If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of Bangladesh, you would:

Health

see 6.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Bangladesh spends $199 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 2.7 times more doctors per person

Bangladesh has 7.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.

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have 44.2% more access to essential health services

Bangladesh scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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live 4.7 years less

In Bangladesh, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 3.9 times more likely to be obese

In Bangladesh, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.4 times more likely to die by suicide

Bangladesh has a suicide rate of 2.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 2.5 times more money

Bangladesh has a GDP per capita of $2,597 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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be 13.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Bangladesh, 3.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 95.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Bangladesh, approximately 115.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, 5.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 26.5% more likely to be literate

In Bangladesh, the literacy rate is 79.0% as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, it is 99.9% as of 2022.

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be 24.6% more likely to die during infancy

In Bangladesh, approximately 24.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, on the other hand, 30.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 52.6% less likely to have internet access

In Bangladesh, approximately 53.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 2.1 times more on education

Bangladesh spends 2.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Bangladesh spends 2.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 56.8% less likely to be murdered

Bangladesh has a homicide rate of 2.3 per 100,000 people as of 2018. In Turkmenistan, that number is 1.0 per 100,000 as of 2015.

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be 57.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Bangladesh, road accidents kill 18.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, they kill 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

use 4.6 times more electricity

Bangladesh uses 603 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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find 35.5% less home broadband

Bangladesh has 8.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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live with 23.6 times more strain on fresh water

Bangladesh withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 31.8% more likely to die from air pollution

In Bangladesh, air pollution causes 66.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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emit 15.1 times more CO2

Bangladesh emits 0.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Turkmenistan: At a glance

Turkmenistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 469,930 sq km. Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim crusaders, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times Merv (today known as Mary) 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, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited, have begun to transform the country. Turkmenistan is moving to expand its extraction and delivery projects. The Government of Turkmenistan is actively working to diversify its gas export routes beyond the still important Russian pipeline network. In 2010, new gas export pipelines that carry Turkmen gas to China and to northern Iran began operating, effectively ending the Russian monopoly on Turkmen gas exports. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy cabinet chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president; he was chosen as president again in February 2012, in an election that the OSCE said lacked the freedoms necessary to create a competitive environment.
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