Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Turkmenistan instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 6.5 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, that number is 72 years (69 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2022.

be 34.3% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Turkmenistan, that number is 18.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 85.3% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Turkmenistan, that number is 4.1% as of 2023.

be 98.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Turkmenistan, however, that number is 0.2% as of 2012.

Life

be 96.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Turkmenistan, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 45.4% more likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, on the other hand, 37.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Turkmenistan, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 64.9% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Turkmenistan, about 25.3% do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 53.0% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Turkmenistan spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 33.7% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Turkmenistan, that number is 5.7% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Turkmenistan: At a glance

Turkmenistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 469,930 sq km. 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.
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