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

Health

live 3.1 years longer

In Burma, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 70 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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see 4.5 times more spent on your healthcare

Burma spends $283 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 44.2% more access to essential health services

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

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be 2.7 times more likely to be obese

In Burma, 8.1% 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

Burma has a suicide rate of 2.9 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 4.4 times more money

Burma has a GDP per capita of $1,489 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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be 40.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Burma, 3.0% 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 97.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burma, approximately 185.0 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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have 27.0% more children

In Burma, there are approximately 16.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, there are 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 30.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Burma, approximately 77% of people have electricity access (95% in urban areas, and 69% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 16.6% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burma, approximately 86% of people have access to drinking water (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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be 42.5% less likely to have internet access

In Burma, approximately 44.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 23.3% more on healthcare

Burma spends 4.5% 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 58.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burma, road accidents kill 19.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, they kill 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 81.9% more home broadband

Burma has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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use 7.5 times more electricity

Burma uses 368 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 23.3 times more strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

be 22.5% more likely to die from air pollution

In Burma, air pollution causes 71.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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emit 18.7 times more CO2

Burma emits 0.6 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 (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021–2022). 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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