People and Society of Turkmenistan

Nationality

Turkmen(s)

Ethnic Groups

Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6%

Population

6,117,924

Population in Major Urban Areas

ASHGABAT (capital) 683,000

Medical care in Turkmenistan is limited and well below North American and Western European standards. If you travel to Turkmenistan, you should make sure that you have medical evacuation insurance. Such travel can be expensive if undertaken under emergency conditions, and absent this insurance, medical evacuation travel may be logistically impossible. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your regular physician to determine whether travel to Turkmenistan is advisable in light of the level of available health care. Resident U.S. citizens travel to Western Europe or North America for treatment of any serious medical condition, and for many routine procedures. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of public hospitals and English-speaking physicians in the country, however the standard of care at these hospitals cannot be considered comparable to Western standards. Basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics are often in short supply. Two private clinics have foreign medical practitioners (generally Turkish) who may be available for consultations and treatment; these clinics, however, have refused in some cases to admit patients with serious conditions, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay for treatment. Even at these hospitals, the standard of care is low compared to Western standards. If you need prescription medications, you should bring sufficient supplies with you and appropriate documentation to ensure no problems with customs officials upon arrival.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Turkmenistan stands at approximately 70 to 71 years, placing the country in the lower-to-middle range among Central Asian nations and below the global average of around 73 years. Males in Turkmenistan tend to have a notably shorter life expectancy than females, with men averaging roughly 67 to 68 years and women averaging closer to 73 to 74 years — a gap of around six to seven years that reflects broader patterns seen across post-Soviet states in the region. Several factors influence these figures. Turkmenistan's healthcare system, while nominally free and state-controlled, has faced persistent challenges related to infrastructure quality, access to modern medical equipment, and the availability of trained specialists, particularly in rural and remote areas. The country's highly centralized government has at times restricted independent health reporting, which means official statistics may not fully capture the on-the-ground reality of public health conditions. Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular illness, respiratory conditions, and cancers, are leading contributors to premature mortality. Environmental factors also play a role — Turkmenistan's proximity to the dried Aral Sea basin has introduced elevated levels of dust, salt, and pollutants into parts of the population's air and water supply, contributing to chronic health issues. Additionally, high rates of tobacco use among men and limited public health education campaigns have contributed to the gender disparity in life expectancy. In recent decades, there has been modest improvement in overall life expectancy compared to the difficult years following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, when economic disruption severely strained healthcare systems across the region. Maternal and child health indicators have shown gradual improvement, which has contributed incrementally to rising average life expectancy over time. Despite these gains, Turkmenistan continues to lag behind many of its neighbors and faces ongoing pressure to modernize its healthcare sector, expand health literacy, and address environmental health risks in order to achieve more meaningful long-term improvements in population health and longevity.

Infant Mortality Rate

Turkmenistan has made notable progress in reducing infant mortality over recent decades, though rates remain higher than many other upper-middle-income countries in the broader region. The infant mortality rate — defined as the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births — stood at approximately 37 to 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent estimates, reflecting ongoing challenges in healthcare delivery and maternal health services across the country. During the Soviet era, Turkmenistan benefited from a centralized healthcare infrastructure, but the system deteriorated significantly following independence in 1991. Funding cuts, emigration of trained medical professionals, and a shift in government priorities contributed to setbacks in child health outcomes throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, gradual improvements have been recorded, driven in part by international health partnerships and increased government investment in maternal and child health programs. Key factors influencing infant mortality in Turkmenistan include access to skilled birth attendants, quality of prenatal care, rates of neonatal infection, and the prevalence of conditions such as respiratory diseases and diarrheal illnesses, which disproportionately affect newborns and young infants. Rural areas, particularly in the remote Karakum Desert regions, face greater disparities in access to healthcare compared to urban centers such as Ashgabat. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have worked with Turkmenistan's government on immunization programs, nutrition initiatives, and improvements to neonatal care facilities. Vaccination coverage for diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and tetanus has improved, contributing to the downward trend in infant deaths. Despite progress, data transparency remains a concern. Independent verification of Turkmenistan's health statistics can be difficult due to limited government openness, and some international health analysts suggest official figures may not fully reflect conditions on the ground. Continued investment in primary healthcare infrastructure, especially in underserved rural communities, will be essential for Turkmenistan to achieve further reductions in infant mortality and align more closely with global health benchmarks.

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Muslim89.0%
• Eastern Orthodox9.0%
• unknown2.0%

Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

• Russian
• Turkmen

Crime Information

Although the government's official policy is to report that there is no violent crime, there are incidents of assault, rape, and murder sometimes directed at foreigners. Prostitution, heroin use, and economic conditions are all factors contributing to the incidence of violent crimes. Petty theft is common in crowded public places such as the local bazaars. Take appropriate measures to safeguard passports and valuables in such areas. Do not leave valuables in plain view within a parked vehicle. Foreign visitors, including U.S. citizens, present an attractive target for criminals. Travelers should exercise the same common sense, good judgment, and caution as they would in any major U.S. city. For instance, avoid carrying large sums of money in public. Avoid walking alone after dark, and women specifically should avoid being alone in isolated areas. Most taxis are not regulated by any government licensing agency and drivers are usually private citizens looking to make money. The majority of cars will not have seat belts or other safety devices, and drivers may not have had any formal driver training. For safety reasons, visitors should strongly consider hiring a private car and driver through their travel agency or hotel. There is one government-owned and regulated taxi company, operating in Ashgabat, which charges a flat fee of 8 Denominated Turkmen Manat (about $ 2.80 at the March, 2011 exchange rate) for a one-way trip within Ashgabat city limits. Its telephone number is: (993 12) 32-97-75. If using local unregulated taxis, always negotiate fares with taxi drivers in advance, and use extreme caution when using taxis after dark, especially when there are other passengers in the vehicle. Prostitution is illegal, and prostitutes have been known to accompany men to their residences or hotel rooms in order to steal from them, sometimes with the help of an accomplice. The authorities will generally consider any woman leaving a discotheque with a foreign man late at night to be a prostitute, and on that basis, the foreigner may be detained. Recently, at least one foreigner was kept in jail for fifteen days on charges of soliciting prostitution. Travelers should be aware that U.S. law provides for criminal prosecution in U.S. federal courts of U.S. citizens who have solicited a prostitute under the age of 18 while traveling abroad. Police can ask anyone to present identity papers at any time, but authorities are especially aggressive late at night. Even if valid papers are presented, the police may ask for a bribe. For this reason, those going from place to place late at night should consider using a trusted driver. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Turkmenistan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. For instance, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Turkmenistan, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.