Asia > Turkmenistan > Economy

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Agriculture > products	cotton, grain; livestock
Aid as % of GDP	0.7%		[98th of 129]
Definition: Economy > Aid as % of GDP
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005
Distribution of family income > Gini index	40.8		[21st of 43]
Definition: Economy > Distribution of family income > Gini index
Source: calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Economic freedom	0.85		[148th of 156]
Definition: Economy > Economic freedom
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Economy > Overview Turkmenistan is a largely desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it was the world's 10th-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years have led to an almost 50% decline in cotton exports. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. From 1998-2005, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports rose by an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-07, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW has sought to improve the health and education systems, ordered unification of the country's dual currency exchange rate, begun decreasing state subsidies for gasoline, signed an agreement to build a gas line to China, and created a special tourism zone on the Caspian Sea. All of these moves hint that the new post-NYYAZOW government will work to create a friendlier foreign investment environment.
Definition: Economy > Economy > Overview
Source: The Heritage Foundation
Exchange rates Turkmen manats per US dollar - 10,100 (2004), 10,034 (2003), 10,098 (2002), 5,200 (2001)
Definition: Economy > Exchange rates
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Exports	$7,567,000,000.00		[88th of 189]
Definition: Economy > Exports
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005
Exports to US	$17,400,000.00		[124th of 224]
Definition: Economy > Exports to US
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GDP	$10,496,480,000.00		[96th of 203]
Definition: Economy > GDP
Source: US Census Bureau
GDP > PPP	$34,620,000,000.00		[80th of 163]
Definition: Economy > GDP > PPP
Source: World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook
GDP > Real growth rate	11.5%		[9th of 198]
Definition: Economy > GDP > Real growth rate
Source: World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005.
GDP growth > annual %	18.6 annual %		[2nd of 187]
Definition: Economy > GDP growth > annual %
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GINI index	40.76		[23rd of 40]
Definition: Economy > GINI index
Source: World Development Indicators database
Gross National Income	$5,142,800,000.00		[101st of 172]
Definition: Economy > Gross National Income
Source: World Development Indicators database
Human Development Index	0.738		[98th of 178]
Definition: Economy > Human Development Index
Income distribution > Poorest 10%	2.6%		[58th of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Poorest 10%
Source: Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme
Income distribution > Richest 10%	31.7%		[50th of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Richest 10%
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	11.3%		[22nd of 192]
Definition: Economy > Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Population below poverty line	30%		[27th of 46]
Definition: Economy > Population below poverty line
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Tourist arrivals	257,000		[92nd of 152]
Definition: Economy > Tourist arrivals
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008

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