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Compare Kazakhstan (2001) - Turkmenistan (2003)

Compare Kazakhstan (2001) z Turkmenistan (2003)

 Kazakhstan (2001)Turkmenistan (2003)
 KazakhstanTurkmenistan
Administrative divisions 14 oblystar (singular - oblysy) and 3 cities (qala, singular - qalasy)*; Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Shevchenko), Ongtustik Qazaqstan (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul)

note:
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonyr, formerly Leninsk)
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty


note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Age structure 0-14 years:
26.73% (male 2,271,866; female 2,200,078)

15-64 years:
66.03% (male 5,358,535; female 5,688,550)

65 years and over:
7.24% (male 412,761; female 799,513) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293)


15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333)


65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; wool, livestock cotton, grain; livestock
Airports 449 (2000 est.) 76 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
28

over 3,047 m:
6

2,438 to 3,047 m:
14

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total: 13


2,438 to 3,047 m: 9


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
421

over 3,047 m:
11

2,438 to 3,047 m:
18

1,524 to 2,437 m:
45

914 to 1,523 m:
101

under 914 m:
246 (2000 est.)
total: 63


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 41 (2002)
Area total:
2,717,300 sq km

land:
2,669,800 sq km

water:
47,500 sq km
total: 488,100 sq km


land: 488,100 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than four times the size of Texas slightly larger than California
Background Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence has caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; and continuing to strengthen relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers. 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 tolerated. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be worked out.
Birth rate 17.3 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$3.1 billion

expenditures:
$3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $588.6 million


expenditures: $658.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Capital Astana; note - the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998 Ashgabat
Climate continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid subtropical desert
Coastline 0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km) 0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993 adopted 18 May 1992
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Kazakhstan

conventional short form:
Kazakhstan

local long form:
Qazaqstan Respublikasy

local short form:
none

former:
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Turkmenistan


local long form: none


local short form: Turkmenistan


former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency tenge (KZT) Turkmen manat (TMM)
Death rate 10.61 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $12.5 billion (2000 est.) $2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard H. JONES

embassy:
99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480091

mailing address:
American Embassy Almaty, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7030

telephone:
[7] (3272) 63-39-21, 50-76-23, 50-76-27 (emergency number)

FAX:
[7] (3272) 63-38-83, 50-76-24
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON


embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45


FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Kanat SAUDABAYEV

chancery:
1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-5488

FAX:
[1] (202) 232-5845

consulate(s):
New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV


chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500


FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697
Disputes - international Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; Turkmenistan has not committed to follow either Iran or the other littoral states in the division of the Caspian Sea seabed and water column; ICJ decision expected to resolve dispute with Azerbaijan over sovereignty over Caspian oilfields; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan is underway - maritime boundary not resolved
Economic aid - recipient $409.6 million (1995) $16 million from the US (2001)
Economy - overview Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also is a large agricultural - livestock and grain - producer. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a growing machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement to build a new pipeline from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field to the Black Sea increases prospects for substantially larger oil exports in several years. Kazakhstan's economy again turned downward in 1998 with a 2% decline in GDP due to slumping oil prices and the August financial crisis in Russia. The recovery of international oil prices in 1999, combined with a well-timed tenge devaluation and a bumper grain harvest, pulled the economy out of recession in 2000. Astana has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector by developing light industry. Turkmenistan is 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, making it the world's tenth-largest producer. 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. In 1998-2003, 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 38% in 2003, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of foreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adopt market-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation with the international community in transporting humanitarian aid to Afghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreign investment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantially in 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapid industrial growth.
Electricity - consumption 44.132 billion kWh (1999) 8.509 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 200 million kWh (1999) 980 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 3.077 billion kWh (1999) 20 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 44.36 billion kWh (1999) 10.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
87.12%

hydro:
12.65%

nuclear:
0.23%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 99.9%


hydro: 0.1%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Vpadina Kaundy -132 m

highest point:
Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)


highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Environment - current issues radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Uighur 1.4%, other 6.6% (1999 census) Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Exchange rates tenge per US dollar - 145.09 (January 2001), 142.13 (2000), 119.52 (1999), 78.30 (1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996) Turkmen manats per US dollar - 5,200 (2002), 5,200 (2001), 5,200 (2000), 5,200 (1999), 4,890.17 (1998); note - the official exchange rate has not varied for the last four years; the unofficial rate has fluctuated slightly, hovering around 21,000 manats to the dollar
Executive branch chief of state:
President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)

head of government:
Prime Minister Kazymzhomart TOKAYEV (since 2 October 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV's previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 81.7%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12.1%, Gani KASYMOV 4.7%, other 1.5%

note:
President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the Assembly on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by the president


election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
Exports $8.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities oil 40%, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)
Exports - partners EU 23%, Russia 20%, China 8% (1999) Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
GDP purchasing power parity - $85.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
10%

industry:
30%

services:
60% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 27%


industry: 50%


services: 23% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10.5% (2000 est.) 21.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 48 00 N, 68 00 E 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Geography - note landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome landlocked; 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
Highways total:
NA km

paved:
150,000 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather) (2000)

unpaved:
NA km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather)
total: 24,000 km


paved: 19,488 km


unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.7%

highest 10%:
26.3% (1996)
lowest 10%: 2.6%


highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)
Illicit drugs significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis consumed largely in the CIS; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia; developing heroin addiction problem transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; small-scale government-run eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
Imports $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas, vehicles machinery and equipment 60%, foodstuffs 15% (1999)
Imports - partners Russia 37%, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea (1999) Russia 19.8%, Turkey 12.8%, Ukraine 11.7%, UAE 10%, US 7.5%, China 6%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 4.4% (2002)
Independence 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 14.9% (2000 est.) 1% (2002 est.)
Industries oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Infant mortality rate 59.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 73.17 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 13.4% (2000 est.) 5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) NA 1
Irrigated land 22,000 sq km (1996 est.) 17,500 sq km (2003 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members) Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Labor force 8.8 million (1997) 2.34 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation industry 27%, agriculture 23%, services 50% (1996) agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries total:
12,012 km

border countries:
China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
total: 3,736 km


border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Land use arable land:
12%

permanent crops:
11%

permanent pastures:
57%

forests and woodland:
4%

other:
16% (1996 est.)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.14%


other: 96.39% (1998 est.)
Languages Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 40%, Russian (official, used in everyday business) 66% Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Legal system based on civil law system based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members are popularly elected, two from each of the former oblasts and the former capital of Almaty, to serve six-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; the addition of 10 "Party List" seats brings the total to 77; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms); note - with the oblasts being reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37; a number of Senate seats come up for reelection every two years

elections:
Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2001); Majilis - last held 10 and 24 October and 26 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 16 seats up for election in 1999, candidates nominated by local councils; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Otan 23, Civic Party 13, Communist Party 3, Agrarian Party 3, People's Cooperative Party 1, independents 34; note - most independent candidates are affiliated with parastatal enterprises and other pro-government institutions
under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT
Life expectancy at birth total population:
63.29 years

male:
57.87 years

female:
68.97 years (2001 est.)
total population: 61.19 years


male: 57.72 years


female: 64.84 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98%

male:
99%

female:
96% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 97% (1989 est.)
Location Central Asia, northwest of China Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Map references Commonwealth of Independent States Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT


ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches General Purpose Forces (Army), Air Force, Border Guards, Navy, Republican Guard Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $322 million (FY99) $90 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (FY99) 3.4% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
4,509,179 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,239,737 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
3,598,859 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,005,686 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
163,628 (2001 est.)
males: 53,825 (2003 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 25 October (1990) Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Nationality noun:
Kazakhstani(s)

adjective:
Kazakhstani
noun: Turkmen(s)


adjective: Turkmen
Natural hazards earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty NA
Natural resources major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Net migration rate -6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992) gas 6,634 km; oil 853 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Agrarian Party [Romin MADENOV]; Alash [Soverkazhy AKATAYEV]; AZAMAT Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym ABILSIITOV, cochairmen]; Civic Party [Azat PERUASHEV, first secretary]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first secretary]; Forum of Democratic Forces [Nurbulat MASANOV, Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan (RNPK); Amirzhan KOSANOV, RNPK activist; Seidakhmet KUTTYKADAM, Orleu Movement; cochairmen]; Labor and Worker's Movement [Madel ISMAILOV, chairman]; Orleu Movement [Seidakhmet KUTTYKADAM]; Otan [Sergei TERESCHENKO, chairman]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; People's Congress of Kazakhstan of NKK [Olzhas SULEIMENOV, chairman]; People's Cooperative Party [Umirzak SARSENOV]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV]; Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan or RNPK [Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN] Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]


note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow
Political pressure groups and leaders Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director] NA
Population 16,731,303 (July 2001 est.) 4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 35% (1999 est.) 34.4% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 0.03% (2001 est.) 1.82% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) Turkmenbasy
Radio broadcast stations AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998) AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 6.47 million (1997) -
Railways total:
14,400 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

broad gauge:
14,400 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1997)
total: 2,440 km


broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Religions Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.52 male(s)/female

total population:
0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
service is poor; equipment antiquated

domestic:
intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; mobile cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan

international:
international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay; with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
general assessment: poorly developed


domestic: NA


international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 1.818 million (1997) 363,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 11,202 (1997) 4,300 (1998)
Television broadcast stations 12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998) 3 (much programming relayed from Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Terrain extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Total fertility rate 2.07 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 13.7% (1998 est.) NA%
Waterways 3,900 km

note:
on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya) and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers
the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as is the man-made Kara Kum canal
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