Turkmenistan flag information
Description flag of Turkmenistan
green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white crescent moon representing Islam with five white stars representing the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Related country flags
Local names
Turkmenistan (short)
Former name
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Nationality
Turkmen(s) (noun) Turkmenistan (adjective)
Languages spoken
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Capital
Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
Government type
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Population
5,179,571 ranked 116, (data 2008)
Geography
the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau. The lowest point is Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m.
Coastline
Coastline 0 km. Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Land borders
3,736km, Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km.
Administrative divisions
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence
27 October 1991 (from Soviet Union)