Source: Wikipedia
Flag of Turkmenistan
Capital: Aşgabat 37°58′N 58°20′E
Official languages: Turkmen
Government: Totalitarian Dictatorship/ Single-party state

President and Chairman: Saparmurat Niyazov

Independence from the Soviet Union :
- Declared October 27, 1991
- Recognized December 8, 1991

Area:
- Total 488,100 km² (52nd) 188,456 sq mi
- Water (%) 4.9

Population:
- July 2005 estimate 4,833,000 (113th2)
- Density 9.9/km² 25.6/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate:
- Total $40.685 billion
- Per capita $8,098

HDI (2003): 0.738 (medium)

Currency: Turkmen Manat (TMM)

Time zone: TMT (UTC+5)
- Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+5)

Internet TLD: .tm

Calling code: +993

Turkmenistan (also known as Turkmenia) is a country in Central Asia. The name Turkmenistan is derived from Persian, meaning "land of the Turkmen". Before 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, called the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the southwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the northwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. Although the country is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of it is covered by the Karakum (Black Sands) Desert. Turkmenistan has a single-party system ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov.