A former soviet republic in the USSR, independence was proclaimed on 29 October 1991. The Democratic Party (TDP), heirs to the Communists, have kept their grip on all political and economic control in the country. Saparmyrat Niyazov (calling himself Türkmenbaşy, “father of the Turkmenis”) led the country for long time by means of an authoritarian and populist regime which continued even after his death in 2006. The Constitution of 1992 set up a presidential system with only one official party (the TDP); in 2008 it was amended to allow a multi-party system to begin, but opposition parties are still illegal. The President of the Republic, who is also the head of the executive, is elected by direct suffrage for a five-year term, at the same time as the National Assembly (125 members).

Population by age and gender (% - 2020)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

The fertility index, once very high, has rapidly reduced.

The growth rate is linked to hydrocarbon exports and is thus very sensitive to changes in prices on the international market. Agriculture is mainly concentrated in southern areas where there is irrigation. The main crops are cereals (wheat, rice, barley and maize), tomatoes, potatoes, fruit (watermelons, grapes, apples) and sugar beets. Cotton is widespread (in the areas of Mary, Tejen and Daşoguz), and Turkmenistan is one of the largest producers in the world. The breeding of thoroughbred horses and karakul sheep is an important industry, as is silk farming.
Turkmenistan has crude oil deposits in the Caspian Sea region and is extremely rich in natural gas both on the mainland (large reserves in eastern and southwestern parts of the country, in the Amu Darya and Murgap basins) and offshore (Caspian Sea). Gas is exported to China via a gas pipeline that travels through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan; two pipelines to Iran and one to Russia are also active. A connection under the Caspian Sea between the Turkmenistan and Baku (Azerbaijan) resources is now being planned; it is the beginning of the gas pipeline that, through Georgia and Turkey, reaches the port of Ceyhan, in the Mediterranean. The connection with India through Afghanistan and Pakistan is under construction. Other resources are sulphur, mineral salts (bromine, sodium and iodine) and rock salt from the Karakum Desert. Industrial growth is limited: there are some refineries (Seidi e Türkmenbaşy), chemical works, with a significant production of fertilizers, cement works, metal machinery factories and textiles (Aşgabat). The traditional craft of carpet making is also significant. The main exports consist of natural gas, petroleum products, cotton, cotton textiles and fertilizers.