Turkmenistan (also known as Turkmenia) is a country in south-west Middle Asia, bounded to the north by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan; to the south by Iran and Afghanistan; and to the west by the Caspian Sea. The name ' Turkmenistan' is derived from Persian, meaning 'land of the Turkmen'.

A former constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan is approximately twice the size of the UK, and although is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of it is covered by the Karakum (Black Sands) Desert. The traditional life of Turkomans is as nomadic shepherds, though some have been settled in towns for centuries.