GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of the Wedding Palace and Yyldyz Hotel in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.Elegant white government building with ornate lamp posts in Ashgabat.

Turkmenistan

Asia · Central Asia

High safetyHigh development
Safety

65th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.903lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#65 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$6,340national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 227% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 201% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parity

$0$13K$25K$22,602 PPP$6,540200620102015202020252006, $1,997 a person, $6,163 at PPP2007, $2,415 a person, $6,900 at PPP2008, $3,606 a person, $7,914 at PPP2009, $3,708 a person, $8,284 at PPP2010, $4,059 a person, $8,970 at PPP2011, $5,144 a person, $10,283 at PPP2012, $6,054 a person, $11,035 at PPP2013, $6,600 a person, $11,723 at PPP2014, $7,164 a person, $12,477 at PPP2015, $5,759 a person, $12,715 at PPP2016, $5,238 a person, $12,919 at PPP2017, $5,126 a person, $13,278 at PPP2018, $3,912 a person, $14,368 at PPP2019, $4,365 a person, $15,389 at PPP2020, $3,935 a person, $14,971 at PPP2021, $3,713 a person, $16,260 at PPP2022, $5,198 a person, $18,149 at PPP2023, $5,298 a person, $19,645 at PPP2024, $5,904 a person, $21,026 at PPP2025, $6,540 a person, $22,602 at PPP$0$13K$25K200620102015202020252006, $1,997 a person, $6,163 at PPP2007, $2,415 a person, $6,900 at PPP2008, $3,606 a person, $7,914 at PPP2009, $3,708 a person, $8,284 at PPP2010, $4,059 a person, $8,970 at PPP2011, $5,144 a person, $10,283 at PPP2012, $6,054 a person, $11,035 at PPP2013, $6,600 a person, $11,723 at PPP2014, $7,164 a person, $12,477 at PPP2015, $5,759 a person, $12,715 at PPP2016, $5,238 a person, $12,919 at PPP2017, $5,126 a person, $13,278 at PPP2018, $3,912 a person, $14,368 at PPP2019, $4,365 a person, $15,389 at PPP2020, $3,935 a person, $14,971 at PPP2021, $3,713 a person, $16,260 at PPP2022, $5,198 a person, $18,149 at PPP2023, $5,298 a person, $19,645 at PPP2024, $5,904 a person, $21,026 at PPP2025, $6,540 a person, $22,602 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
70.2years, at birthModerate
#132 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
81WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
16.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
4.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Elegant white government building with ornate lamp posts in Ashgabat.
How it changed

Turkmenistan's Human Development Index

0.764High human development

95th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 23rd of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #93Maldives0.766
  2. #93Vietnam0.766
  3. #95Turkmenistan0.764
  4. #96Algeria0.763
  5. #97Cuba0.762
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.653 in 2005 to 0.764 in 2023.

0.600.700.800.7642005201020232005: 0.6532006: 0.6622007: 0.6732008: 0.6832009: 0.6902010: 0.7002011: 0.7092012: 0.7142013: 0.7162014: 0.7192015: 0.7252016: 0.7292017: 0.7322018: 0.7352019: 0.7412020: 0.7442021: 0.7542022: 0.7612023: 0.7640.600.700.802005201020232005: 0.6532006: 0.6622007: 0.6732008: 0.6832009: 0.6902010: 0.7002011: 0.7092012: 0.7142013: 0.7162014: 0.7192015: 0.7252016: 0.7292017: 0.7322018: 0.7352019: 0.7412020: 0.7442021: 0.7542022: 0.7612023: 0.764

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
70.2 years2024at birthUp 3.9 years from 66.3 years in 2005
Urban population
47%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
2.662024births per womanDown 0.05 from 2.71 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
0%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 100% in 2005
Infant mortality
302024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 13 from 43 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
10.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 10.5 t in 2005
Forest area
9%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

One of the world's most isolated states: gas-rich, authoritarian, with a bizarre personality cult.

About Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in Central Asia, a vast flat desert state with the extraordinary crater of the Darvaza gas crater burning continuously in the Karakum Desert, ancient Silk Road cities like Merv and Nisa, and a capital in Ashgabat that is perhaps the most surreal city in the world, covered in white marble and golden statues. It is one of the strangest and most compelling places a curious traveller can visit, for those able to navigate the significant entry requirements.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAshgabat
  • LanguagesRussian, Turkmen
  • CurrencyTurkmenistan manat (TMT)
  • Area469,930 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Turkmenistan's Human Development Index?

Turkmenistan's Human Development Index is 0.764 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #95 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Turkmenistan safe?

Turkmenistan scores 1.90 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #65 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Turkmenistan?

Life expectancy at birth in Turkmenistan is 70.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #132 of 195 countries.