Turkmenistan: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

Essential data for planning your trip to Turkmenistan — from population and demographics to economic indicators, healthcare infrastructure, tourism trends, and digital connectivity.

Population & Geography

Population
5,850,908
#113 of 197 countries
Area
488,100 km²
#54 of 248 countries
Density
12.0 / km²
#220 of 245 countries

Turkmenistan has a population of 5,850,908 spread across 488,100 km², giving it an average density of 12.0 people per km². With such low density, expect wide open spaces and a sense of remoteness outside major cities.

Demographics

Median Age
31.6
Life Expectancy
72.4 yrs
Literacy Rate
99.9%
Government
presidential republic; authoritarian
Ethnic Groups
Religions
GDP by Sector

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. Turkmenistan is classified as an upper middle income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 31% of US levels, meaning your money goes significantly further here — accommodation, food, and transport are very affordable by Western standards.

Income Level
Upper middle income
GDP per Capita
$6,232
Cost of Living
31% of US
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
Employment
GDP/Capita (PPP)
$18,000
Unemployment
4.4%

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors.

Air Passengers
1,078,118
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available — Turkmenistan has 1.93 physicians per 1,000 people, near the global average. Standard travel insurance should suffice.

Physicians
1.93/1k
Hospital Beds
3.6/1k
Health Spend
$581/person
Infant Mortality
31.2/1k
Immunization
99%
Safe Drinking Water
99.9%
Basic Sanitation
99.7%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. There are 88 mobile subscriptions per 100 people.

Mobile Subs
88/100
Broadband
5.2/100
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data