Capital: Astana (formerly Akmola)
Population: 15.8 million
Ethnic groups: Kazakh (45.9%), Russian (34.8%), Ukrainian (4.9%), German (3.2%), Uzbek (2.3%)
Major industries: Heavy industry, agriculture, metallurgy, metals
GNP: US$22.1 billion
Key phrases: Rich in mineral resources, second largest in CIS in land area after Russia, former laboratory in Semipalatinsk
Turkmenistan
Area: 488,100km2
Capital: Ashkhabad
Population: 4.69 million
Ethnic groups: Turkmen (73.3%), Russian (9.8%), Uzbek (9.0%), Kazakh (2.0%)
Major industries: Energy, cotton
GNP: US$4.13 billion
Key phrases: Permanently neutral country, natural gas
Kyrgyz Republic
Area: 198,500km2
Capital: Bishkek (formerly Frunze??)
Population: 4.67 million
Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz (52.4%), Russian (21.5%), Uzbek (12.9%), Ukrainian (2.5%), German (2.4%)
Major industries: Agriculture, animal husbandry, mining
GNP: US$3.16 billion
Key phrases: Mountainous terrain, mines
Republic of Tadzhikistan
Area: 143,100km2
Capital: Dushanbe
Population: 6.07 million
Ethnic groups: Tadzhik (64.9%), Uzbek (25.0%), Russian (3.5%)
Major industries: Cotton, fruit, animal husbandry
GNP: US$1.97 billion
Key phrases: Mountainous terrain (Pamyr plateau), political instability
Azerbaidjan Republic
Area: 86,600 km2
Capital: Baku
Population: 7.63 million
Ethnic groups: Azeri (82.7%), Russian (5.6%), Armenian (5.6%)
Major industries: Oil, agriculture
GNP: US$3.67 billion
Key phrases: Oil resources, Silk Road, ethnic strife
