Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 2.7 times the population of Turkmenistan: 20.84 million people against 7.62 million (2025).
Kazakhstan's economy is 6.1 times the size of Turkmenistan's, at $306.24B versus $49.83B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $6,540 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Turkmenistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $306.24B | $49.83B | 2025 | $288.41B / $64.24B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $14,692 | $6,540 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 6.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | 8.8% / 11.5% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 4.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 7.62 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 5.74 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 26.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 2.63 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 74.5 yrs | 70.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 47% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 18% | 2024 / 2016 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 488,100 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 15.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 81 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 10.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $111.92M | 2024 / 1999 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 2.9% | 2024 / 1999 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 57,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (6.5% for Kazakhstan, 6.3% for Turkmenistan).
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 2.7%.
People and society
Turkmenistan is the younger society: median age 26.9 versus 29.7 years.
Life expectancy is 4.3 years longer in Kazakhstan (74.5 vs 70.2).
Kazakhstan is considerably more urbanized: 62% of people live in cities, against 47%.
Internet adoption is higher in Kazakhstan (93% vs 18% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 5.6 times the size of Turkmenistan: 2,724,900 km² versus 488,100 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Turkmenistan is far more densely settled: 16 people per km² against 8.
Military
Kazakhstan spends 11 times as much on defence as Turkmenistan: $1.21B versus $111.92M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Turkmenistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.9% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 57,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Turkmenistan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Turkmenistan covers 488,100 km², so Kazakhstan is 5.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 7.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Turkmenistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $6,540. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $49.83B for Turkmenistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan?
- Kazakhstan spends more: $1.21B versus $111.92M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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