Turkmenistan
Central Asia
Asia
A low-tax Asian country with low university tuition, but serious economic and political risk, a weak passport and no dual citizenship.
20
Overall score
Low · Penalty applied · 86% data coverage
Language
TurkmenCurrency
TMTCitizenship
7 yearsPersonal tax
Generally 10%Cost of living
$800 / mo (single; availability varies)Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.
Score breakdown
34
Access
17%37Residence12%
26Citizenship and passport5%
62
Earning power
25%57Salary and work12%
66Buying power13%
52
Business and wealth
20%80Taxes7%
28Business8%
50Investment5%
61
Daily life
25%61Quality of life18%
60Education7%
5
Rights and institutions
13%2Freedom6%
7Rule of law7%
Severe environmental risk (25) cut the overall score from 48 to 40.
Weak rights and institutions (5) cut the overall score from 40 to 20.
Pros
- Low university tuition
Cons
- Serious economic and political risk
- A weak passport
- No dual citizenship
Best for
Low-tax relocatorsStudents
Score profile
Access
Residence
37
Citizenship
22
Passport
37
Earning power
Salary & work
57
Buying power
66
Cost of living
100
Economy
72
Business and wealth
Taxes
80
Personal tax
82
Corporate tax
77
Business
28
Investment
50
Wealth building
61
Daily life
Safety
69
Healthcare
56
Environment
25
Infrastructure
57
Education
60
HDI
76
Rights and institutions
Freedom
2
Rule of law
7
Access
Residence
Openness to residents
37Limited
Migrant stock2.6% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-1.69 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
| Student | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
|---|---|
| Work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Self-employed | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Permanent | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
22Low
| Years required | 7 years |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | No |
| Language | Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route |
| Residence | Typical headline route: 7 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply |
| Notes | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Passport
Passport power
37Limited
74 / 198
Mobility
#68
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
- Visa-free33
- On arrival39
- eTA2
- Visa required124
Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.
Earning power
Salary & work
Labour-market strength
57Moderate
Output per worker$67,321 PPP (2024)
Unemployment4.3% (2025)
Participation42.0% of 15+ (2025)
| Tech salary (estimate) | Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation |
| Job market | Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
66Good
GNI / person$22,830 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$1,359 PPP (2012)
Price level24 (US = 100) (2021)
Income inequality40.8 Gini (1998)
Cost of living
Affordability
100Excellent
Price level24 (US = 100) (2021)
| Rent | Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $800 / mo (single; availability varies) |
| Cities | Ashgabat, Türkmenabat |
Economy
Economic strength
72Good
Output & income
GDP$49.8B (2025)
GDP / person$6,540 (2025)
GNI / person$22,830 PPP (2025)
GDP growth6.3% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Unemployment4.3% (2025)
Output per worker$67,321 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture12.4% of GDP (2025)
Industry36.0% of GDP (2025)
Services48.9% of GDP (2025)
Main industries
Natural gasOilCotton & textilesPetrochemicals
Top exports
Natural gasRefined fuelsCotton & textiles
| Type | Upper-middle-income, gas-driven |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Natural gas exports, Cotton agriculture |
| Summary | A closed, state-run economy almost entirely dependent on vast natural-gas reserves and cotton. |
| Currency | Turkmenistani manat |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
80Excellent
| Personal | Generally 10% |
|---|---|
| Corporate | Generally 8% for resident private companies |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Personal tax
Personal tax
82Excellent
| Personal | Generally 10% |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
77Good
| Corporate | Generally 8% for resident private companies |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Business
Business friendliness
28Low
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-1.69 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-1.06 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules |
|---|---|
| Local company | Available company forms and capital requirements vary |
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
Investment
Investing environment
50Moderate
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | Check current national and subnational rules |
| Brokers | Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
61Moderate
Salary & work
57Moderate
Business
28Low
Investment
50Moderate
Tax friendliness
80Excellent
Cost of living
100Excellent
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
69Good
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.30 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability0.25 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
56Moderate
Outcomes
Life expectancy70.2 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality39.0 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians1.93 per 1,000 (2023)
Hospital beds3.60 per 1,000 (2021)
Health spending$1,264 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements |
| Average cost | Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage |
Environment
Environment score
25Low
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure31.2 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress135.2% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
57Moderate
Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses9.6% of output (2023)
Transport
Transport quality2.23 / 5 (2018)
Rail density16.3 km / 1,000 km² (2018)
Air connectivity1,401 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
60Moderate
Attainment
Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.2 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment20% gross (2024)
Education spending4.3% of GDP (2024)
| Tuition | $1,500-5,000 / yr |
|---|---|
| Public university | Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality |
| Languages | Turkmen |
| Student work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
HDI
Human development score
76Good
HDI0.764 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.2 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
2Low
| Freedom in the World | 2 / 100 (Not free) |
|---|
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
7Low
| Rule of Law percentile | 7 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.