Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia. However, United Nations classifies this country in South-central Asia region. Ashgabat is its capital city. Population in 2003 was 4,867,000 with a population density ie number of inhabitants (per square km) 10. Surface area of this country is 488,100 sq kms and currency is manat. It was a former Soviet Republic. It is bounded by the Caspian sea on the west. Its neighbours are Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Almost 80 per cent of the area of this country is occupied by Kara Kum desert.