Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of China, you would:
Health
be 23.7% less likely to die by suicide
China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 7.8 years less
In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.
be 2.4 times more likely to be obese
In China, 9.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.
see 15.0% less spent on your healthcare
China spends $1,487 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.
have 38.0% fewer doctors per person
China has 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.
Economy
make 52.8% less money
China has a GDP per capita of $13,862 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.
Life
be 68.8% less likely to die during childbirth
In China, approximately 16.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, 5.0 women do as of 2023.
have 3.1 times more children
In China, there are approximately 6.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, there are 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 7.4 times more likely to die during infancy
In China, approximately 4.1 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.
Basic Needs
be 72.4% less likely to have internet access
In China, approximately 91.6% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.
Expenditures
spend 10.0% more on education
China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.
Safety
be 54.0% less likely to die in a road accident
In China, road accidents kill 17.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, they kill 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 88.9% less home broadband
China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.
live with 3.3 times more strain on fresh water
China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.
use 57.4% less electricity
China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 35.9% more likely to die from air pollution
In China, air pollution causes 64.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.
emit 16.5% more CO2
China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this
Compare further: China vs. Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan: At a glance
How big is Turkmenistan compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.