Turkmens

Turkmens

Türkmenler Түркменлер توركمنلر
Turkmens in folk costume at the 20th Independence Day parade, 2011
Total population
c. 8 million[a]
Regions with significant populations
Turkmenistan	4.7 million[1]
Iran	1.7 million[2]
Afghanistan	1.2 million[3][4]
Turkey	230,000–1 million[5][6]
Uzbekistan	152,000[7]
Russia	46,885[8]
Tajikistan	15,171[9]
Languages
Turkmen
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam[10]
Related ethnic groups
Other Turkic peoples Especially Azerbaijanis,[11][12] Turkish people,[11] and Khorasani Turks
a. ^ The total figure is merely an estimation; a sum of all the referenced populations.

Turkmens (Turkmen: Türkmenler, Түркменлер, توركمنلر, [tʏɾkmønˈløɾ];^[13] historically "the Turkmen") are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia, living mainly in Turkmenistan, northern and northeastern regions of Iran and north-western Afghanistan. Sizeable groups of Turkmens are found also in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the North Caucasus (Stavropol Krai). They speak the Turkmen language,^[10] which is classified as a part of the Eastern Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages.^[14]

In the early Middle ages, Turkmens called themselves Oghuz; in the Middle Ages, they took the ethnonym Turkmen.^[15] These early Oghuz Turkmens moved westward from the Altai Mountains through the Siberian steppes, and settled in the region now known as Turkmenistan. Further westward migration of the Turkmen tribes from the territory of modern Turkmenistan and the rest of Central Asia started from the 11th century and continued until the 18th century. These Turkmen tribes played a significant role in the ethnic formation of such peoples as Anatolian Turks, Turkmens of Iraq and Syria, as well as the Turkic population of Iran and Azerbaijan.^[16][17][18] To preserve their independence, those tribes that remained in Turkmenistan were united in military alliances, although remnants of tribal relations remained until the 20th century. Their traditional occupations were farming, cattle breeding, and various crafts. Ancient samples of applied art (primarily carpets and jewelry) indicate a high level of folk art culture.

The Seljuks, Khwarazmians, Qara Qoyunlu, Aq Qoyunlu, Ottomans, and Afsharids are also believed to descend from the Turkmen tribes of Qiniq, Begdili, Yiwa, Bayandur, Kayi, and Afshar respectively.^[19]