Photo: Rastapopulous · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Turkmenistan: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Turkmenistan is placed 126th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 4.308 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 35.38 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
126th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 4.308Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 35.38Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 95.38Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 2.713Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Turkmenistan on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Turkmenistan’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
4.308
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Turkmenistan: 4.308. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Central Asia
- 0.566 Uzbekistan
- Land neighbours
- Iran 0.103 · Kazakhstan 6.402 · Uzbekistan 0.566
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Turkmenistan’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
35.38
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Turkmenistan: 35.38. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Central Asia
- 86.2 Kyrgyzstan
- Land neighbours
- Iran 59.82 · Kazakhstan 76.49 · Uzbekistan 81.57
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
95.38
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Turkmenistan: 95.38. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Central Asia
- 98.98 Uzbekistan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 36.28 · Iran 75.5 · Kazakhstan 97.86 · Uzbekistan 98.98
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.713
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Turkmenistan: 2.713. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Central Asia
- 6.827 Kyrgyzstan
- Land neighbours
- Iran 2.824 · Kazakhstan 4.865 · Uzbekistan 5.473
02Over time
Which way Turkmenistan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan rose from 2.14 in 2022 to 4.308 in 2024; the world median went from 3.002 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2024 4 3.691 2023 3 3.393 2022 2 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 — 3.878 2007 — 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 — 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan rose from 92.43 in 2000 to 95.38 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2025 95.4 64.9 2024 95.3 65.0 2023 95.2 64.2 2022 95.1 63.6 2021 95.0 62.9 2020 94.9 62.2 2019 94.8 61.5 2018 94.7 60.9 2017 94.6 60.5 2016 94.5 60.1 2015 94.4 58.9 2014 94.2 57.0 2013 94.1 54.7 2012 94.0 52.4 2011 93.9 50.9 2010 93.7 49.5 2009 93.6 48.5 2008 93.4 47.4 2007 93.3 46.2 2006 93.2 45.0 2005 93.1 43.8 2004 92.9 42.9 2003 92.8 41.6 2002 92.7 40.3 2001 92.5 39.0 2000 92.4 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan fell from 3.049 in 2012 to 2.713 in 2023; the world median went from 4.035 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2023 2.71 3.7092 2022 3.58 4.0570 2021 3.85 4.2611 2020 3.76 4.4056 2019 3.12 4.1407 2018 — 4.2159 2017 — 4.1401 2016 — 4.2342 2015 — 4.2386 2014 — 4.2005 2013 — 4.3493 2012 3.05 4.0348 2011 — 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Turkmenistan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Turkmenistan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Uzbekistan | 25th | 0.566 | 81.57 | 98.98 | 5.473 |
 Kazakhstan | 76th | 6.402 | 76.49 | 97.86 | 4.865 |
 Iran | 104th | 0.103 | 59.82 | 75.5 | 2.824 |
| Turkmenistan | 126th | 4.308 | 35.38 | 95.38 | 2.713 |
 Afghanistan | not placed | — | — | 36.28 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- Uzbekistan25th
Kyrgyzstan=38th- Kazakhstan76th
Tajikistan108th- Turkmenistan126th
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Turkmenistan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Turkmenistan is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Turkmenistan does better than the middle country measured.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2199.7289.21No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 99.72 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 6th of 164 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9999.993.99No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 99.9 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 6th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2299.998.22No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 99.9 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9810.529No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 0.981 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.8197.43No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 99.81 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 16th of 165 · derived.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6699.5393.66▲ Improved since 2019
Turkmenistan: 99.53 · world median 93.66 · Primary teachers with the minimum qualifications their country requires (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.219.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Turkmenistan: 11.21 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 63rd of 193 · derived.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.3433.3926.343▲ Improved since 2022
Turkmenistan: 3.392 · world median 6.343 · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 79.71; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1994.6593.19▲ Improved since 2019
Turkmenistan: 94.65 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 54th of 109 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Turkmenistan does worse than the middle country measured.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2441.0721.244▲ Improved since 2014
Turkmenistan: 1.072 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 11th of 95 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3413.2413.34▲ Improved since 2013
Turkmenistan: 13.24 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 103rd of 195 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6725.2720.67No real change since 2019
Turkmenistan: 25.27 · world median 20.67 · Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.244 to 284.7; lower is better.
Position 37th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6641.6698.66▲ Improved since 2019
Turkmenistan: 41.66 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7720.4352.77▲ Improved since 2014
Turkmenistan: 20.43 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 77th of 95 · derived.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9331.9865.93No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 31.98 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 99th of 120 · derived.
School Life ExpectancyUIS · 2024 · world median 14.5912.3414.59No real change since 2019
Turkmenistan: 12.34 · world median 14.59 · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.478 to 21.01; higher is better.
Position 66th of 77 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.0640.619▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 0.064 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 169th of 176 · derived.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.090.814▼ Worsened since 2015
Turkmenistan: 0.09 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 81st of 84 · derived.
Inbound Mobility Rate, TertiaryUIS · 2024 · world median 5.4940.0525.494▼ Worsened since 2014
Turkmenistan: 0.052 · world median 5.494 · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.12; higher is better.
Position 74th of 75 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2019
Turkmenistan: 100 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27964.515.279Moved since 2014
Turkmenistan: 64.51 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240492,240No real change since 2022
Turkmenistan: 49 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for Turkmenistan
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2022), Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Government Funding per Primary Student, Harmonized Test Scores, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2020), Trust in Scientists (last 2018) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Turkmenistan’s 14 topics
Education & Knowledge is Turkmenistan’s 5th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 48th of 1933/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital73rd of 1963/3 keys
- Peace & Security80th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing123rd of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge126th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 122nd of 1844/4 keys
- Work & Labour123rd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation130th of 1763/4 keys
- Digital & Technology172nd of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality172nd of 1832/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability179th of 1863/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions188th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties194th of 1984/4 keys
- Energy165th of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Turkmenistan can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Asia
United Arab Emirates1st2/4 keysHighest in Central Asia
Uzbekistan25th4/4 keysThis page
Turkmenistan126th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Turkmenistan on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Turkmenistan rank on education & knowledge?
Turkmenistan is placed 126th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Turkmenistan?
4.308 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Turkmenistan?
35.38 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Turkmenistan compare with Iran on education & knowledge?
Iran is placed 104th of 198, and Turkmenistan 126th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Iran 0.103, Turkmenistan 4.308; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Iran 59.82, Turkmenistan 35.38; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Iran 75.5, Turkmenistan 95.38; Government Spending on Education: Iran 2.824, Turkmenistan 2.713.
How have Turkmenistan’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 2.14 in 2022 to 4.308 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 92.43 in 2000 to 95.38 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 3.049 in 2012 to 2.713 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Turkmenistan?
No current reading is published for Turkmenistan on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Government Funding per Primary Student, Harmonized Test Scores, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Turkmenistan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Turkmenistan (banner) — Rastapopulous, CC BY-SA 3.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Turkmenistan: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/turkmenistan/education