Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of Marshall Islands, you would:

Health

live 3.1 years longer

In Marshall Islands, the average life expectancy is 67 years (65 years for men, 69 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 47.1% less likely to be obese

In Marshall Islands, 42.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 44.6% more spent on your healthcare

Marshall Islands spends $874 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 27.1% more access to essential health services

Marshall Islands scores 59 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 23.0% less money

Marshall Islands has a GDP per capita of $8,489 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

be 96.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Marshall Islands, approximately 155.0 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 33.9% more likely to die during infancy

In Marshall Islands, approximately 22.7 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 14.3% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Marshall Islands, approximately 87% of people have access to drinking water (86% in urban areas, and 94% 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 61.6% less likely to have internet access

In Marshall Islands, approximately 65.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 44.3% less on education

Marshall Islands spends 7.7% 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 59.0% less on healthcare

Marshall Islands spends 13.4% 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 32.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Marshall Islands, road accidents kill 11.9 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 2.2 times more home broadband

Marshall Islands has 2.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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

Compare further: Marshall Islands vs. Turkmenistan

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Turkmenistan is 28.2% more expensive than Marshall Islands overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Marshall Islands is about 2,697 times smaller than Turkmenistan.
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Moving from Marshall Islands 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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How big is Turkmenistan compared to Marshall Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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