The Human Truth Foundation

Turkmenistan

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#turkmenistan

Turkmenistan
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index137th 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
...
90Maldives0.747
91=Azerbaijan0.745
91=Tonga0.745
91=Turkmenistan0.745
91=Algeria0.745
95Ecuador0.740
96Mongolia0.739
97=Egypt0.731
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
...
88Gabon$13 367
89Ukraine$13 256
90Armenia$13 158
91Turkmenistan$13 021
92Iran$13 001
93S. Africa$12 948
94Suriname$12 672
95Sri Lanka$12 578
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
134Guyana103.2
135Zambia103.3
136Timor-Leste (E. Timor)104.7
137Turkmenistan105.1
138Palau105.4
139Uganda105.9
140Rwanda105.9
141Burkina Faso106.1
Asia Avg88.2
World Avg87.9
q=196.

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.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
109Nicaragua6.5m
110El Salvador6.4m
111Kyrgyzstan6.3m
112Turkmenistan5.9m
113Singapore5.8m
114Denmark5.8m
115Finland5.5m
116Slovakia5.5m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
125Azerbaijan69.4
126Kazakhstan69.4
127Philippines69.3
128Turkmenistan69.3
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
57S. Africa2.39
58Iran1.60
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
77Bhutan10.8
78=Micronesia10.8
79Honduras11.0
80=Turkmenistan11.0
80=Maldives11.0
82Mongolia11.8
83=Uzbekistan11.9
83=Tonga11.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
100Rwanda3.6%
101Moldova3.5%
102Slovakia3.4%
103Turkmenistan3.4%
104Iran3.3%
105Kyrgyzstan3.3%
106Chad3.3%
107Tajikistan3.1%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
107Switzerland5.4%
108Malaysia5.3%
109Guinea5.2%
110Turkmenistan5.0%
111Mozambique5.0%
112Senegal5.0%
113Iraq4.9%
114Denmark4.7%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
155Central African Rep.121.0
156Oman121.3
157Papua New Guinea122.2
158Turkmenistan122.4
159=St Kitts & Nevis123.0
159=Nauru123.0
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
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 freethought18 (still good for Asia), speed of uptake of HR treaties19 and in LGBT equality20. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21 and in supporting press freedom22 (one of the highest 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 monitoring23. Anyone who questions or criticizes government policies (or even simply tells outsiders about them) faces a "constant threat of reprisal"23. Torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners is widespread and the justice system is so closed that the true scale of issues cannot be determined23.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Turkmenistan's Health

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

Compared to Asia (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
25India79.6
26Nepal80.3
27=Israel82.1
28Turkmenistan83.1
29=Tajikistan83.1
30Turkey84.5
31Jordan84.8
32Vietnam85.4
33Pakistan88.5
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
56Cuba82.4
57Macedonia82.5
58Croatia82.9
59=Turkmenistan83.1
59=Tajikistan83.1
61Canada83.5
62=Poland83.5
63Czechia83.6
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 Maldives25. 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 Palau25.

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 Mediterranean25, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa25.

For more, see:

Health:

Turkmenistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Turkmenistan does better than average in its immunizations take-up26, its adolescent birth rate27, its fertility rate13 and in its alcohol consumption rate28 (but bad for Asia). But, there's bad news too. Turkmenistan does worse than average in terms of its smoking rate29 and in its average life expectancy11. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Turkmenistan improved by +5.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
125Azerbaijan69.4
126Kazakhstan69.4
127Philippines69.3
128Turkmenistan69.3
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
28
Pos.2016
Per Capita28
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
80Lesotho5.0
81Suriname5.1
82Nicaragua5.2
83Turkmenistan5.4
84Armenia5.5
85Venezuela5.6
86=Sierra Leone5.7
86=India5.7
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
51Colombia2.31
52Maldives1.67
53Luxembourg1.67
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
57S. Africa2.39
58Iran1.60
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
29
Pos.201429
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
112Laos 836
113Iran 869
114Thailand 895
115Turkmenistan 92530
116Chile 930
117Ireland 954
118Australia 956
119Mongolia 957
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
31
Pos.2016
%31
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
77Yemen48.8
78Guyana49.4
79Grenada51.4
80=Turkmenistan51.8
80=Moldova51.8
82St Kitts & Nevis52.3
83Barbados52.4
84Papua New Guinea52.9
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
27
Pos.2015
Per 100027
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
50Micronesia15.0
51Tonga15.2
52Mongolia15.7
53Turkmenistan16.4
54Myanmar (Burma)16.5
55Malta16.6
56Kiribati17.2
57Macedonia17.6
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
26
Pos.2015
Avg %26
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
25=Monaco97.3
25=Cook Islands97.3
27Greece97.3
28=Turkmenistan97.2
28=St Vincent & Grenadines97.2
30Dominica97.1
31=Kazakhstan97.1
32Albania97.1
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Turkmenistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Asia (2023)32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
38Saudi Arabia104.4
39Laos104.5
40Oman104.7
41Turkmenistan110.8
42Timor-Leste (E. Timor)114.3
43UAE114.4
44Kuwait115.4
45Uzbekistan118.5
46Afghanistan120.3
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
157Latvia109.0
158Lesotho109.7
159Sao Tome & Principe110.3
160Turkmenistan110.8
161USA111.0
162Grenada111.3
163Congo, (Brazzaville)111.8
164Croatia112.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
In terms of its responsibility towards the environment, Turkmenistan is 160th in the world. This rank is derived from 5 data sets. Turkmenistan does better than average in its environmental performance33 and in its forested percent change 2000-202034. Turkmenistan does worse than average for annual meat consumption per person35 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it is the worst in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population36.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
34
Pos.Total34
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
92=Yemen0.0%
92=Tonga0.0%
92=Barbados0.0%
92=Turkmenistan0.0%
92=Bahamas0.0%
92=San Marino0.0%
92=Afghanistan0.0%
92=Vatican City0.0%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
33
Pos.201833
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
35Trinidad & Tobago67.4
36St Vincent & Grenadines66.5
37Latvia66.1
38Turkmenistan66.1
39Seychelles66.0
40Albania65.5
41Croatia65.5
42Colombia65.2
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
158Mauritania1996 Nov 14
159Qatar1996 Nov 19
160Bahrain1996 Nov 28
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
163Haiti1996 Dec 24
164Croatia1997 Jan 05
165Belgium1997 Feb 20
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better36
Pos.2011
%36
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
138Denmark14.9%
139Libya14.6%
140Iceland13.1%
141Uzbekistan11.3%
142Tajikistan11.1%
143Haiti10.0%
144Albania9.4%
145Turkmenistan8.6%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
35
Pos.2021
kg35
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
98Zimbabwe56.0
99Belize56.6
100Japan57.2
101Turkmenistan57.4
102Papua New Guinea58.5
103Trinidad & Tobago58.5
104Armenia60.0
105Suriname60.8
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Turkmenistan's Modernity and Learning

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

Compared to Asia (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
37Indonesia92.3
38Pakistan97.9
39Maldives99.8
40Turkmenistan105.3
41Nepal110.8
42Bhutan112.3
43Bangladesh112.9
44Laos115.2
45Iraq121.8
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
139Algeria103.4
140Samoa103.4
141Paraguay104.4
142Turkmenistan105.3
143Guinea-Bissau106.0
144Zambia107.9
145Ethiopia108.4
146Nepal110.8
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
38
Pos.2021
Years38
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
100Dominica13.3
101Andorra13.3
102Bhutan13.2
103Turkmenistan13.2
104Kyrgyzstan13.2
105Philippines13.1
106Armenia13.1
107Cameroon13.1
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
IQ
Higher is better39
Pos.200639
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
65=Iraq87
65=Azerbaijan87
65=Indonesia87
65=Turkmenistan87
65=Uzbekistan87
70Kuwait86
71=Philippines86
72Yemen85
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
40
Pos.201640
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
163Gambia17%
164Laos16%
165Namibia16%
166Turkmenistan15%
167Bangladesh13%
168Iraq13%
169Kiribati13%
170Rwanda12%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
41
Pos.201341
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
55Belarus1.22
56Armenia1.22
57Malawi1.23
58Turkmenistan1.23
59Kazakhstan1.23
60Djibouti1.29
61UK1.34
62Mongolia1.42
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
42
Pos.2017
Ratio42
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
104=Yemen0.0
104=Laos0.0
104=Malta0.0
104=Turkmenistan0.0
104=Bangladesh0.0
104=Qatar0.0
104=Kuwait0.0
104=Guernsey0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #happiness #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
43
Pos.2022
Points43
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
166Congo, DR20.0
167=Nicaragua19.0
167=Comoros19.0
167=Turkmenistan19.0
167=Chad19.0
171Equatorial Guinea17.0
172=N. Korea17.0
172=Libya17.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

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

Happiness
Higher is better
44
Pos.2018
Score44
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
65Peru5.7
66Kosovo5.7
67Moldova5.6
68Turkmenistan5.6
69Hungary5.6
70Libya5.6
71Philippines5.5
72Honduras5.5
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
45
Pos.2023
Score45
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
97=Azerbaijan2.10
98Ecuador2.10
99Cuba2.10
100Turkmenistan2.11
101Tajikistan2.11
102Kyrgyzstan2.12
103=Peru2.13
103=Guatemala2.13
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

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

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better46
Pos.201946
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
140Congo, (Brazzaville)22.80
141=Myanmar (Burma)22.80
141=Gabon22.80
143Turkmenistan23.40
144=Djibouti23.40
145Papua New Guinea24.10
146=Zimbabwe24.20
146=Ghana24.20
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
47
Pos.2018
Severity47
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 #religion_in_turkmenistan #turkmenistan

Disbelief In God (2007)48
Pos.Higher is better
%48
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
68=Chile2
68=Central African Rep.2
68=Tajikistan2
68=Turkmenistan2
68=Indonesia2
73Paraguay1
74=Nicaragua1
74=Bolivia1
74=Colombia1
74=Costa Rica1
74=Honduras1
74=Brazil1
74=Ecuador1
74=S. Africa1
74=Venezuela1
74=Peru1
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 below49:

Christian6.4%
Muslim93%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%50.

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 state23.

Links: