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

Health

live 0.8 years longer

In Palau, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 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 45.1% less likely to be obese

In Palau, 40.5% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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have 15.4% more access to essential health services

Palau scores 65 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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see 31.9% less spent on your healthcare

Palau spends $1,857 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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Economy

make 66.5% less money

Palau has a GDP per capita of $19,532 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

be 94.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Palau, approximately 89.0 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 95.6% more children

In Palau, there are approximately 10.7 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 63.4% more likely to die during infancy

In Palau, approximately 18.6 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 69.9% less likely to have internet access

In Palau, approximately 83.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 49.3% less on healthcare

Palau spends 10.8% 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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spend 24.7% more on education

Palau spends 3.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Safety

be 91.0% less likely to be murdered

Palau has a homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people as of 2018. In Turkmenistan, that number is 1.0 per 100,000 as of 2015.

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be 64.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Palau, road accidents kill 22.2 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 28.8% less home broadband

Palau has 7.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 86.9% less CO2

Palau emits 82.8 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 (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (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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