Demographics of Turkmenistan | |
---|---|
Population | 7,057,841 [1] (2022 est.) |
Growth rate | 0.99% (2022 est.) |
Birth rate | 17.51 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
Death rate | 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
Life expectancy | 71.83 years |
• male | 68.8 years |
• female | 75 years |
Fertility rate | 2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | 37.62 deaths/1,000 live births |
Net migration rate | -1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
Age structure | |
0–14 years | 25.44% |
65 and over | 5.38% |
Sex ratio | |
Total | 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) |
At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female |
Under 15 | 1.03 male(s)/female |
65 and over | 0.59 male(s)/female |
Nationality | |
Nationality | Turkmenistani |
Language | |
Official | Turkmen |
The Demographics of Turkmenistan is about the demographic features of the population of Turkmenistan, including population growth, population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. The ethnic majority in Turkmenistan call themselves Turkmen.
The 17 January 1939 census showed a population of 1,251,883, of which 741.5 thousand Turkmen, 232.9 thousand Russians, 107.4 thousand Uzbeks, 61.4 thousand Kazakhs, 19.5 thousand Tatars, 8,300 Iranians, 5,400 Baloch, and 75.5 thousand other nationalities. [2] The population of Turkmenistan increased from 1.5 million in the 1959 census to 4.5 million in the 1995 census. [3] The population continued growing to over 5 million in 2001–2006. [4] According to opposition media, Turkmenistan's population in 2019 was no more than 3.3 million. [5] As of July 2021, anonymous official sources informed opposition news media that the population of Turkmenistan had fallen to between 2.7 and 2.8 million. [6]
According to some sources, deteriorating economic conditions have led to massive emigration of Turkmenistanis to other countries in search of work, possibly as many as 1,879,413 between 2008 and 2018, inclusive. Primary destinations are Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. [5] Between 2013 and 2019, the number of emigrants to Russia from Turkmenistan doubled. [7] As one consequence, in 2018 Turkmen authorities began barring some citizens, particularly those younger than 40 years of age, from leaving the country in an apparent effort to stem emigration. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
A once-in-a-decade national census was conducted December 17–27, 2022. Opposition media reported that many people claimed not to have been interviewed by census workers, or that census workers merely telephoned respondents, and did not visit them to count residents. [13] [14] According to the results of the 2022 census, the results of which were published in July 2023, the population of Turkmenistan was 7,057,841. [15] [16] However, offshore media disputed that figure, with one source claiming it came out of "thin air". [17] Official population estimates are likely too high, given known emigration trends. [18] Population growth has been offset by emigration in search of permanent employment.[ citation needed ]
Period | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR1 | CDR1 | NC1 | TFR1 | IMR1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950-1955 | 55 000 | 21 000 | 35 000 | 43.2 | 16.2 | 27.0 | 6.00 | 150.0 |
1955-1960 | 64 000 | 23 000 | 41 000 | 43.3 | 15.5 | 27.8 | 6.02 | 140.1 |
1960-1965 | 78 000 | 24 000 | 53 000 | 44.6 | 13.9 | 30.7 | 6.75 | 130.3 |
1965-1970 | 77 000 | 24 000 | 54 000 | 38.0 | 11.7 | 26.3 | 6.34 | 120.4 |
1970-1975 | 87 000 | 24 000 | 63 000 | 37.1 | 10.3 | 26.8 | 6.19 | 110.6 |
1975-1980 | 95 000 | 26 000 | 69 000 | 35.3 | 9.6 | 25.8 | 5.32 | 100.7 |
1980-1985 | 107 000 | 27 000 | 81 000 | 35.2 | 8.7 | 26.5 | 4.79 | 90.9 |
1985-1990 | 123 000 | 28 000 | 95 000 | 35.7 | 8.2 | 27.4 | 4.55 | 81.0 |
1990-1995 | 128 000 | 34 000 | 94 000 | 32.9 | 8.6 | 24.3 | 4.03 | 75.5 |
1995-2000 | 106 000 | 34 000 | 73 000 | 25.0 | 7.8 | 17.2 | 3.03 | 61.3 |
2000-2005 | 108 000 | 36 000 | 72 000 | 23.3 | 7.7 | 15.6 | 2.76 | 51.7 |
2005-2010 | 108 000 | 38 000 | 70 000 | 22.1 | 7.8 | 14.3 | 2.50 | 50.5 |
2010-2015 | 21.5 | 7.8 | 13.7 | 2.34 | ||||
2015-2020 | 20.0 | 7.8 | 12.2 | 2.22 | ||||
1CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |
Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | 1,211,000 | 46,335 | 12,411 | 33,924 | 38.3 | 10.2 | 28.0 |
1951 | 1,234,000 | 46,417 | 12,707 | 33,710 | 37.6 | 10.3 | 27.3 |
1952 | 1,260,000 | 49,306 | 14,775 | 34,531 | 39.1 | 11.7 | 27.4 |
1953 | 1,290,000 | 48,482 | 15,567 | 32,915 | 37.6 | 12.1 | 25.5 |
1954 | 1,321,000 | 51,162 | 14,650 | 36,512 | 38.7 | 11.1 | 27.6 |
1955 | 1,356,000 | 55,171 | 14,075 | 41,096 | 40.7 | 10.4 | 30.3 |
1956 | 1,390,000 | 53,528 | 11,783 | 41,745 | 38.5 | 8.5 | 30.0 |
1957 | 1,434,000 | 55,955 | 10,940 | 45,015 | 39.0 | 7.6 | 31.4 |
1958 | 1,487,000 | 59,235 | 10,987 | 48,248 | 39.8 | 7.4 | 32.4 |
1959 | 1,539,000 | 60,430 | 10,594 | 49,836 | 39.3 | 6.9 | 32.4 |
1960 | 1,593,000 | 67,676 | 10,433 | 57,243 | 42.5 | 6.5 | 35.9 |
1961 | 1,653,000 | 67,790 | 10,841 | 56,949 | 41.0 | 6.6 | 34.5 |
1962 | 1,713,000 | 68,725 | 11,772 | 56,953 | 40.1 | 6.9 | 33.2 |
1963 | 1,773,000 | 70,005 | 11,098 | 58,907 | 39.5 | 6.3 | 33.2 |
1964 | 1,833,000 | 69,777 | 11,623 | 58,154 | 38.1 | 6.3 | 31.8 |
1965 | 1,890,000 | 70,258 | 13,152 | 57,106 | 37.2 | 7.0 | 30.2 |
1966 | 1,943,000 | 73,109 | 13,036 | 60,073 | 37.6 | 6.7 | 30.9 |
1967 | 2,001,000 | 71,062 | 14,043 | 57,019 | 35.5 | 7.0 | 28.5 |
1968 | 2,061,000 | 73,470 | 14,223 | 59,247 | 35.6 | 6.9 | 28.7 |
1969 | 2,124,000 | 72,892 | 14,754 | 58,138 | 34.3 | 6.9 | 27.4 |
1970 | 2,188,000 | 77,080 | 14,370 | 62,710 | 35.2 | 6.6 | 28.6 |
1971 | 2,251,000 | 78,357 | 15,031 | 63,326 | 34.8 | 6.7 | 28.1 |
1972 | 2,315,000 | 78,841 | 16,680 | 62,161 | 34.0 | 7.2 | 26.8 |
1973 | 2,380,000 | 82,111 | 17,336 | 64,775 | 34.5 | 7.3 | 27.2 |
1974 | 2,449,000 | 84,607 | 17,766 | 66,841 | 34.5 | 7.2 | 27.3 |
1975 | 2,520,000 | 87,369 | 19,876 | 67,493 | 34.7 | 7.9 | 26.8 |
1976 | 2,588,000 | 90,765 | 20,040 | 70,725 | 35.1 | 7.7 | 27.4 |
1977 | 2,655,000 | 91,826 | 20,801 | 71,025 | 34.6 | 7.8 | 26.8 |
1978 | 2,724,000 | 93,798 | 21,847 | 71,951 | 34.4 | 8.0 | 26.4 |
1979 | 2,792,000 | 97,511 | 21,583 | 75,928 | 34.9 | 7.7 | 27.2 |
1980 | 2,861,000 | 98,069 | 23,863 | 74,206 | 34.3 | 8.3 | 25.9 |
1981 | 2,931,000 | 100,627 | 24,883 | 75,744 | 34.3 | 8.5 | 25.8 |
1982 | 3,003,000 | 104,340 | 23,984 | 80,356 | 34.7 | 8.0 | 26.8 |
1983 | 3,076,000 | 108,171 | 26,015 | 82,156 | 35.2 | 8.5 | 26.7 |
1984 | 3,151,000 | 111,083 | 25,760 | 85,323 | 35.3 | 8.2 | 27.1 |
1985 | 3,229,000 | 116,285 | 26,080 | 90,205 | 36.0 | 8.1 | 27.9 |
1986 | 3,310,000 | 122,337 | 27,865 | 94,472 | 37.0 | 8.4 | 28.5 |
1987 | 3,393,000 | 126,787 | 26,802 | 99,985 | 37.4 | 7.9 | 29.5 |
1988 | 3,479,000 | 125,887 | 27,317 | 98,570 | 36.2 | 7.9 | 28.3 |
1989 | 3,571,000 | 124,992 | 27,609 | 97,383 | 35.0 | 7.7 | 27.3 |
1990 | 3,668,000 | 125,343 | 25,755 | 99,588 | 34.2 | 7.0 | 27.2 |
1991 | 3,772,000 | 126,248 | 27,403 | 98,845 | 33.5 | 7.3 | 26.2 |
1992 | 3,883,000 | 131,034 | 27,509 | 103,525 | 33.7 | 7.1 | 26.7 |
1993 | 3,993,000 | 130,708 | 31,171 | 99,537 | 32.7 | 7.8 | 24.9 |
1994 | 4,096,000 | 129,700 | 32,067 | 97,633 | 31.7 | 7.8 | 23.8 |
1995 | 130,200 | ||||||
1996 | 125,400 | ||||||
1997 | 126,200 | ||||||
1998 | 121,900 | ||||||
1999 | 120,100 | ||||||
2000 | 119,665 | ||||||
2001 | 115,400 | ||||||
2002 | 111,039 | ||||||
2003 | 111,900 | ||||||
2004 | 115,119 | ||||||
2005 | 116,209 | ||||||
2006 | 116,542 | ||||||
2007 | 103,700 | ||||||
2008 | 114,900 | ||||||
2009 | 129,900 | ||||||
2010 | 144,600 |
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): [22]
Year | CBR (Total) | TFR (Total) | CBR (Urban) | TFR (Urban) | CBR (Rural) | TFR (Rural) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 24.6 | 2.89 (2.66) | 20.5 | 2.46 (2.29) | 28.2 | 3.30 (3.00) |
Period | Life expectancy in Years | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
---|---|---|---|
1950–1955 | 51.3 | 1985–1990 | 62.8 |
1955–1960 | 53.4 | 1990–1995 | 62.7 |
1960–1965 | 55.5 | 1995–2000 | 63.2 |
1965–1970 | 57.6 | 2000–2005 | 64.2 |
1970–1975 | 59.2 | 2005–2010 | 65.8 |
1975–1980 | 60.2 | 2010–2015 | 67.3 |
1980–1985 | 61.8 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects [23]
The table shows the ethnic composition of Turkmenistan's population (in percent) between 1926 and 1995. [3] There has been a sharp decline in the Slavic ethnic groups (Russians and Ukrainians) and also Kazakhs and Tatars since independence (as captured in the 1979 and 1995 censuses). Uzbeks are now the second largest ethnic group in Turkmenistan, with Russians relegated to the third place. According to data announced in Ashgabat in February 2001, 91% of the population are Turkmen, 3% are Uzbeks, and 2% are Russians. Between 1989 and 2001 the number of Turkmen in Turkmenistan doubled (from 2.5 to 4.9 million), while the number of Russians dropped by two-thirds (from 334,000 to slightly over 100,000). [24]
Ethnic group | census 19261 | census 19392 | census 19593 | census 19704 | census 19795 | census 19896 | census 19957 | census 20128 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Turkmens | 719,792 | 71.9 | 741,488 | 59.2 | 923,724 | 60.9 | 1,416,700 | 65.6 | 1,891,695 | 68.4 | 2,536,606 | 72.0 | 3,403,639 | 76.7 | 4,066,959 | 85.6 |
Uzbeks | 104,971 | 10.5 | 107,451 | 8.6 | 125,231 | 8.3 | 179,498 | 8.3 | 233,730 | 8.5 | 317,333 | 9.0 | 408,259 | 9.2 | 275,565 | 5.8 |
Russians | 75,357 | 7.5 | 232,924 | 18.6 | 262,701 | 17.3 | 313,079 | 14.5 | 349,170 | 12.6 | 333,892 | 9.5 | 297,319 | 6.7 | 242,307 | 5.1 |
Kazakhs | 9,471 | 0.9 | 61,397 | 4.9 | 69,522 | 4.6 | 68,519 | 3.2 | 79,539 | 2.9 | 87,802 | 2.5 | 88,752 | 2.0 | 19,004 | 0.4 |
Azerbaijanis | 4,229 | 0.4 | 7,442 | 0.6 | 12,868 | 0.8 | 16,775 | 0.8 | 23,548 | 0.9 | 33,365 | 0.9 | 36,586 | 0.8 | 49,852 | 1.2 |
Balochi | 9,974 | 1.0 | 5,396 | 0.4 | 7,626 | 0.5 | 12,374 | 0.6 | 18,584 | 0.7 | 28,280 | 0.8 | 36,428 | 0.8 | ||
Tatars | 4,769 | 0.5 | 19,517 | 1.6 | 29,946 | 2.0 | 36,457 | 1.7 | 40,432 | 1.5 | 39,277 | 1.1 | 35,501 | 0.8 | ||
Armenians | 13,859 | 1.4 | 15,996 | 1.3 | 19,696 | 1.3 | 23,054 | 1.1 | 26,605 | 1.0 | 31,829 | 0.9 | 33,638 | 0.8 | ||
Ukrainians | 6,877 | 0.7 | 21,778 | 1.7 | 20,955 | 1.4 | 35,398 | 1.6 | 37,118 | 1.3 | 35,578 | 1.0 | 23,064 | 0.5 | ||
Others | 51,615 | 5.2 | 38,494 | 3.1 | 44,106 | 2.9 | 57,026 | 2.6 | 64,327 | 2.3 | 78,755 | 2.2 | 71,168 | 1.7 | 142,285 | 3.1 |
Total | 1,000,914 | 1,251,883 | 1,516,375 | 2,158,880 | 2,764,848 | 3,522,717 | 4,434,354 | 4,751,120 | ||||||||
1 Source: . 2 Source: Archived 21 December 2012 at archive.today . 3 Source: . 4 Source: . 5 Source: . 6 Source: . 7 Source: 8 Source: |
The significant presence of Azerbaijanis in Turkmenistan dates from the early twentieth century. A massive influx of Azerbaijanis migrated to Turkmenistan due to the devastating 1902 Shamakhi earthquake.
Beyler of Shamakhi settled mainly in Krasnovodsk and Ashabad (now known as Turkmenbashi and Ashgabat respectively). The Beyler's wealth spurred a big "investment boom" in Turkestan (Turkmenistan). Beyler began to build new buildings by using modernized technological equipment. In a short time, a large number of hotels, houses, teahouses, caravanserais, mosques, madrasas, schools, and theaters were built.
Azerbaijanis were also involved in the fight against the Bolsheviks. Azerbaijanis were found among the Basmachi fighters led by Enver Pasha, and some helped finance the movement. For decades, the fight against the colonial policy of Bolsheviks failed. Most of the members of Basmachi movement were killed in the battles of the independence of Turkestan, the other part were exiled to labor camps of Gulag.
During the 70 years of Soviet rule, Azerbaijani Bays and warriors were declared as a national enemy and their names were erased from history books. Today they have been rehabilitated.
At the period of the collapse of the USSR, 36,000 Azerbaijanis lived in Turkmenistan, now their population has reached over 52,000.
While living in Turkmenistan, Azerbaijanis have contributed to the culture and art of the country. Musical instruments such as Gaval, Nagara, Tar, Saz and Kamancheh have gained popularity in Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijani dishes like dovga, syabzi-frying, and sweet rice have become favorite dishes of Turkmenistanis. Today, the Azerbaijani community of Turkmenistan has its own mosques, musicians, and dancers.
Some famous Azerbaijanis from Turkmenistan are: the chief of Baku City Executive Power Hajibala Abutalibov, Elnur Huseynov who represented Azerbaijan twice in the Eurovision Song Contest and the winner of The Voice of Turkey, singer Natavan Habibi, a well-known geologist Shamil Azizbeko, film director Ajdar Ibrahimov, national heroes of Azerbaijan Fakhraddin Musayev and Tahir Bagirov, the first woman in the oil industry, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1959 to 1983. Tahira Tahirova also was born in Turkmenistan. [25]
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook as of September 2018, unless otherwise indicated. [26]
The politics of Turkmenistan nominally takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is nominally both head of state and head of government. However, as of 21 January 2023 a "national leader" was appointed who chairs an independent People's Council (viz.) with authority to amend the constitution, and who exercises supreme political authority. No true opposition parties are allowed; every registered political party supports the third and current President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The country is frequently described as a totalitarian state.
The economy of Turkmenistan continues to recover from the 2014 downturn in hydrocarbon prices, but remains "in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the immediate post-independence period, driven in part by low gas prices, the suspension of gas exports to Russia between 2016 and 2019...and poor harvests." Former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at a session of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 11, 2021, called the rate of GDP growth unsatisfactory. When discussing the 2021 government budget, he noted that 2021 would be "as difficult" a year as 2020 had been.
Ashgabat or Asgabat, formerly named Poltoratsk between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies between the Karakum Desert and the Kopetdag mountain range in Central Asia, near the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The city has a population of 1,030,063.
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It is one of the six independent Turkic states. With a population of 6.5 million, Turkmenistan is the 35th most-populous country in Asia and has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics while being one of the most sparsely populated nations on the Asian continent.
Ahal Region is one of five provinces of Turkmenistan. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran and Afghanistan along the Kopet Dag Range. Its area is 97,160 km2 (37,510 sq mi) and population 886,845.
Türkmenbaşy, formerly known as Krasnovodsk, Kyzyl-Su, and Shagadam, is a city in Balkan Province in western Turkmenistan, on the Türkmenbaşy Gulf of the Caspian Sea. It sits at an elevation of 27 metres. The population was 86,800, mostly ethnic Turkmens but also Russian, Armenian and Azeri minorities. As the terminus of the Trans-Caspian Railway and site of a major seaport on the Caspian, it is an important transportation center. The city is also the site of Turkmenistan's largest oil refining complex.
The People's Council of Turkmenistan is Turkmenistan's independent "representative body" exerting supreme constitutional authority. It includes in its membership, but is not considered part of, the legislature. Among other things, it is empowered to amend the constitution. Its chairperson is appointed by the president and is designated the "National Leader". State media referred to the People's Council as the "supreme organ of government authority". From 2018 to 2023 it was the upper chamber of Turkmenistan's Parliament, the "National Council".
The Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Turkmenistan. Between March 2021 and 21 January 2023, it was the lower house of the National Council of Turkmenistan. It consists of 125 members, who are elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.
The Ministry for National Security or MNS is the secret police agency for the government of Turkmenistan. It is composed largely of the remnants of KGB organs left over after the collapse of the Soviet Union; its functions remain largely the same as well. The MNB and the national police force are under the direction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Until 2002, it was known as the KNB.
Agriculture in Turkmenistan is a significant sector of the economy, in 2019 contributing 11.7% of the GDP and employing 40% of the workforce. However, only 4% of total land area is cultivated.
Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician who is currently the chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan. He previously served as the 2nd President of Turkmenistan from 2006 to 2022, when he entered into a power-sharing arrangement with his son, Serdar, the current president.
Raşit Öwezgeldiýewiç Meredow is a Turkmen politician and diplomat who has served as Vice President of Turkmenistan since 2007.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is the interior ministry or national police force of Turkmenistan. The ministry directly controls the Turkmen police force, consisting of about 25,000 personnel, and works with the Ministry for National Security on matters of law enforcement and national defense. The primary tasks of the police force include maintaining law and public security, crime prevention and investigation, passport control, road and fire safety, and international cooperation in law enforcement. The ministry works with INTERPOL. The current minister is Mämmethan Çakyýew. The ministry was founded on February 19, 1998, by decree of President Saparmurat Niyazov “On the formation of the police of Turkmenistan”.
Serdar Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician serving as the third and current president of Turkmenistan since 19 March 2022. Berdimuhamedow had previously served in several other positions within the government of his father, Gurbanguly.
Isgender Handurdiyevich Mulikov is a Turkmen politician who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 2009 to 2019.
Shamuhammet Durdylyyev is a Turkmen politician and mayor of the city of Arkadag. He previously served as deputy chairman of the Turkmenistan government for construction and industry and as mayor of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital city. He is currently on the board of directors of the consortium of construction companies responsible for building the "Ashgabat City" residential development.
The National Council of Turkmenistan was Turkmenistan's bicameral national legislative body or parliament from March 2021 until January 2023. The upper chamber was the People's Council and the lower chamber was the Assembly. The National Council was created in March 2021 following election of members to the upper chamber, which in turn followed a constitutional amendment in late 2020.
Şabat, previously called Nyýazow, Andreyevsk and Täzebazar, is a city subordinate to a district and the administrative center of Şabat District, Daşoguz Province, Turkmenistan. The city was renamed Şabat by decree of the Turkmen parliament on 9 November 2022.
Türkmenbaşy şäherçesi is a town and the administrative center of Türkmenbaşy District, Balkan Province, Turkmenistan. It is east of the city of Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan, with which it should not be confused. Türkmenbaşy şäherçesi was previously called Janga.