Turkmenistan: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 19, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	Türkmenistan
Head Of State And Government	President: Serdar Berdymukhammedov
Capital	Ashgabat
Population	(2026 est.) 7,487,000
Form Of Government¹	republic with two legislative houses (Halk Maslahaty, or People’s Council [56²]; Mejlis, or Assembly [125])
Official Language	Turkmen
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Türkmenistan (Turkmenistan)
Total Area (Sq Km)	491,210
Total Area (Sq Mi)	189,657
Monetary Unit	(new) manat (TMT)³
Population Rank	(2026) 105
Population Projection 2030	6,160,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 39.5
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 15.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 54.5% • Rural: (2024) 44.5%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 65.7 years • Female: (2021) 72.5 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2022) 99.9% • Female: (2022) 99.9%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 48,822
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 6,510
¹New constitution adopted on September 26, 2008.²Includes eight members elected from each province (welayet) and Ashgabat and eight members directly appointed by the president.³The manat was redenominated on January 1, 2009. As of this date 1 (new) manat (TMT) = 5,000 (old) manat (TMM).

Photos

Map of Turkmenistan showing its national boundaries, major cities including Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenbashy, and Dashhowuz, and neighboring countries Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. The Caspian Sea is to the west, and an inset locator map highlights Turkmenistan's position within Asia.

Map of Central Asia highlighting Turkmenistan in orange, bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. Surrounding countries including Russia, Mongolia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are labeled in gray. An inset globe at the bottom right shows the region's global location.

Map of Turkmenistan highlighting its major physical features, including the central Karakum Desert, the Kopet-Dag Range along the southern border with Iran, the Garabil Plateau and Badkhyz Nature Reserve in the southeast, the Sundukli Desert in the northeast, and Lake Sarykamysh in the northwest. Neighboring countries-Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran-are labeled, and a small inset locator map shows Turkmenistan's position within Central Asia.

Vendors in traditional clothing sell spices, herbs, and dried goods at a busy market stall in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

A teacher stands beside a desk, assisting middle school girls in green uniforms and traditional caps as they work at their desks in a classroom in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

White marble buildings illuminated at night line a wide main avenue in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with streetlights and cars visible along the road.

The Neutrality Arch in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, features a gilded statue of President Saparmurat Niyazov on top, with a statue of a Turkmen horseman in the foreground.

Caspian Sea and Karakum Desert

Map of central Asia created for the 1997 Britannica Book of the Year.

National anthem of Turkmenistan

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Topics

Saparmurad Niyazov Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov Asia history of Central Asia collapse of the Soviet Union nation-state Central Asia Commonwealth of Independent States Ashgabat Lebap United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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Saparmurad Niyazov

president of Turkmenistan

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov stands at a podium giving a speech, wearing a dark suit and striped tie, with a blurred orange and brown background.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov

president of Turkmenistan

A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.

Asia

continent

Central Asia

Central Asia

region, Asia

Ashgabat: presidential palace

Ashgabat

national capital, Turkmenistan

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Lebap

oblast, Turkmenistan

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Daşoguz

Turkmenistan

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Turkmenbashi

Turkmenistan

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Mary

oblast, Turkmenistan

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Mary

Turkmenistan

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Balkanabat

Turkmenistan

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Türkmenabat

Turkmenistan

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1922–91

Soviet Union

historical state, Eurasia

Caspian Sea and Karakum Desert

Karakum Desert

desert, Turkmenistan

ruins of the Great Kiz-Kala fortress

Merv

ancient city, Turkmenistan

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Nisa

ancient city, Turkmenistan

Afghanistan

country, Asia

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