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

Health

live 4.2 years longer

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024. In Belarus, that number is 74 years (70 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 73.6% more spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belarus spends $2,194 as of 2023.

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have 2.4 times more doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Belarus has 47.2 as of 2023.

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be 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide

Turkmenistan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belarus, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 20.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belarus, that number is 3.4% as of 2025.

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make 57.2% more money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 as of 2025, while in Belarus, the GDP per capita is $10,279 as of 2025.

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Life

be 80.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Turkmenistan, approximately 5.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Belarus, 1.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 94.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Turkmenistan, approximately 30.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Belarus, on the other hand, 1.8 children do as of 2024.

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have 66.4% fewer children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belarus, there are 7.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 3.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Belarus, about 94.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 17.7% more on education

Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Belarus spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 28.7% more on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Belarus, that number is 7.1% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 6.9 times more home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Belarus has 36.3 as of 2024.

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live with 96.6% less strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belarus withdraws 5% as of 2022.

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use 51.1% more electricity

Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Belarus uses 4,198 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 21.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Turkmenistan, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belarus, it causes 68.0 as of 2019.

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emit 45.3% less CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Belarus emits 5.9 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Belarus: At a glance

Belarus is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 202,900 sq km. After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than have any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first directly elected president, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.
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How big is Belarus compared to Turkmenistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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