Moving to Turkmenistan from Zambia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to Turkmenistan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Zambia to Turkmenistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian and Turkmen. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zambia to Turkmenistan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2015

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
TM
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
TM
8.0

Turkmenistan performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
TM
$1,264
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
TM
21.4

Turkmenistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
TM
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
TM
10.9t

Zambia performs better than Turkmenistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.4
TM
5.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
TM
135.2%

Turkmenistan generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
TM
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
TM
$14,700

Turkmenistan performs significantly better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
TM
71.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
TM
37.6

Zambia generally does better on family life, though Turkmenistan leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ashgabat Rain: 8.9 in/yr (227 mm)
74° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Ashgabat
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 51°/34°F (11°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 86°/61°F (30°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 96°/68°F (35°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 62°/40°F (17°/5°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Ashgabat
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and Turkmenistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkmenistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkmenistan's immigration authority.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan passport

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Turkmenistan passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Zambia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Turkmenistan?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Turkmenistan has 5.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Turkmenistan safe for expats?

Turkmenistan performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkmenistan is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Turkmenistan compared to Zambia?

Turkmenistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkmenistan, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Turkmenistan scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

What's the weather like in Turkmenistan compared to Zambia?

The average high temperature in Ashgabat is 74°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Ashgabat receives around 8.9 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?

The official languages in Turkmenistan are Russian and Turkmen. In Zambia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

ZM TM
Population 19,642,123 5,636,011
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Turkmenistani Manat (TMT)
Languages English Russian, Turkmen
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +993
Time zones 1 1