🇹🇲Turkmenistan Political Stability: 5.1/100

Turkmenistan is the 52nd-largest country in the world, covering 488,100 km², and is primarily dominated by the Karakum Desert, which makes up over 80% of its land. The country features significant topographical features such as the Kopet Dag Range and the Caspian Sea coastline, which is 1,748 km long. It has a dry continental climate with mild winters and low precipitation, making it one of the driest regions globally.

Turkmenistan's population is approximately 7.1 million, predominantly ethnic Turkmen, with significant minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. The official language is Turkmen, and the majority of the population practices Islam, with a small percentage adhering to Eastern Orthodoxy and other religions.

World Bank governance: rule of law 2nd percentile, corruption control 0th percentile, political stability 25th percentile.

Turkmenistan's strongest governance dimension is Political Stability at 25/100, placing it in the lower half globally. This reflects a relatively low likelihood of politically motivated violence or instability.

The weakest dimension is Control of Corruption at 0/100. Corruption remains a significant governance challenge, potentially affecting everyday interactions with government institutions.

A moderate spread of 25 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Turkmenistan's fragile governance environment presents real challenges for travelers. Institutional capacity is severely limited across most dimensions. Visitors should expect minimal government services, potential interactions with corruption, and limited recourse through legal systems. Travel to Turkmenistan requires extensive preparation and risk awareness.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Turkmenistan as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.