Country Guide • Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia and is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the west, Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast and east, Afghanistan to the southeast and Iran to the south. Nearly 80 per cent of the country is taken up by the Kara-Kum (Black Sand) Desert.
| Official Name | Turkmenistan |
|---|---|
| Area | 488,100km² (188,500mile²) |
| Population | 4,775,544 |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population per mile² | 25 |
| Capital City | Ashgabat |
| Religions | Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2% |
| Language | Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7% |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Manat |
| GDP | $26 billion |
| GDP per Head | $5,500 |
| Natural Resources | Petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt |
| Land Use | Arable Land 3.47% |
| Agriculture | Cotton, grain; livestock |
| Industry | Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing |
| Tourism | Turkmenistan is the second largest Central Asian country, but four-fifths of it consists of an inhospitable lunar-like desert called the Karakum which conceals unexploited oil and gas deposits. The country is sparsely populated and its people, the Turkmen, are only a generation or two removed from being nomads. Their tourist trade is relatively undeveloped |
| Natural Hazards | None |
| Health Risks | Hepatitis A and E, diphtheria, tuberculosis and undulant fever. Do not drink the water use bottled water regardless of what locals may say |
| Climate | Turkmenistan has an arid, continental climate with long hot summers and short cold winters. Average annual rainfall varies from 3 inches in the desert areas to 12 inches in the southern mountains. Cold air masses from Siberia can cause winter temperatures to reach -34°C , however, the average temperature in summer is 29°C and 0°C in winter |
| Time | GMT/UTC+5 hours |
| National Days | October 27 |
| Visas | British nationals require a visa to enter Turkmenistan. A Letter of Invitation is needed from a private individual or company to support the visa application. For tourists, these can be obtained from authorised travel agents (a list is available from the British Embassy in Ashgabat). All visa applications made at Turkmen Embassies overseas are referred to Ashgabat for a decision. This can take 20 days or more. There is an accelerated 24 hours service, but a supplementary fee of approximately 150 US Dollars will be charged. On arrival visitors have to complete a migration card and pay a 10 US Dollars migration fee. The authorities will retain one copy of the card. The other must be handed over on departure. Visitors must register within three days of their arrival, excluding weekends and holidays, with the Turkmenistan State Registration Service. This registration procedure is to be carried out by their employers, inviting organisation or individual. A registration fee of Manats 30,000 will be charged. Tourists should register with the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Tourism and Sports. Registration is for the period of the visa. Three days before departure, visitors must de-register with the authorities. Visitors not staying in Ashgabat should register at the local velayat office of their place of residence (there is no need to register both in Ashgabat and regionally) |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.
