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

Health

live 12.3 years longer

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024. In Qatar, that number is 83 years (82 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 2.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Qatar spends $2,901 as of 2023.

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have 56.6% more doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Qatar has 30.2 as of 2023.

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be 31.2% less likely to die by suicide

Turkmenistan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Qatar, it is 4.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 89.2% more likely to be obese

In Turkmenistan, 22.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Qatar, that number is 42.0% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 97.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Qatar, that number is 0.1% as of 2025.

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make 11.1 times more money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 as of 2025, while in Qatar, the GDP per capita is $72,525 as of 2025.

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Life

be 20.0% 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 Qatar, 4.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 84.2% 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 Qatar, on the other hand, 4.8 children do as of 2024.

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have 54.5% fewer children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Qatar, there are 9.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 3.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Qatar, about 98.1% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 54.2% less on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Qatar, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 2.3 times more home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Qatar has 11.8 as of 2024.

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use 7.2 times more electricity

Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Qatar uses 19,963 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 3.2 times more strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Qatar withdraws 431% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 4.4 times more CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Qatar emits 47.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Qatar: At a glance

Qatar is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 11,586 sq km. Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew the father in a bloodless coup in 1995. In short order, HAMAD oversaw the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's pursuit of a leadership role in mediating regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth. Since the outbreak of regional unrest, however, Doha has prided itself on its support for many of these popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. In mid-2013, HAMAD transferred power to his 33 year-old son, TAMIM bin Hamad - a peaceful abdication rare in the history of Arab Gulf states. TAMIM has prioritized improving the domestic welfare of Qataris, including establishing advanced healthcare and education systems and expanding the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
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