Lesson 1/34 min
The 5 Central Asian countries at a glance
Central Asia has 5 countries, all landlocked. All five became independent in 1991 when the Soviet Union broke up; each name ends in “-stan”.
Memory trick: Memory trick (Bangla): “Tu-Ta-r Ka-Ki Ujbuk” = Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Capital, currency and independence
| Country | Capital | Currency | Independence (from the Soviet Union) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkmenistan | Ashgabat | Manat | 27 October 1991 |
| Tajikistan | Dushanbe | Somoni | 9 September 1991 |
| Kazakhstan | Astana | Tenge | 16 December 1991 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek | Som | 31 August 1991 |
| Uzbekistan | Tashkent | Som (soum) | 31 August 1991 (celebrated on 1 September) |
Watch out: Khandokar's table gives 25 December 1991 for both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In reliable sources Kazakhstan's date is 16 December 1991 and Uzbekistan's 31 August 1991; 25 December is the day the Soviet Union formally ended. Zubair gives only “1991”.
Did you know?: Both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have a currency spelled “som” in Bangla; they are separate currencies, so remember them by country.
Who leads now (November 2026, per news reports)
| Country | Leadership |
|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Vice President Erlan Karin (since 31 August 2026); Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov |
| Uzbekistan | President Shavkat Mirziyoyev |
| Turkmenistan | President Serdar Berdimuhamedov |
| Tajikistan | President Emomali Rahmon (per the latest reports) |
| Kyrgyzstan | President Sadyr Japarov; the next presidential election is in January 2027 |
Watch out: Leaders change; the books name no present leader for any of these countries. Check recent news before your exam.
Answers asked in past exams
- Kyrgyzstan's capital is Bishkek (Ministry of Defence 2023).
- Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan (Omni Bank 2015).
- The largest republic of Central Asia by area is Kazakhstan (17th BCS).
Watch out: Zubair calls Azerbaijan a “Shia-majority Muslim country of Central Asia”; in fact it lies in the South Caucasus (see the Europe topic, 13.6). Nagorno-Karabakh was the disputed region between Azerbaijan and Armenia; Azerbaijan is called “The land of flames”.
Check yourself
Which of the 5 Central Asian countries is the largest by area?
At a glance
- 1
Central Asia has 5 countries, all landlocked and independent from the Soviet Union in 1991 (trick: “Tu-Ta-r Ka-Ki Ujbuk”).
- 2
Capitals: Ashgabat, Dushanbe, Astana, Bishkek, Tashkent.
- 3
Currencies: manat (Turkmenistan), somoni (Tajikistan), tenge (Kazakhstan), som (Kyrgyzstan), som/soum (Uzbekistan).
- 4
Independence: Turkmenistan 27 October, Tajikistan 9 September, Kazakhstan 16 December, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan 31 August 1991.
- 5
The largest country is Kazakhstan.