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

Health

be 34.7% less likely to die by suicide

Denmark has a suicide rate of 10.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 12.0 years less

In Denmark, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 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 55.1% more likely to be obese

In Denmark, 14.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 82.6% less spent on your healthcare

Denmark spends $7,262 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 57.1% fewer doctors per person

Denmark has 45.0 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 22.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Denmark, 5.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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make 91.5% less money

Denmark has a GDP per capita of $76,970 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.2 times more children

In Denmark, there are approximately 9.5 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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be 25.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Denmark, approximately 4.0 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 8.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In Denmark, approximately 3.5 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 74.6% less likely to have internet access

In Denmark, approximately 99.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 32.5% less on education

Denmark spends 6.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 41.4% less on healthcare

Denmark spends 9.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 3.5 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Denmark, road accidents kill 2.3 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 88.0% less home broadband

Denmark has 43.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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live with 5.4 times more strain on fresh water

Denmark withdraws 25% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.

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use 54.9% less electricity

Denmark uses 6,165 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 6.7 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Denmark, air pollution causes 13.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.5 times more CO2

Denmark emits 4.3 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 (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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