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

Health

be 27.1% less likely to be obese

In Oman, 30.5% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 10.0 years less

In Oman, the average life expectancy is 80 years (79 years for men, 82 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 12.5% less spent on your healthcare

Oman spends $1,444 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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be 7.5 times more likely to die by suicide

Oman has a suicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 31.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Oman, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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make 67.2% less money

Oman has a GDP per capita of $19,947 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

be 61.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Oman, approximately 13.0 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 24.6% more children

In Oman, there are approximately 16.8 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 3.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In Oman, approximately 8.3 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 73.4% less likely to have internet access

In Oman, approximately 95.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 57.6% more on healthcare

Oman spends 3.5% 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 27.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Oman, road accidents kill 11.0 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 52.8% less home broadband

Oman has 11.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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live with 15.9% more strain on fresh water

Oman withdraws 117% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.

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use 66.1% less electricity

Oman uses 8,203 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 16.3% less likely to die from air pollution

In Oman, air pollution causes 104.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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emit 41.8% less CO2

Oman emits 18.6 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 (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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