Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Predominantly covered by the Karakum Desert, the nation features a harsh, arid landscape characterized by extreme temperatures an...
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With a safety index of 53/100, Turkmenistan offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Turkmenistan requires a visa for all international visitors, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with no visa-free entry available for tourism.[9][5][6] Travelers must obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) certified by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, typically arranged through a licensed tour agency for tourist visas, before applying at an embassy/consulate or airport.[4][1][2] Visa on arrival is available at Ashgabat International Airport and select land borders (e.g., with Uzbekistan, Iran), but requires the original...
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117% above EU avg
19% below EU avg
32% below EU avg
73% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Ashgabat
Timezone
UTC+05:00
Area
488,100 km²
Population
6,031,187
Turkmenistan shows a purchasing power index of 19/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$64.24B
HDI
0.7
Quality of Life
46/100
+3 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
8/100
-34 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Turkmenistan. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very expensive with CPI: 102.3 (NYC=100). Groceries index: 112.0, rent: 22.9, restaurant prices: 89.8.
Housing Market
Very expensive with property price to income ratio: 26.0 years. Rent index: 22.9 offers some affordability.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index: 18.5. GDP per capita: ~$7919 USD in 2024.
Tax System
Personal income tax: 10% flat rate. VAT: 15%, corporate tax: 8-20%. Limited transparency and regional variations due to state control.
Business Environment
Highly challenging with heavy bureaucracy, state dominance in hydrocarbons, and strict exchange controls. No recent World Bank Doing Business rank; high regulatory burden.
Social Security
Basic state healthcare and pension systems exist, but quality is low with limited coverage. Unemployment benefits minimal amid poverty and shortages.
Turkmenistan features a predominantly arid continental climate dominated by the vast Karakum Desert, classified primarily as cold semi-arid (BSk) and cold desert (BWk) under Köppen system. Summers are intensely hot with averages of 27-29°C and peaks near 50°C, while winters remain mild at 8-9°C with occasional frosts to -15°C or lower in northern areas.
4 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
67.8
Population
6,031,187
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Turkmenistan. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Turkmenistan is governed as a presidential republic under authoritarian rule, with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow serving as both head of state and head of government since 2022. The country operates a unicameral legislature (Mejlis) with 125 seats, though real political power is concentrated in the presidency and the People's Council chaired by former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Turkmenistan is considered to have one of the world's most restrictive political systems, with limited press freedom and non-democratic electoral processes.
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Population
6,031,187
Currency
TMT
Timezone
UTC+05:00
Calling Code
+993
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
40.8 (1998)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.