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

Health

live 2.9 years longer

In Tuvalu, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 71 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 65.9% less likely to be obese

In Tuvalu, 65.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Turkmenistan, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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have 43.4% more doctors per person

Tuvalu has 13.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2020. Turkmenistan has 19.3 as of 2023.

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have 44.2% more access to essential health services

Tuvalu scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Turkmenistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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see 24.4% less spent on your healthcare

Tuvalu spends $1,671 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Turkmenistan spends $1,264 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 99.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Tuvalu, 26.3% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Turkmenistan, however, that number is 0.2% as of 2012.

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Life

be 97.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Tuvalu, approximately 170.0 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 84.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Tuvalu, approximately 16.5 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 68.8% less likely to have internet access

In Tuvalu, approximately 81.2% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 66.6% less on education

Tuvalu spends 12.8% 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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spend 79.7% less on healthcare

Tuvalu spends 27.1% 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 55.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Tuvalu, road accidents kill 17.9 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 15.5% more home broadband

Tuvalu has 4.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Turkmenistan has 5.2 as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021–2022), The World Factbook (2010–2022), 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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