Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of Hong Kong, you would:

Health

live 15.2 years less

In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 85 years (83 years for men, 88 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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Economy

be 52.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Hong Kong, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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make 88.5% less money

Hong Kong has a GDP per capita of $56,983 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.3 times more children

In Hong Kong, there are approximately 4.9 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 11.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In Hong Kong, approximately 2.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, on the other hand, 30.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 73.6% less likely to have internet access

In Hong Kong, approximately 95.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 12.6% more on education

Hong Kong spends 3.8% 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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Infrastructure

find 87.0% less home broadband

Hong Kong has 40.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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use 56.3% less electricity

Hong Kong uses 6,359 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 2.4 times more CO2

Hong Kong emits 4.6 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 (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Hong Kong vs. Turkmenistan

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Turkmenistan is 16.0% cheaper than Hong Kong overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Hong Kong is about 441 times smaller than Turkmenistan.
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Moving from Hong Kong to Turkmenistan · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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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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