Country Profile: Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, located in Central Asia and bordered by the Caspian Sea, boasts a rich tapestry of historical influences from powerful empires and a unique cultural heritage. The country has a population of approximately 5.7 million, primarily composed of ethnic Turkmen, and is known for its authoritarian political system led by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Economically, Turkmenistan relies heavily on its substantial natural gas reserves, but faces challenges such as economic vulnerability due to fluctuating global energy prices and a lack of diversification.

Geography

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country characterized by a subtropical desert climate, with vast expanses of the Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert covering over 80% of its territory. The country's geographic coordinates are 40°N latitude and 60°E longitude, and it shares borders with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

488,100 sq km – Total area of the country.
4,158 km – Length of land boundaries with neighboring countries.
18,170 sq km – Area covered by water bodies, including the Caspian Sea.
3,139 m – Highest point (Gora Ayribaba).

People and Society

The population of Turkmenistan is estimated at 5.7 million in 2024, with a predominant ethnic group of Turkmen making up 85% of the population. The country enjoys a high literacy rate of 99.9% and has a median age of 31.6 years.

24.5% – Portion of the population aged 0-14 years.
54% – Urban population as of 2023.
16.43 births/1,000 – Birth rate in 2025.
72.4 years – Life expectancy as of 2024.

Economy

Turkmenistan's economy is classified as upper-middle-income and is heavily dependent on state-owned enterprises, particularly in the energy sector. With the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves, the economy has been characterized by a lack of diversification and high inflation risks.

$134.555 billion – Real GDP (PPP) for 2024.
2.3% – Estimated GDP growth rate for 2024.
4.4% – Unemployment rate for 2024.
11.3% – Contribution of agriculture to GDP in 2023.

Government

Turkmenistan operates as a presidential republic with an authoritarian governance structure. The current president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, took office in March 2022 following an election that has been described as lacking democratic principles.

18 years – Minimum voting age for suffrage.
5 provinces and 1 independent city – Administrative divisions.
2016 – Year the latest constitution was adopted.
73% – Percentage of votes received by Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the 2022 presidential election.

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of Turkmenistan comprise the Ground Forces, Air Force, and Navy, operating under a policy of neutrality. The military remains largely equipped with outdated Soviet-era armaments but has been modernizing its capabilities through international cooperation.

35,000 – Estimated active military personnel in 2025.
1.9% – Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2019.
24-month – Conscription service obligation for males aged 18-27.

Energy

With a focus on fossil fuels, Turkmenistan's energy sector is primarily driven by its natural gas output. The country has made strides in expanding its electricity generation capacity, which is entirely based on fossil fuels.

84.277 billion m³ – Natural gas production in 2023.
272,000 bbl/day – Daily petroleum production in 2023.
100% – Electricity access for the total population in 2022.

Environment

Turkmenistan faces various environmental challenges, including soil pollution, salinity issues from irrigation, and the pollution of the Caspian Sea. The government has engaged in multiple international environmental agreements to address these issues.

54% – Urbanization rate as of 2023.
84.2% – Percentage of agricultural land in use as of 2023.
106.215 million metric tonnes – Estimated CO2 emissions in 2023.

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure in Turkmenistan includes a significant number of railways and airports, facilitating both domestic and international travel.

5,113 km – Total length of railways as of 2017.
23 – Number of airports by 2025.
73 – Total vessels in the merchant marine fleet in 2023.

Communications

Telecommunications in Turkmenistan are largely state-controlled, with a limited number of internet users due to both regulatory restrictions and infrastructure challenges.

6.25 million – Mobile cellular subscriptions as of 2021.
802,000 – Fixed telephone line subscriptions as of 2021.
21% – Percentage of the population using the internet as of 2017.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	5,744,151	2024 estimate
Area	488,100 sq km	Total area
Real GDP (PPP)	$134.555 billion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	16.43 births/1,000 population	2025 estimate
Life Expectancy	72.4 years	2024 estimate
Urban Population	54%	2023 estimate
CO2 Emissions	106.215 million metric tonnes	2023 estimate
Electricity Access	100%	2022 estimate
Active Military Personnel	35,000	2025 estimate