The Human Truth Foundation

Turkmenistan

http://www.humantruth.info/turkmenistan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#turkmenistan

Turkmenistan
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index130th best
CapitalAshgabat
Land Area 469 930km21
LocationAsia
Population5.9m2
Life Expectancy69.26yrs (2017)3
GNI$13 021 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesTM, TKM, 7955
Internet Domain.tm6
CurrencyManat (TMM)7
Telephone+9938

1. Overview

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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverIsolated and long dominated by an eccentric president, Turkmenistan is one of the oddest corners of Central Asia yet boasts its own distinctive attractions. By far the most mysterious and unexplored of Central Asia´s ´stans, Turkmenistan became famous for the truly bizarre dictatorship of Saparmyrat Niyazov, who ruled as `Turkmenbashi´ (`leader of the Turkmen´) until his death in 2006 and covered this little-known desert republic with golden statues of himself.

The result is a fascinating fiefdom of oddball sights and quirky historical remains. But it is also far more than the totalitarian theme park it´s often portrayed as; Turkmenistan is an ancient land of great spirituality, tradition and natural beauty.

The fabled cities of Merv and Konye-Urgench inspire visions of caravans plodding along the ancient Silk Road, while the stark and haunting beauty of the Karakum desert and other quirky natural phenomena are less expected but equally mesmerising sights. The full Turkmen experience is ultimately about mingling with the warm and fascinating Turkmen themselves, whose hospitality is the stuff of legend.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Turkmenistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
90Maldives0.747
91Azerbaijan0.745
92Tonga0.745
93Turkmenistan0.745
94Algeria0.745
95Ecuador0.740
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
88Gabon$13 367
89Ukraine$13 256
90Armenia$13 158
91Turkmenistan$13 021
92Iran$13 001
93S. Africa$12 948
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
127Honduras99.1
128Venezuela99.3
129Uganda99.4
130Turkmenistan100.2
131Botswana100.5
132Zambia101.0
Asia Avg87.1
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Turkmenistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Turkmenistan's population is predicted to rise to 6.165 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.33. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
109Nicaragua6.5m
110El Salvador6.4m
111Kyrgyzstan6.3m
112Turkmenistan5.9m
113Singapore5.8m
114Denmark5.8m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
125Azerbaijan69.4
126Kazakhstan69.4
127Philippines69.3
128Turkmenistan69.3
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
77Bhutan10.8
78Micronesia10.8
79Honduras11.0
80Turkmenistan11.0
81Maldives11.0
82Mongolia11.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
100Rwanda3.6%
101Moldova3.5%
102Slovakia3.4%
103Turkmenistan3.4%
104Iran3.3%
105Kyrgyzstan3.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
107Switzerland5.4%
108Malaysia5.3%
109Guinea5.2%
110Turkmenistan5.0%
111Mozambique5.0%
112Senegal5.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #turkmenistan

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
157Central African Rep.121.2
158Oman121.5
159Papua New Guinea122.4
160Turkmenistan122.6
161St Kitts & Nevis123.4
162Nauru123.4
Asia Avg99.8
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Turkmenistan is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Turkmenistan does worse than average in freethought20 (still low for Asia), speed of uptake of HR treaties21 and in LGBT equality22. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports23 and in supporting press freedom24 (one of the worst in Asia). Turkmenistan is one of the world´s most closed and oppressively governed countries; the government, led by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov controls all aspects of public life and "effectively bans all forms of religious and political expression not approved by authorities", tightly controls the media and disallows any human rights monitoring25. Anyone who questions or criticizes government policies (or even simply tells outsiders about them) faces a "constant threat of reprisal"25. Torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners is widespread and the justice system is so closed that the true scale of issues cannot be determined25.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Turkmenistan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #Turkmenistan #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
...
25India79.6
26Nepal80.3
27Israel82.1
28Turkmenistan83.1
29Tajikistan83.1
30Turkey84.5
31Jordan84.8
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
56Cuba82.4
57Macedonia82.5
58Croatia82.9
59Turkmenistan83.1
60Tajikistan83.1
61Canada83.5
62Poland83.5
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives26. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau26.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean26, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa26.

For more, see:

Health:

Turkmenistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Turkmenistan does better than average for its immunizations take-up28, its adolescent birth rate29 and in its alcohol consumption rate30 (but bad for Asia). But, things could still be better. Turkmenistan does worse than average in terms of its fertility rate14, its smoking rate31 and in its average life expectancy11. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
125Azerbaijan69.4
126Kazakhstan69.4
127Philippines69.3
128Turkmenistan69.3
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)30
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita30
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
80Lesotho5.0
81Suriname5.1
82Nicaragua5.2
83Turkmenistan5.4
84Armenia5.5
85Venezuela5.6
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)31
Pos.Higher is worse31
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
118Australia 956
117Ireland 954
116Chile 930
115Turkmenistan 92532
114Thailand 895
113Iran 869
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults (2016)33
Pos.Lower is better
%33
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
77Yemen48.8
78Guyana49.4
79Grenada51.4
80Turkmenistan51.8
81Moldova51.8
82St Kitts & Nevis52.3
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)29
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100029
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
50Micronesia15.0
51Tonga15.2
52Mongolia15.7
53Turkmenistan16.4
54Myanmar (Burma)16.5
55Malta16.6
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)28
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %28
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
25Monaco97.3
26Cook Islands97.3
27Greece97.3
28Turkmenistan97.2
29St Vincent & Grenadines97.2
30Dominica97.1
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Turkmenistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #religion #religiosity #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
...
37Indonesia92.3
38Pakistan97.9
39Maldives99.8
40Turkmenistan105.3
41Nepal110.8
42Bhutan112.3
43Bangladesh112.9
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
139Algeria103.4
140Samoa103.4
141Paraguay104.4
142Turkmenistan105.3
143Guinea-Bissau106.0
144Zambia107.9
145Ethiopia108.4
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling (2021)34
Pos.Higher is better
Years34
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
100Dominica13.3
101Andorra13.3
102Bhutan13.2
103Turkmenistan13.2
104Kyrgyzstan13.2
105Philippines13.1
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Religiosity (2018)35
Pos.Lower is better
%35
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)36
Pos.Higher is better36
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
...
65Iraq87
66Azerbaijan87
67Indonesia87
68Turkmenistan87
69Uzbekistan87
70Kuwait86
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)37
Pos.Higher is better37
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
163Gambia17%
164Laos16%
165Namibia16%
166Turkmenistan15%
167Bangladesh13%
168Iraq13%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security (2013)38
Pos.Lower is better38
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
55Belarus1.22
56Armenia1.22
57Malawi1.23
58Turkmenistan1.23
59Kazakhstan1.23
60Djibouti1.29
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
q=81.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)39
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio39
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
104Yemen0.0
105Laos0.0
106Malta0.0
107Turkmenistan0.0
108Bangladesh0.0
109Qatar0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Turkmenistan has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)40
Pos.Lower is better40
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
44Northern Cyprus39.3
45Finland39.3
46Hong Kong40.4
47Turkmenistan41.2
48Haiti41.7
49Somaliland42.0
Asia Avg62.5
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)41
Pos.Higher is better
Points41
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
166Congo, DR20.0
167Nicaragua19.0
168Comoros19.0
169Turkmenistan19.0
170Chad19.0
171Equatorial Guinea17.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)42
Pos.Higher is better42
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
65Peru5.7
66Kosovo5.7
67Moldova5.6
68Turkmenistan5.6
69Hungary5.6
70Libya5.6
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index (2021)43
Pos.Lower is better43
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
106Djibouti2.15
107Papua New Guinea2.15
108Haiti2.15
109Turkmenistan2.15
110El Salvador2.18
111Guatemala2.20
Asia Avg2.22
World Avg2.08
q=163.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)44
Pos.Higher is better
%44
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
85Tonga00.0
86Maldives00.0
87Vanuatu00.0
88Turkmenistan00.0
89Djibouti00.0
90S. Africa00.0
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)45
Pos.Higher is better45
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
35Trinidad & Tobago67.4
36St Vincent & Grenadines66.5
37Latvia66.1
38Turkmenistan66.1
39Seychelles66.0
40Albania65.5
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
158Mauritania1996 Nov 14
159Qatar1996 Nov 19
160Bahrain1996 Nov 28
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
163Haiti1996 Dec 24
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)46
Pos.Higher is better
%46
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
140Iceland13.1%
141Uzbekistan11.3%
142Tajikistan11.1%
143Haiti10.0%
144Albania9.4%
145Turkmenistan8.6%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)47
Pos.Higher is worse47
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
147Zimbabwe24.20
146Ghana24.20
145Papua New Guinea24.10
144Turkmenistan23.40
143Djibouti23.40
142Gabon22.80
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
Severity48
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
4Turkmenistan.001
5Jordan.002
6Kazakhstan.002
7Montenegro.002
8Trinidad & Tobago.002
9Maldives.003
10Albania.003
11Thailand.003
12Moldova.004
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #turkmenistan

Religiosity (2018)35
Pos.Lower is better
%35
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)49
Pos.Higher is better
%49
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
68Chile2
69Central African Rep.2
70Tajikistan2
71Turkmenistan2
72Indonesia2
73Paraguay1
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below50:

Christian6.4%
Muslim93%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated0.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%51.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: The government "effectively bans all forms of religious and political expression not approved by authorities" and severely punishes any gathering or activity that seems religious in nature but is not pre-approved by the state25.

Links: