc
12/29/20255 min read
Section I - Basic Info on Turkmenistan
Official Name: Turkmenistan
Population: 5,744,151 (115th largest in the world, 37th largest in Asia)
Area/Size: 188,456 square miles (about the size of Colorado/Utah combined)
Capital: Ashgabat (925,000 - sister city of Albuquerque, NM)
Spoken Languages: Turkmen (official - 72%), Russian (12%), Uzbek (9%)
Religions: Muslim (93%), Christian (5%)
Life Expectancy: 72.4 years Literacy Rate: 99%
Per Capita Income: $17,100 Unemployment: 4.1%
What do they Export?: Natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, electricity
Export Partners: China (71%), Turkey (7%), Uzbekistan (5%)
Import Partners: United Arab Emirates (27%), Turkey (24%), China (19%)
Government Type: Presidential republic (same family ruling for the last 19 yrs - no free elections since independence)
Section II - Images of Turkmenistan
5 Key Dates in Turkmen History
Probably no surprise to teachers, but most of the time the "key dates" will drive what the present-day issues are in the country. While most focus on "Turkmenistan" as a relatively-new political creation, the region has been the center of travel and conquest for thousands of years.
c. 250 BC - 200 AD - Nisa, the first capital of the Parthian Empire, is founded near modern Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. It was traditionally founded by Arsaces I and it was reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian kings. Excavations at Nisa have revealed substantial buildings, many inscribed documents, and a looted treasury. The Parthian Empire began to decline around 100 A.D. due to long-term pressures from first the Roman Empire and later the Sasanians of southern Iran.
c. 150 AD - 1700 AD - these dates reflect the extent of the Silk Road as the main land trade route between Europe/Middle East on one end and India/China on the other end. However, the Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (the 800-mile stretch through modern-day Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan) primarily experienced three prosperous periods: the rise of Sogdians merchants between the 5th and 8th centuries CE; the thriving trade with the Muslim world and beyond between the 10th and 12th centuries CE, and significant development of science, culture, urban planning and economics under the Mongols' rule from the 13th century to the 17th century CE.
Dec 1880 - Jan 1881 - the main event in the 1880/81 Russian campaign to conquer the Teke tribe of Turkmens, culminating on Jan 24, 1881. Its effect was to give the Russian Empire control over most of what is now Turkmenistan, thereby nearly completing the Russian conquest of Central Asia. After the Russian Revolution, the Turkmen SSR was established in 1924 along with the modern borders of Turkmenistan.
October 27, 1991 - Turkmenistan's Independence Day as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The former head of Turkmenistan's Communist Party for the previous decade, Saparmurat Niyazov, was elected president of the newly independent nation in an uncontested election and ruled as dictator for the following two decades.
December 21, 2006 - Niyazov dies suddenly of heart disease after 25 years in power, leaving no heir-apparent and an unclear line of succession. A former deputy prime minister rumored to be the illegitimate son of Niyazov, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, became acting president and quickly the new dictator. After 16 years in power, he subsequently named his son Serdar as his heir (making Turkmenistan the first modern country in Central Asia to be ruled by a dynastic system).
Other Non-Political Issues
Section III - Issues of Turkmenistan
General Information on Turkmenistan:
“Turkmenistan", One World Nations Online, Jan 2025, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/turkmenistan.htm
“Turkmenistan", Wikipedia, Dec 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan or https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan
“Turkmenistan Explained in 10 minutes (History, Geography, & Culture)” (video), Opentiera, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S75XfPPLrw
"Turkmenistan", World Bank Group, 2025, https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/turkmenistan
“The World Factbook - Turkmenistan", Central Intelligence Agency, Dec 2025, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/turkmenistan/
History Links on Turkmenistan:
“Explore Central Asia’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", Wanderlust, Sep 2023, https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/inspiration/world-heritage-silk-roads-zarafshan-karakum-corridor/
“History of Turkmenistan", Wikipedia, Nov 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Turkmenistan and
“Parthian Fortresses of Nisa", UNESCO World Heritage Convention, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1242/
“State Historical and Cultural Park 'Ancient Merv'", UNESCO World Heritage Convention, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/886/
“Turkmenistan: Marvel at the meeting place of antiquity and modernity" (travel site featuring historic places), Visit World Heritage, https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/turkmenistan/445d6390-63a3-4be3-935b-d4d3168ed667
Current Events Stories on Turkmenistan:
"As Expected, Son Of Turkmen Leader Easily Wins Election In Familial Transfer Of Power", Radio Free Europe, Mar 2022, https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-serdar-berdymukhammedov-presidency/31753690.html
“Current News Stories - Turkmenistan” Al-Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/where/turkmenistan/
“One of the world’s most isolated countries, this former Soviet state is showing signs it’s ready for more tourists”, CNN, Jul 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/travel/turkmenistan-tourism-visas-opening
"Turkmenistan hosts the international forum on peace and trust", EU Reporter, Dec 2025, https://www.eureporter.co/world/turkmenistan/2025/12/15/turkmenistan-hosts-the-international-forum-on-peace-and-trust/
“Why Turkmenistan Makes North Korea Look Normal" (video), Java Discover, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5ALk23Tn0
Other Interesting Links Related To Turkmenistan:
"Entering the 'Door to Hell'", National Geographic Society, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/entering-door-hell/
“This Country Dedicates a National Holiday to Horses", National Geographic Society, Apr 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/turkmen-horse-day-ashgabat-akhal-teke
“Travel in Turkmenistan: from a city of marble to the Gates of Hell”, Whirled-Away.com, Feb 2025, https://whirled-away.com/travel-in-turkmenistan/
"Tales of Turkmenistan: Unveiling the Mysteries of Central Asia", Undiscovered Destinations, May 2025, https://undiscovered-destinations.com/blog/tales-of-turkmenistan-unveiling-the-mysteries-of-central-asia/