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

Health

be 68.0% less likely to die by suicide

Russia has a suicide rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 3.2 years less

In Russia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (68 years for men, 79 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 26.2% more likely to be obese

In Russia, 17.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 60.6% less spent on your healthcare

Russia spends $3,204 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 62.2% fewer doctors per person

Russia has 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 2.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Russia, 2.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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make 62.7% less money

Russia has a GDP per capita of $17,547 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

be 44.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Russia, approximately 9.0 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 2.5 times more children

In Russia, there are approximately 8.4 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 7.4 times more likely to die during infancy

In Russia, approximately 4.1 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 73.2% less likely to have internet access

In Russia, approximately 94.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 21.9% less on healthcare

Russia spends 7.0% 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 24.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Russia, road accidents kill 10.6 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 80.8% less home broadband

Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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live with 32.8 times more strain on fresh water

Russia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.

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use 61.9% less electricity

Russia uses 7,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 22.3% less CO2

Russia emits 14.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Russia, air pollution causes 39.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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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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