Turkmenistan is the least populated of the five former Soviet republics in Central Asia. In 2001 the nation had an around population of about 4,603,244, giving it an average population density of 9 persons per sq km (24 per sq mi). Settlement is concentrated along rivers, canals, and other oases; the Garagum desert and the mountains are sparsely populated. Some 45 % of Turkmenistan’s population lives in urban areas. Ashgabat, the capital, is located on the Garagum Canal in south central Turkmenistan. Other large cities are Chärjew, located on the Amu Darya in the east, and Dashowuz, located in the north.