Updated
Overview
Uzbekistan has 4.9 times the population of Turkmenistan: 37.05 million people against 7.62 million (2025).
Uzbekistan's economy is 3.0 times the size of Turkmenistan's, at $147.04B versus $49.83B.
Per person, Turkmenistan is the wealthier of the two: $6,540 against $3,968 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Uzbekistan | Turkmenistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $147.04B | $49.83B | 2025 | $114.97B / $64.24B |
| GDP per capita | $3,968 | Higher: $6,540 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.7% | 6.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | 9.6% / 11.5% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 4.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $351 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $83 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 37.05 million | 7.62 million | 2025 | 37.02 million / 5.74 million |
| Population growth | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 27.0 yrs | 26.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.45 | 2.63 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 72.5 yrs | 70.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 51% | 47% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 90% | 18% | 2024 / 2016 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 447,400 km² | 488,100 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 82.8/km² | 15.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 139 Mt | Lower: 81 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.8 t | 10.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.44B | $111.92M | 2018 / 1999 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2018 / 1999 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 68,000 | 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
Uzbekistan is growing faster: 7.7% annual GDP growth versus 6.3%.
Uzbekistan runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 2.7%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 27.0 (Uzbekistan) and 26.9 (Turkmenistan).
Life expectancy is 2.3 years longer in Uzbekistan (72.5 vs 70.2).
Internet adoption is higher in Uzbekistan (90% vs 18% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Uzbekistan is 8% smaller than Turkmenistan: 447,400 km² versus 488,100 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Uzbekistan is far more densely settled: 83 people per km² against 16.
Military
Uzbekistan spends 13 times as much on defence as Turkmenistan: $1.44B versus $111.92M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Uzbekistan fields the larger armed forces: 68,000 personnel against 57,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Uzbekistan bigger than Turkmenistan?
- Turkmenistan is larger by land area. Uzbekistan covers 447,400 km² while Turkmenistan covers 488,100 km², so Turkmenistan is 9% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan?
- Uzbekistan has the larger population: 37.05 million versus 7.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Uzbekistan richer than Turkmenistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Turkmenistan is richer: $6,540 against $3,968. Total GDP tells a different story: $147.04B for Uzbekistan versus $49.83B for Turkmenistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan?
- Uzbekistan spends more: $1.44B versus $111.92M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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