Turkmenistan

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Turkmenistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	166th best
Capital	Ashgabat
Land Area	469 930km²₁
Location	Asia
Population	5.9m₂
Life Expectancy	69.26yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$13 021 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	TM, TKM, 795₅
Internet Domain	.tm₆
Currency	Manat (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

“Isolated 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
91=	Tonga	0.745
91=	Algeria	0.745
91=	Azerbaijan	0.745
91=	Turkmenistan	0.745
95	Ecuador	0.740
96	Mongolia	0.739
97=	Egypt	0.731
97=	Tunisia	0.731
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
88	Gabon	$13 367
89	Ukraine	$13 256
90	Armenia	$13 158
91	Turkmenistan	$13 021
92	Iran	$13 001
93	S. Africa	$12 948
94	Suriname	$12 672
95	Sri Lanka	$12 578
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	27.3
2	Norway	30.5
3	Switzerland	32.2
	...
163	Swaziland	115.0
164	Libya	115.1
165	Sierra Leone	116.3
166	Turkmenistan	116.6
167	Laos	116.7
168	Congo, (Brazzaville)	117.0
169	Niger	117.3
170	Burundi	117.8
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.8
q=199.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Turkmenistan's population is predicted to rise to 6.165 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.62. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
109	Nicaragua	6.5m
110	El Salvador	6.4m
111	Kyrgyzstan	6.3m
112	Turkmenistan	5.9m
113	Singapore	5.8m
114	Denmark	5.8m
115	Finland	5.5m
116	Slovakia	5.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
130	Moldova	68.8
131	Nepal	68.4
132	Laos	68.1
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
109	St Lucia	1.39
110	Turkmenistan	2.62
111	Bahamas	1.38
112	Albania	1.38
113	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.35
114	Jamaica	1.34
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₅
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
77=	Bhutan	10.8
77=	Micronesia	10.8
79=	Honduras	11.0
79=	Turkmenistan	11.0
79=	Maldives	11.0
82	Mongolia	11.8
83=	Uzbekistan	11.9
83=	Tonga	11.9
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₆
Pos.		2017 %₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
100	Rwanda	3.6%
101	Moldova	3.5%
102	Slovakia	3.4%
103	Turkmenistan	3.4%
104	Iran	3.3%
105	Kyrgyzstan	3.3%
106	Chad	3.3%
107	Tajikistan	3.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₇
Pos.		2010 %₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
107	Switzerland	5.4%
108	Malaysia	5.3%
109	Guinea	5.2%
110	Turkmenistan	5.0%
111	Mozambique	5.0%
112	Senegal	5.0%
113	Iraq	4.9%
114	Denmark	4.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₈
1	Sweden	5.9
2	Norway	8.0
3	Denmark	8.1
	...
191	Equatorial Guinea	146.1
192	Saudi Arabia	146.2
193	Myanmar	146.5
194	Turkmenistan	149.7
195	Afghanistan	153.0
196	Eritrea	156.7
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.35
q=198.

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 freethought₁₉ (still good for Asia) and in LGBT equality₂₀. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, combatting modern slavery₂₂, supporting press freedom₂₃ and in its average Freedom in the World rating (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 monitoring₂₄. Anyone who questions or criticizes government policies (or even simply tells outsiders about them) faces a "constant threat of reprisal"₂₄. Torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners is widespread and the justice system is so closed that the true scale of issues cannot be determined₂₄.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Turkmenistan

5. Turkmenistan's Health

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

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₅
1	Japan	34.5
2	Singapore	40.8
3	Hong Kong	47.0
	...
26	Azerbaijan	94.2
27	Indonesia	95.0
28	Uzbekistan	95.6
29	Turkmenistan	95.6
30	Saudi Arabia	96.1
31	Turkey	97.2
32	Bhutan	99.8
33	Philippines	100.8
34	India	102.5
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₅
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
99	St Vincent & Grenadines	94.4
100	Indonesia	95.0
101	Uzbekistan	95.6
102	Turkmenistan	95.6
103	Saudi Arabia	96.1
104	Cape Verde	96.4
105	Turkey	97.2
106	El Salvador	97.4
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₂₆. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₆.

36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₆, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₆.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Turkmenistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Turkmenistan comes in the best 20 in its smoking rate₂₇. It does better than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up₂₈, its adolescent birth rate₂₉ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₀ (but bad for Asia). Turkmenistan doesn't do so well in other areas. Turkmenistan does worse than average for the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁, its fertility rate₁₄, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₃₂. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Turkmenistan improved by +5.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Turkmenistan's peak fertility rate was 6.79 in 1963.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
130	Moldova	68.8
131	Nepal	68.4
132	Laos	68.1
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₀
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₀
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
80	Lesotho	5.0
81	Suriname	5.1
82	Nicaragua	5.2
83	Turkmenistan	5.4
84	Armenia	5.5
85	Venezuela	5.6
86=	Sierra Leone	5.7
86=	India	5.7
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
109	St Lucia	1.39
110	Turkmenistan	2.62
111	Bahamas	1.38
112	Albania	1.38
113	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.35
114	Jamaica	1.34
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₂₇
Pos.		Total %₂₇
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
4	Ethiopia	5.2%
5	Turkmenistan	5.6%
6	Benin	6.3%
7	Togo	6.4%
8=	Cameroon	6.5%
8=	Senegal	6.5%
10	Barbados	7.0%
11	Peru	7.2%
12	Chad	7.4%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		1976 %₃₁
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
99	Barbados	29.5
100	El Salvador	29.7
101=	Morocco	30.4
101=	Turkmenistan	30.4
103	Algeria	30.6
104	Suriname	31.0
105=	Switzerland	31.1
105=	Iran	31.1
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2022 %₃₃
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
76	Vanuatu	19.9%
77	Gabon	20.0%
78	Papua New Guinea	20.1%
79	Turkmenistan	20.2%
80	Luxembourg	20.2%
81	Andorra	20.5%
82	Tajikistan	20.8%
83	Mauritania	20.8%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₂₉
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₂₉
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
69	Tonga	19.2
70	Lebanon	20.0
71	Kazakhstan	20.9
72	Turkmenistan	21.2
73	Hungary	21.9
74	Djibouti	22.7
75	Chile	22.8
76	Mauritius	24.0
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₂₈
Pos.		2015 Avg %₂₈
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
25=	Monaco	97.3
25=	Cook Islands	97.3
27	Greece	97.3
28=	Turkmenistan	97.2
28=	St Vincent & Grenadines	97.2
30=	Dominica	97.1
30=	Kazakhstan	97.1
32	Albania	97.1
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₂
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
138	Nepal	39.44
139	S. Africa	39.83
140	Bangladesh	40.07
141	Turkmenistan	43.08
142	Gabon	45.25
143	India	45.47
144	Eritrea	47.24
145	Kenya	48.20
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

6. Turkmenistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #turkmenistan #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
50	Turkmenistan	134.1
51	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
190	Brunei	130.2
191	Somalia	131.0
192	N. Korea	132.3
193	Turkmenistan	134.1
194	Nauru	134.4
195	San Marino	134.9
196	Andorra	136.3
197	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₅. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

" Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amongst the highest in Asia in terms of its responsibility towards the environment, Turkmenistan is 7th-worst in the world. This is calculated from 21 data sets. Turkmenistan does better than average in its environmental performance₃₆, its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₇ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, things could still be better. Turkmenistan does worse than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₈. And finally, it is the worst in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₃₉ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₀.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₃₇
Pos.		Total₃₇
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
92=	Yemen	0.0%
92=	Tonga	0.0%
92=	Barbados	0.0%
92=	Turkmenistan	0.0%
92=	Bahamas	0.0%
92=	San Marino	0.0%
92=	Afghanistan	0.0%
92=	Vatican City	0.0%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2018₃₆
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
35	Trinidad & Tobago	67.4
36	St Vincent & Grenadines	66.5
37	Latvia	66.1
38	Turkmenistan	66.1
39	Seychelles	66.0
40	Albania	65.5
41	Croatia	65.5
42	Colombia	65.2
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₀
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
158	Mozambique	2.38
159	N. Korea	2.46
160	Laos	2.75
161	Iceland	4.01
162	Venezuela	4.18
163	Bahrain	4.19
164	Trinidad & Tobago	4.64
165	Turkmenistan	4.69
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, Turkmenistan was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most, as it was also into the 2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
93	Benin	59%
94	Ireland	59%
95	Colombia	58%
96	Turkmenistan	58%
97	Czechia	58%
98	Antigua & Barbuda	57%
99	Bangladesh	57%
100	UAE	57%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Turkmenistan was one of the early adopters of the Kyoto Protocol in 1999.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		2011 %₃₉
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
138	Denmark	14.9%
139	Libya	14.6%
140	Iceland	13.1%
141	Uzbekistan	11.3%
142	Tajikistan	11.1%
143	Haiti	10.0%
144	Albania	9.4%
145	Turkmenistan	8.6%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2021 kg₃₈
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
98	Zimbabwe	56.0
99	Belize	56.6
100	Japan	57.2
101	Turkmenistan	57.4
102	Papua New Guinea	58.5
103	Trinidad & Tobago	58.5
104	Armenia	60.0
105	Suriname	60.8
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Turkmenistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
34	Indonesia	93.3
35	Tajikistan	101.3
36	Maldives	102.1
37	Turkmenistan	114.0
38	Pakistan	116.1
39	Nepal	116.8
40	Bangladesh	121.2
41	Bhutan	123.9
42	Laos	124.4
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
128	Zimbabwe	111.6
129	Cape Verde	113.3
130	Namibia	113.4
131	Turkmenistan	114.0
132	Cameroon	114.2
133	Swaziland	115.9
134	Pakistan	116.1
135	Zambia	116.3
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₂. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₂. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₃.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₄₄

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₂, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₂.

For more, see:

"Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Length of Schooling Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		2021 Years₄₅
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
100	Dominica	13.3
101	Andorra	13.3
102	Bhutan	13.2
103	Turkmenistan	13.2
104	Kyrgyzstan	13.2
105	Philippines	13.1
106	Armenia	13.1
107	Cameroon	13.1
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

IQ Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2006₄₆
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
65=	Iraq	87
65=	Azerbaijan	87
65=	Indonesia	87
65=	Turkmenistan	87
65=	Uzbekistan	87
70=	Kuwait	86
70=	Philippines	86
72=	Yemen	85
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		2016₄₇
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
163	Gambia	17%
164	Laos	16%
165	Namibia	16%
166	Turkmenistan	15%
167	Bangladesh	13%
168	Iraq	13%
169	Kiribati	13%
170	Rwanda	12%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better₄₈
Pos.		2013₄₈
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
55	Belarus	1.22
56	Armenia	1.22
57	Malawi	1.23
58	Turkmenistan	1.23
59	Kazakhstan	1.23
60	Djibouti	1.29
61	UK	1.34
62	Mongolia	1.42
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		2017 Ratio₄₉
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
104=	Yemen	0.0
104=	Laos	0.0
104=	Malta	0.0
104=	Turkmenistan	0.0
104=	Bangladesh	0.0
104=	Qatar	0.0
104=	Kuwait	0.0
104=	Guernsey	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Turkmenistan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #social_development #turkmenistan

Compared to Asia (2020)₅₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₀
1	Singapore	19.0
2	Japan	40.0
3	Hong Kong	40.1
	...
39	Bangladesh	103.8
40	Laos	105.1
41	Iran	105.8
42	Turkmenistan	109.1
43	Pakistan	109.8
44	Lebanon	110.0
45	Iraq	115.1
46	Myanmar	118.6
47	Cambodia	119.2
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=50.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)₅₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₀
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
	...
151	Benin	107.4
152	Liberia	107.6
153	Nigeria	108.0
154	Turkmenistan	109.1
155	Pakistan	109.8
156	Lebanon	110.0
157	Madagascar	110.4
158	Rwanda	112.2
	World Avg	80.34
q=186.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility in the 2020s (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty in the 2020s (so far), Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

Corruption Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2022 Points₅₁
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
166	Congo, DR	20.0
167=	Nicaragua	19.0
167=	Comoros	19.0
167=	Turkmenistan	19.0
167=	Chad	19.0
171=	Equatorial Guinea	17.0
171=	N. Korea	17.0
171=	Libya	17.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Turkmenistan has a poor long-term record on corruption. In 2012, became the 6th-worst country in terms of perception of corruption.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		Total Q₅₂
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
163	Bhutan	52.8
164	Central African Rep.	52.5
165	Jordan	52.2
166=	Turkmenistan	51.8
166=	Egypt	51.8
168	Angola	50.5
169=	Burundi	50.3
169=	Cameroon	50.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better₅₃
Pos.		2023 Score₅₃
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
97=	Azerbaijan	2.10
98	Ecuador	2.10
99	Cuba	2.10
100	Turkmenistan	2.11
101	Tajikistan	2.11
102	Kyrgyzstan	2.12
103=	Peru	2.13
103=	Guatemala	2.13
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₅₄
Pos.		2019₅₄
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
140=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	22.80
140=	Myanmar	22.80
140=	Gabon	22.80
143=	Turkmenistan	23.40
143=	Djibouti	23.40
145	Papua New Guinea	24.10
146=	Zimbabwe	24.20
146=	Ghana	24.20
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₅₅
Pos.		2018 Severity₅₅
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
4	Turkmenistan	.001
5	Jordan	.002
6	Kazakhstan	.002
7	Montenegro	.002
8	Trinidad & Tobago	.002
9	Maldives	.003
10	Albania	.003
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_turkmenistan #turkmenistan

Disbelief In God (2007)₅₆
Pos.		Higher is better %₅₆
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
68=	Chile	2
68=	Central African Rep.	2
68=	Tajikistan	2
68=	Turkmenistan	2
68=	Indonesia	2
73=	Paraguay	1
73=	Nicaragua	1
73=	Bolivia	1
73=	Colombia	1
73=	Costa Rica	1
73=	Honduras	1
73=	Brazil	1
73=	Ecuador	1
73=	S. Africa	1
73=	Venezuela	1
73=	Peru	1
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₅₇:

	2010	2020
Muslim	93%	94.3%
Christian	6.37%	5.62%
Unaffiliated	0.508%	<0.1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%₅₈.

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 state₂₄.

Links: