2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

469,930 sq km

total

488,100 sq km

water

18,170 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California

Climate

subtropical desert

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

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

mean elevation

230 m

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 60 00 E

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

Irrigated land

16,459 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Afghanistan 804 km; Iran 1,148 km; Kazakhstan 413 km; Uzbekistan 1,793 km

total

4,158 km

Land use

agricultural land

84.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.)

forest

5% (2023 est.)

other

10.7% (2023 est.)

Location

Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

(Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years

24.5% (male 711,784/female 692,967)

15-64 years

68.6% (male 1,956,740/female 1,984,333)

65 years and over

6.9% (2024 est.) (male 174,346/female 223,981)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.2% (2019)

women married by age 18

6.1% (2019)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.1% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65% (2019 est.)

Death rate

5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

9.9 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

35.6 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

29.6% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.99 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

27.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

43.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

major-language sample(s)

Dünýä Faktlar Kitaby – esasy maglumatlaryň wajyp çeşmesidir (Turkmen) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.5 years

male

69.4 years

total population

72.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99.9% (2022 est.)

male

99.9% (2022 est.)

total population

99.9% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

902,000 ASHGABAT (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

31.7 years

male

30.7 years

total

31.6 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.2 years (2019)

Nationality

adjective

Turkmenistani

noun

Turkmenistani(s)

Net migration rate

-1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.6% (2016)

Physician density

1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

2,901,281

male

2,842,870

total

5,744,151 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.88% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 93%, Christian 6.4%, Buddhist <1%, folk religion <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified <1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2022 est.)

male

12 years (2022 est.)

total

13 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

0.5% (2025 est.)

male

9.4% (2025 est.)

total

4.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

54% of total population (2023)

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

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

geographic coordinates

37 57 N, 58 23 E

name

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)

time difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the Assembly or Mejlis; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum

history

several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Turkmenistan

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

former

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Turkmenistan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Elizabeth ROOD (since 31 July 2024)

email address and website

ConsularAshgab@state.gov https://tm.usembassy.gov/

embassy

9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000

FAX

[993] (12) 94-26-14

mailing address

7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070

telephone

[993] (12) 94-00-45

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001)

email address and website

turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en

FAX

[1] (202) 588-1500

telephone

[1] (202) 588-1500

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)

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%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (no term limits)

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)

most recent election date

12 March 2022

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 type

presidential republic; authoritarian

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

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)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms

subordinate courts

High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts

Legal system

civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

March 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Assembly (Mejlis)

most recent election date

3/28/2021

number of seats

56 (48 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)

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)

percentage of women in chamber

25.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1997; lyrics revised in 2008 to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW

lyrics/music

collective/Veli MUKHATOV

title

"Garaşsyz, Bitarap T&uuml;rkmenistanyň" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem)

National color(s)

green, white

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)

total World Heritage Sites

5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

National symbol(s)

Akhal-Teke horse

Political parties

Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or TAP Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan or TSTP The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or TDP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, potatoes, cotton, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes, barley, beef, lamb/mutton (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

36.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$6.134 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$5.954 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$3.696 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; houses fourth-largest natural gas reserves and rich in natural resources; authoritarian and dominated by state-owned enterprises; challenges include overvalued currency, high inflation risks, lack of economic diversification due to heavy state control and bureaucracy

Exchange rates

Currency

Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2014

3.5 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

3.5 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

3.5 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

4.125 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$10.282 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$14.67 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$13.111 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, electricity (2023)

Exports - partners

China 63%, Turkey 11%, Greece 7%, Uzbekistan 6%, Azerbaijan 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

11.3% (2023 est.)

industry

39.3% (2023 est.)

services

49.4% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$64.24 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$6.25 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$7.362 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$7.563 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, cars, wheat, computers, iron pipes (2023)

Imports - partners

Turkey 21%, UAE 21%, China 20%, Kazakhstan 8%, Germany 5% (2023)

Industries

natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

6.1% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

19.5% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.5% (2022 est.)

Labor force

2.445 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

24.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$123.778 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$131.576 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$134.555 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$17,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$17,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$18,000 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

6% (2024 est.)

male

14.7% (2024 est.)

total

9.6% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

200 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

21.526 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

9 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

6.512 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.258 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

261.142 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

44.936 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

41.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

84.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

11.327 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

600 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2022 est.)

total

377,000 (2022 est.)

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

Internet country code

.tm

Internet users

percent of population

21% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

802,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

99 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

6.25 million (2021 est.)

Airports

23 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EZ

Heliports

25 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59

total

73 (2023)

Railways

broad gauge

5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

total

5,113 km (2017)

Military - note

the military is responsible for external defense and works closely with the Border Service on protecting the country&rsquo;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 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 service personnel strengths

estimated 35,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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 T&uuml;rkiye (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2015

1.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military Expenditures 2016

1.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.8% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

3,409 (2024 est.)

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/

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 agency/agencies

Turkmenistan National Space Agency (established 2011; transferred to the Space Department of the Ministry of Communications in 2019) (2025)

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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

100 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

88.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

18.062 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

106.215 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

294.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

5,451.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

1.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

44.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

28.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

24.765 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

16.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

806.765 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

453.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

500,000 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

15.3% (2022 est.)