Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
5 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
377,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-controlled broadcast media; 7 state-owned TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes available for other broadcasts; officials sometimes limit access to satellite TV by removing satellite dishes
Communications: Internet country code
.tm
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
17.99% (2016 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
802,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
99 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
6.25 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, wheat, potatoes, cotton, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes, barley, beef, lamb/mutton (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
36.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6.134 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.954 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$4.645 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$3.696 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
3.5 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
3.5 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3.5 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
4.125 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, electricity (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$17.481 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$20.361 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$12.772 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$8.012 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$8.521 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$12.189 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$10.094 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$7.397 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$10.282 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$14.67 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$13.111 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$9.030 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
11.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
39.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
49.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$21,213 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$64.24 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$158.981 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, cars, wheat, computers, iron pipes (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$11.508 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$16.333 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$14.430 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$11.798 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$8.561 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$7.979 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$7.521 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.25 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$7.362 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$7.563 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$5.736 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
6.1% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
19.5% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
11.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.445 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
24.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$75.798 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$79.032 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$82.168 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$86.403 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$105.310 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$104.881 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$116.552 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$123.778 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$131.576 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$134.555 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.50% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.20% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.50% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.20% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.30% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
5.90% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.20% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.20% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.30% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$12,477 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$12,715 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$12,919 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$13,278 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$15,478 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$15,091 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$16,434 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$18,340 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$19,829 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.04% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.49% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.46% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.02% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.01% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.02% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
9.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
21.526 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
9 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
6.512 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
3.258 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
261.142 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
44.936 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
41.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
84.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
11.327 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
600 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
100 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
88.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
18.062 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
106.215 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
subtropical desert
Environment: Environmental issues
soil and groundwater pollution from agricultural chemicals and pesticides; salination, waterlogging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; river diversion for irrigation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
84.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
10.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
294.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
5,451.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
1.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
44.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
28.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
24.765 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
16.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
806.765 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
453.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
47.09% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
500,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.3% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Geography: Area: land
469,930 sq km
Geography: Area: water
18,170 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Vpadina Akchanaya (Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya, the lake has dropped as low as -110 m) -81 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
230 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
40 00 N, 60 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau
Geography: Irrigated land
16,459 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Afghanistan 804 km; Iran 1,148 km; Kazakhstan 413 km; Uzbekistan 1,793 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,158 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
84.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
10.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
(Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods
Geography: Population distribution
the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat
Geography: Terrain
flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Government: Administrative divisions
5 provinces ( velayatlar , singular - velayat ) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Velayat (Arkadag), Ashgabat*, Balkan Velayat (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Velayat, Lebap Velayat (Turkmenabat), Mary Velayat
Government: Capital: etymology
derived from the Turkmen words ushq , meaning "love," and abad , meaning "inhabited place" or "town;" the city was originally a military outpost built in 1881 that took its name from an ancient settlement on the site
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
37 57 N, 58 23 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the Assembly or Mejlis; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Turkmenistan
Government: Country name: etymology
the suffix - stan means "land," so the country name means the "Land of the Turkmen [people];" the people's name means "Turk-like," from the Persian words tork and mandan , referring to their formerly nomadic lifestyle that differed from the settled Turks of Turkey
Government: Country name: former
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Turkmenistan
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Elizabeth ROOD (since 31 July 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularAshgab@state.gov https://tm.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[993] (12) 94-26-14
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[993] (12) 94-00-45
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 588-1500
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 588-1500
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 73%, Khydyr NUNNAYEV (independent) 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV (IAP) 7.2%, other 8.7% 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (no term limits)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
12 March 2022
Government: Flag
description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the left side; the stripe has five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five five-pointed white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper left corner of the main field meaning: the green color and crescent moon stand for Islam, the five stars for the country's regions, and the guls for national identity
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings and held the chairmanship of the CIS in 2012), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges and organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
March 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Assembly (Mejlis)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
3/28/2021
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
56 (48 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) (65); Groups of citizens of Turkmenistan (28); Agrarian Party (24); Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (8)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
25.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1997; lyrics revised in 2008 to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
collective/Veli MUKHATOV
Government: National color(s)
green, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient Merv (c); Kunya-Urgench (c); Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (c); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Government: National symbol(s)
Akhal-Teke horse
Government: Political parties
Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or TAP Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan or TSTP The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or TDP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Present-day Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. Various Persian empires ruled the area in antiquity, and Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians conquered it. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmen territories later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik resistance in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence when the USSR dissolved in 1991. President for Life Saparmurat NIYAZOV died in 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, a deputy chairman under NIYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOV won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in 2007, and again in 2012 and 2017 with over 97% of the vote in elections widely regarded as undemocratic. In 2022, BERDIMUHAMEDOV announced that he would step down from the presidency and called for an election to replace him. His son, Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, won the ensuing election with 73% of the vote. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, although no longer head of state, maintains an influential political position as head of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) and as National Leader of the Turkmen People, a title that provides additional privileges and immunity for him and his family. Since Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV stepped down from the presidency, state-controlled media upgraded his honorific from Arkadag (protector) to Hero-Arkadag, and began referring to Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV as Arkadagly Serdar, which can be translated as "Serdar who has a protector to support him." Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many citizens of Turkmenistan to emigrate, mostly to Turkey.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military is responsible for external defense and works closely with the Border Service on protecting the country’s borders; areas of emphasis for the military include border security, competition on the Caspian Sea, regional stability, and military modernization; while Turkmenistan has a policy of permanent and "positive" neutrality and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it has participated in multinational exercises and bilateral training with neighboring countries, including Russia and Uzbekistan; Turkmenistan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994, but it does not offer any military forces to NATO-led operations (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Turkmenistan (aka Turkmen National Army): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, Turkmen (National) Police, Federal/State Border Guard Service (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 35,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is comprised largely of Russian/Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities from suppliers such as Brazil, China, Italy, and Türkiye (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.8% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men and volunteer service for men and women; 24-month conscript service obligation (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
24.5% (male 711,784/female 692,967)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
68.6% (male 1,956,740/female 1,984,333)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.9% (2024 est.) (male 174,346/female 223,981)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.2% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
6.1% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.1% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.50% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
10.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
9.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
45.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
35.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
29.6% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.29% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.99 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
43.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
30.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Dünýä Faktlar Kitaby – esasy maglumatlaryň wajyp çeşmesidir (Turkmen) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
73.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
67.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
99.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
99.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.90% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
902,000 ASHGABAT (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
30.7 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
24.2 years (2019)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Turkmenistani
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
7,494,498 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.88% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,901,281
People and Society: Population: male
2,842,870
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
9.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
4.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
47.09% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2015 - first commercial telecommunications satellite (Turkmen Sat 52E) built by European company and launched by US 2024 - announced beginning of program to develop or acquire a second communications satellite
Space: Space agency/agencies
Turkmenistan National Space Agency (established 2011; transferred to the Space Department of the Ministry of Communications in 2019) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the infrastructure to build and operate satellites; particularly interested in communications and remote sensing satellites; has cooperated with the space agencies and/or space industries of France, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
3,409 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — Turkmenistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Turkmenistan was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/turkmenistan/
Transportation: Airports
23 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
EZ
Transportation: Heliports
25 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
73 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: broad gauge
5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
5,113 km (2017)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.