Turkmenistan

Population: 4,603,244 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Background: Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not...

Currency: Turkmen manat (TMM, No information)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.