Safest cities in Turkmenistan
4 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in TurkmenistanAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Turkmenistan, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Border restrictions
- Turkmen land border crossings can be subject to occasional and unannounced closures. The borders with Afghanistan and Iran are particularly sensitive, with access to areas near these borders being tightly restricted.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDPolice sometimes carry out checks of identity documents. Always carry your passport on you. Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport and your letter of invitation in a safe place.
- CrimeWhilst the crime rate is low, you should exercise a similar level of caution as you would in the UK.
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. Cafés and restaurants may amend their menus and be busy around fast-breaking (‘Iftar’). Areas around mosques are also likely to be busy around prayer times. Take particular care not to offend religious sensitivities at this time.
- Alcohol laws and bansIt is illegal to drink alcohol in any communal spaces, including:
- Smoking and e-cigarette bansIt is illegal to smoke outside or in any communal spaces unless they contain a designated smoking area.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesIf you’re found guilty of possession or use of illegal drugs, you could face a lengthy prison sentence in very basic conditions.
- Taking photos in secure areasIt is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Check before taking photos of or near airports, military infrastructure, police stations, government buildings or embassies. The guards at the presidential palace may tell you not to take photos of it.
- Internet and mobile networkInternet connections outside the larger hotels can be unreliable. Many social media apps and websites are blocked, including YouTube, X, Facebook and WhatsApp. Access to Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail is often difficult. VPNs are illegal in Turkmenistan and are usually blocked as soon as the authorities identify them.
- Relationships with TurkmensIt is illegal for a Turkmen woman to have a sexual relationship with a foreign national. Foreign nationals who provide gifts, transport or other benefits to women in expectation of even a short relationship can be immediately fined and deported.
- LGBT+ travellersMale same-sex sexual activity is illegal, and punishable by a prison sentence. Same-sex relationships generally meet with disapproval in Turkmen society. Avoid showing affection in public.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad.
- TaxisLicensed taxis are clearly identified by white and green markings. Avoid unlicensed taxis.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesTurkmenistan is in an active seismic zone. There are regular tremors and there have been strong earthquakes.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Turkmenistan, updated 2026-06-04 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.01 /100k2015
- Income inequality
- Gini 40.81998
- Human development
- HDI 0.7642023
- Income
- $22,830/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 13.5 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 70/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 33/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 17/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.72GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 31.2 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 95%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 1.9 doctors /1k3.6 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 8.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 3.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Turkmenistan (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Turkmenistan compares
| Measure | Turkmenistan | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Turkmenistan |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.8 | 35.2 | +5.6 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.764 | 0.763 | +0.001 — better for Turkmenistan |
| Road deaths | 13.5 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −1.9 /100k — better for Turkmenistan |
| Rule of law | 33/100 | 52/100 | −19/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 17/100 | 39/100 | −22/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.2 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +11.5 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.8/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.0/10 — better for Turkmenistan |
| Measure | Turkmenistan | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 1.8 /100k | −0.8 /100k — better for Turkmenistan |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.8 | 33.4 | +7.4 — better for Asia median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.764 | 0.771 | −0.007 — better for Asia median |
| Road deaths | 13.5 /100k | 15.3 /100k | −1.8 /100k — better for Turkmenistan |
| Rule of law | 33/100 | 52/100 | −19/100 — better for Asia median |
| Corruption perceptions | 17/100 | 37/100 | −20/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.2 µg/m³ | 26.7 µg/m³ | +4.5 µg/m³ — better for Asia median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.8/10 | 3.7/10 | −0.9/10 — better for Turkmenistan |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 4 cities, safest first
- Ashgabat74.7 · #2838 worldwide
- Mary74.7 · #2839 worldwide
- Turkmenabat74.7 · #2840 worldwide
- Dashoguz74.7 · #2841 worldwide