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

Health

live 3.7 years longer

In Sudan, the average life expectancy is 67 years (63 years for men, 70 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 44.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Sudan spends $28 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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have 70.5% more access to essential health services

Sudan scores 44 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 24.9% more likely to be obese

In Sudan, 17.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die by suicide

Sudan has a suicide rate of 3.2 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 62.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Sudan, 11.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.3% as of 2025.

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be 99.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Sudan, 46.5% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In Turkmenistan, however, that number is 0.2% as of 2012.

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make 5.6 times more money

Sudan has a GDP per capita of $1,165 as of 2025, while in Turkmenistan, the GDP per capita is $6,540 as of 2025.

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Life

be 98.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sudan, approximately 256.0 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 29.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Sudan, approximately 42.9 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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have 36.6% fewer children

In Sudan, there are approximately 33.0 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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Basic Needs

be 51.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Sudan, approximately 66% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 54.0% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Sudan, approximately 65% of people have access to drinking water (74% in urban areas, and 60% 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 11.8% less likely to have internet access

In Sudan, approximately 28.7% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 93.0% more on healthcare

Sudan spends 2.9% 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 59.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Sudan, road accidents kill 19.6 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 87.0 times more home broadband

Sudan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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use 12.5 times more electricity

Sudan uses 223 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 13.9% more strain on fresh water

Sudan withdraws 119% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Turkmenistan withdraws 135% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 24.3% more likely to die from air pollution

In Sudan, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Turkmenistan, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.

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emit 25.3 times more CO2

Sudan emits 0.4 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 (2019–2022), The World Factbook (2009–2023), World Health Organization (2024). 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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