Photo: Rastapopulous · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Turkmenistan: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Turkmenistan is placed 123rd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 40.24 (2025); Labour Income Share 46.23 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
123rd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Turkmenistan on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
40.24
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Turkmenistan: 40.24. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Central Asia
- 64.54 Kazakhstan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 32.46 · Iran 37.56 · Kazakhstan 64.54 · Uzbekistan 54.84
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
4.267
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Turkmenistan: 4.267. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Central Asia
- 3.526 Kyrgyzstan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 13.35 · Iran 8.301 · Kazakhstan 4.771 · Uzbekistan 4.622
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
28.27
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Turkmenistan: 28.27. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Central Asia
- 24.79 Kazakhstan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 81.77 · Iran 39.52 · Kazakhstan 24.79 · Uzbekistan 33.32
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.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan fell from 47.08 in 2000 to 40.24 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2025 40.24 57.720 2024 40.47 57.694 2023 40.31 58.158 2022 40.51 57.688 2021 39.84 56.066 2020 39.68 55.691 2019 41.03 57.871 2018 41.20 56.911 2017 41.38 56.738 2016 41.58 56.845 2015 41.79 56.788 2014 42.02 56.774 2013 42.50 56.229 2012 43.03 56.289 2011 43.68 56.297 2010 44.69 56.212 2009 45.34 56.255 2008 45.33 57.308 2007 46.18 56.933 2006 46.74 56.685 2005 47.34 56.129 2004 48.20 55.465 2003 48.14 55.630 2002 47.86 55.843 2001 47.22 56.018 2000 47.08 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan rose from 45 in 2004 to 46.23 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2025 46.234 46.230 2024 46.131 46.060 2023 45.949 45.900 2022 46.082 45.615 2021 44.416 45.433 2020 45.337 47.267 2019 45.171 46.277 2018 45.170 46.187 2017 45.115 46.467 2016 45.134 46.798 2015 45.075 46.876 2014 44.572 47.281 2013 44.561 46.887 2012 44.422 46.231 2011 43.939 45.679 2010 44.609 46.024 2009 44.974 47.071 2008 43.858 45.312 2007 44.293 45.246 2006 44.281 45.670 2005 43.998 46.265 2004 44.996 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan fell from 11.73 in 2000 to 4.267 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2025 4.267 5.08 2024 4.020 5.15 2023 4.007 5.21 2022 4.017 5.34 2021 4.458 6.04 2020 4.489 6.38 2019 4.035 5.36 2018 4.036 5.35 2017 4.035 5.59 2016 4.026 5.90 2015 4.016 6.41 2014 4.005 6.58 2013 3.993 6.71 2012 3.994 6.79 2011 4.003 6.90 2010 4.000 7.04 2009 4.000 6.67 2008 4.852 5.79 2007 5.719 6.00 2006 6.601 6.50 2005 7.495 7.09 2004 8.419 6.80 2003 9.289 6.95 2002 10.141 6.91 2001 10.898 6.96 2000 11.730 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
TurkmenistanWorld median
Turkmenistan fell from 38.72 in 2000 to 28.27 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Turkmenistan World median 2025 28.3 28.67 2024 28.4 29.04 2023 28.6 29.33 2022 28.8 29.67 2021 29.0 30.01 2020 29.4 30.54 2019 29.9 29.98 2018 30.1 30.15 2017 30.4 29.93 2016 30.7 29.91 2015 31.0 30.26 2014 31.4 30.47 2013 31.9 31.14 2012 32.5 31.00 2011 33.0 31.41 2010 33.7 32.37 2009 34.3 32.59 2008 35.0 31.76 2007 35.6 33.47 2006 36.3 34.27 2005 36.9 34.66 2004 37.4 35.51 2003 37.8 35.90 2002 38.1 35.96 2001 38.4 35.27 2000 38.7 35.67
03In context
Turkmenistan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Turkmenistan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kazakhstan | 69th | 64.54 | 41.33 | 4.771 | 24.79 |
 Uzbekistan | =110th | 54.84 | 44.38 | 4.622 | 33.32 |
| Turkmenistan | 123rd | 40.24 | 46.23 | 4.267 | 28.27 |
 Iran | 175th | 37.56 | 34.95 | 8.301 | 39.52 |
 Afghanistan | 182nd | 32.46 | 40.77 | 13.35 | 81.77 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Kazakhstan69th
- Uzbekistan=110th
- Turkmenistan123rd
Kyrgyzstan=125th
Tajikistan172nd
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Turkmenistan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Turkmenistan is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under work & labour, 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 median8
Statistics on which Turkmenistan does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8118.5741.81No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 18.57 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 151st of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.4354.885▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 0.435 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38469,78547,384▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 69,785 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 57th of 168 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74212,6726,742▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 12,672 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 56th of 151 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8310.0212.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Turkmenistan: 10.02 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 111th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1627.9422.16▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 27.94 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 75th of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.431.61▲ Improved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 1.43 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.952.645.9No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 52.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Turkmenistan does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0726.5532.07No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 26.55 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3638.2453.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Turkmenistan: 38.24 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 155th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.166.08419.16No earlier reading
Turkmenistan: 6.084 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 165th of 179 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6642.0361.66No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 42.03 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 169th of 182 · derived.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0056.042.005▼ Worsened since 2015
Turkmenistan: 6.04 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8828.5718.88No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 28.57 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 24th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8941.4838.89Moved since 2015
Turkmenistan: 41.48 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 59th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3821.9314.38No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 21.93 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 78th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8432.0331.84No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 32.03 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 91st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5149.559.51No real change since 2015
Turkmenistan: 49.5 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 128th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Turkmenistan
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2021), Trade Union Density, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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
Work & Labour among Turkmenistan’s 14 topics
Work & Labour is Turkmenistan’s 7th 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 work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Turkmenistan can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Central Asia
Kazakhstan69th4/4 keysThis page
Turkmenistan123rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Turkmenistan and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Turkmenistan on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Turkmenistan is placed 123rd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Turkmenistan?
40.24 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Turkmenistan?
46.23 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Turkmenistan compare with Iran on work & labour?
Iran is placed 175th of 182, and Turkmenistan 123rd. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Iran 37.56, Turkmenistan 40.24; Labour Income Share: Iran 34.95, Turkmenistan 46.23; Unemployment Rate: Iran 8.301, Turkmenistan 4.267; Vulnerable Employment: Iran 39.52, Turkmenistan 28.27.
How have Turkmenistan’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 47.08 in 2000 to 40.24 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 45 in 2004 to 46.23 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 11.73 in 2000 to 4.267 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 38.72 in 2000 to 28.27 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Turkmenistan?
No current reading is published for Turkmenistan on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour 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 work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 2 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Turkmenistan: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/turkmenistan/work