Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation

Eastern Caspian

17

Environment and Security

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the east coast of the Caspian. The population of the province exceeds half-a-million 8 (8.5% of the country’s total), with the majority (about 80%) living in the urban centres (especially Turkmenbashy, formerly Krasnovodsk, and Balkanabat, formerly Nebit Dag). Despite hav- ing the lowest population density in the coun- try, the population has increased by a factor of 1.8 since 1976 (Great Soviet Encyclopedia,

Berkeliev 2006, CEP 2006 a), compensating even the emigration of the 1990s. The popu- lation of the region is young with a median age of 27.5 (UNICEF 2004). Turkmens con- stitute the ethnic majority. In keeping with the urban profile of the province, the fertility rate is low. On the other hand the province has rather high mortality rates, possibly related to its industrial profile (UNICEF 2004).