Countries, Compared

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a landlocked Central Asian nation, bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the northeast and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south, and the…

Countries, Compared: country research and comparison

Turkmenistan is a landlocked Central Asian nation, bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the northeast and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. Its territory is among the most thinly settled in Asia, and its political and economic system remains unusually closed compared to its neighbours. This entry gives you the stable classification facts, explains how to verify figures that change, and points you to the sources you need for a country comparison project.

Classification and Basic Facts

Turkmenistan is classified by the United Nations with the following stable identifiers:

  • UN M49 code: 795
  • ISO alpha-2: TM
  • ISO alpha-3: TKM
  • UN region: Asia
  • UN subregion: Central Asia
  • UN member state: Yes
  • World Bank capital field: Ashgabat

These codes are set by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). They are classification facts, not political or territorial claims. The UN M49 overview is the reference for region and subregion coding: The World Bank country API provides the capital and other basic fields:

For all volatile data, population, languages, currency, government, economy, and entry requirements, treat any figure printed on this page as a starting point, not the latest word. Data changes annually, and official statistics often lag reality. Always check the reference year next to each figure and consult the named primary source before citing it.

Population

Population figures change continuously. The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections; the World Bank publishes its own population series. Do not expect a single “correct” number. For each figure, note the source and the reference year, and do not mix datasets. For example, the World Bank API returns population estimates in the SP.POP.TOTL indicator series; the UN Population Division publishes its own annual revisions. Both are authoritative, but they can differ slightly because of different definitions and revision schedules.

Languages, Currency and Government

For languages, the practical reference is the Ethnologue catalogue, though the CIA World Factbook also lists major languages. For currency and exchange rates, use the issuing authority (for Turkmenistan, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan) or a reputable financial data provider, and always note the date. For government structure, use official state portals and the CIA World Factbook’s government section.

Economy and Travel

For economy, the World Bank API provides indicators such as GDP, GNI per capita, and income classification; the IMF provides projections. For travel and visa requirements, never rely on a third-party summary. Check your own government’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre, because visa policy changes frequently and without notice.

Country Basics

Turkmenistan is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Ashgabat. The UN M49 code is 795, ISO alpha-2 is TM, and ISO alpha-3 is TKM. The UN classifies it in the Asia region and Central Asia subregion; it is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field lists Ashgabat.

These classification facts are stable and come from the UN M49 overview and the World Bank country API. They are statistical labels, not political statements about sovereignty, borders, or territorial claims. The UN M49 scheme is a coding system, not a geopolitical endorsement. For any territorial or naming dispute, consult the relevant UN resolutions and official government statements.

How to Verify Current Data for Turkmenistan

Population, currency, languages, government structure, and economic figures change over time. Do not rely on a single static number. The two primary reference points for this entry are:

  • UN M49 overview:
  • World Bank country API:

The UN M49 overview gives the stable classification identifiers (region, subregion, and whether the nation is a UN member). The World Bank API returns country metadata and development indicators. For population, the UN World Population Prospects is the standard source for estimates between censuses; the World Bank’s population series (SP.POP.TOTL) is drawn from the same UN data. For economic figures, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators are reliable and standardized, but always note the reference year.

Health, Education and Heritage

For health metrics, the WHO Global Health Observatory provides life expectancy and mortality data. For education and cultural heritage, UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the World Heritage Centre are the primary sources.

Rights and Corruption

For political rights and civil liberties, Freedom House publishes an annual report with transparent criteria. For corruption perceptions, Transparency International publishes an annual index with a clear methodology section.

For any figure on this page, if you see a number with a year attached, that number is a snapshot from that year from the cited source. Do not treat it as current. Do not combine figures from different years into a single comparison without noting the year for each. When in doubt, go to the primary source.

Classification Facts

Turkmenistan is classified by the United Nations under the following standard identifiers:

  • UN M49 code: 795
  • ISO alpha-2: TM
  • ISO alpha-3: TKM
  • UN region: Asia
  • UN subregion: Central Asia
  • UN member state: Yes (UN member since 2 March 1992)
  • World Bank capital field: Ashgabat

These identifiers come from the UN Statistics Division’s M49 classification and the World Bank country API ( M49 is a statistical coding, not a political statement about borders or sovereignty. The World Bank lists the capital as Ashgabat in its country metadata; the M49 overview provides the regional and subregional grouping. Both sources are authoritative for their own definitions, but neither should be treated as a political or territorial claim.

What You Can Verify Right Now

Before reading any figure below, check the live sources. The two primary references for this entry are:

  1. UN M49 overview, , for classification codes and regional groupings.
  2. World Bank country API, , for economic and development indicators.

For the latest data, use these in combination with the national statistical office of Turkmenistan and the World Bank country page. The most recent World Bank country profile for Turkmenistan (as of the 2024 data year) is at data.worldbank.org/country/turkmenistan.

How to Get Current Facts Without Freezing Them

Turkmenistan’s official statistics change slowly, but the underlying data are revised as censuses, surveys, and international reporting cycles update. For any number you cite, record the source and the reference year, and do not mix datasets. The two most useful primary entry points are:

  • UN M49 overview for country classification, region codes, and statistical groupings:
  • World Bank country API for economic and social indicators:

For population figures, the UN Population Division publishes biennial estimates; the latest World Population Prospects release is the reference for UN figures. For economic aggregates, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators database is the standard source. For health metrics, use WHO’s Global Health Observatory. For education and cultural indicators, use UNESCO statistics. For national data, the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics is the primary source, but it publishes selectively and is not always comparable with international datasets.