Introduction to Central Asia

Rob Kevlihan
Presented at the Centre for International Studies, Dublin City University, April 2006
 Overview
Comprises five states of the former
USSR including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan
Strategically placed between Russia,
China, Iran and Afghanistan
Asian region that was formerly part of
the Soviet Union
 Population Characteristics
Uzbekistan the largest in population terms
(26.85m, 45% of total Central Asian pop.),
Kazakhstan (15.19m, 26%), Tajikistan
(7.16m, 12%), Kyrgyzstan (5.15m, 9%) and
Turkmenistan (4.95 million, 8%).
Kazakhstan largest geographically
Large concentration of population in the
Ferghana valley split between Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan