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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).