Turkmenistan: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan's unemployment rate was 5.4% at the 2022 population and housing census, according to the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics. Of 2,443,666 economically active people of working age, 2,311,192 were employed and 132,474 were job seekers.

The rate was 6.1% in urban settlements and 4.7% in rural areas, and ranged by region from 5.2% in Mary velayat to 6.2% in Balkan velayat. The figures describe the census date, 17 December 2022. The State Committee also publishes an annual unemployment series on its SDG reporting platform, covered in the question on the latest unemployment rate.

Official sources: State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics

What is the latest unemployment rate in Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan's unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 8.5.2). The platform gives 4.9% for men and 4.1% for women. The rate was 4.7% in each year from 2022 to 2024 and 4.8% from 2017 to 2021.

This annual series comes from the State Committee on Statistics and is separate from the 2022 census count, which found a rate of 5.4% on census day. The two use different sources and methods, so they should not be compared as a trend. The rate counts job seekers as a share of the labour force, not of all adults.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform

How many young people in Turkmenistan are not in work or study?

14.6% of young people aged 15 to 29 in Turkmenistan were not in education, employment or training in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 8.6.1). The share was 14.7% in 2024, 15.4% in 2022 and 15.8% in 2021.

The series jumped from 8.5% in 2019 to 15.1% in 2020, and has edged down each year since 2021. The measure counts young people who are neither working nor studying nor training, whether or not they are looking for work, so it is wider than youth unemployment. The platform does not give a split by sex for this indicator.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform

How many young people were looking for work at the 2022 census?

29,190 of the 319,162 economically active people aged 18 to 24 in Turkmenistan were job seekers at the 2022 census, a rate of about 9.1%, according to the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics. Among those aged 20 to 24 alone, 24,211 of 267,556 were seeking work, about 9.0%.

The rate is worked out here from the census table of the economically active population by age. It compares with 5.4% for all ages. The census counts people of working age on 17 December 2022, and the youngest group in the table starts at 18.

Official sources: State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics

What share of Turkmenistan's GDP goes to workers?

The labour share of Turkmenistan's GDP was 40.4% in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 10.4.1). The 2025 value is marked with an asterisk in the published series. It was 39.3% in 2024, 38.5% in 2023, 38.7% in 2022 and 40.2% in 2021.

The labour share is the part of national income paid to workers as wages, salaries and other labour compensation, set against GDP. The rest goes to company profits, rents and taxes. A rising share means workers receive a larger slice of the economy's output, even if total pay does not rise.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform

How many managers in Turkmenistan are women?

Women held 22.6% of managerial positions in Turkmenistan in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 5.5.2). The share was 27.3% in 2024, 22.4% in 2022 and 2023, and 22.1% in 2021.

The platform publishes the same values for indicator 16.7.1, the proportion of female managers. The 2024 figure stands out against the years either side, and the series returned to its earlier level in 2025. At the 2022 census, women made up 1,041,315 of the 2,443,666 economically active people of working age, according to the census employment tables.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform · census employment tables

What is Turkmenistan's minimum wage?

1,280 TMT a month: that is the statutory minimum wage in Turkmenistan for 2024, according to the ILO. No year since 2013 has been higher.

How high is unemployment in Turkmenistan?

In 2025, the unemployment rate in Turkmenistan was 4.3%, according to the ILO. The peak was 7.5% in 2005 and the low 4.0% in 2013. It is 36th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 5.5%. Worldwide: 105th of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Turkmenistan?

10.0%: that is unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Turkmenistan for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 8.3% (2009) to 14.5% (2005). It is 36th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 14.2%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 105th highest.

What is the labour force participation rate in Turkmenistan?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate in Turkmenistan was 42.0%, according to the ILO. The peak was 51.2% in 2005 and the low 41.5% in 2020. Europe & Central Asia median: 60.3%; Turkmenistan is 46th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 161st highest.

What is female labour force participation in Turkmenistan?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate for women in Turkmenistan was 38.2% in 2025. The peak was 47.4% in 2005 and the low 37.6% in 2020. Europe & Central Asia median: 54.6%; Turkmenistan is 45th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 148th of 174.

How many people in Turkmenistan are employed?

In 2025, the employment to population ratio in Turkmenistan was 40.2%, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 47.3%; its low point was 2020, at 39.7%. It is 46th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 56.6%. World rank, highest first: 156th of 174.

How common is self-employment in Turkmenistan?

28.3%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Turkmenistan for 2025, according to the ILO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 8th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 11.0%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 93rd highest.

What share of workers in Turkmenistan earn a wage or salary?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Turkmenistan was 68.0% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 41st highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 85.5%. World rank, highest first: 84th of 174.