Turkmenistan: public finances

How big is Turkmenistan's government debt?

Turkmenistan's general government gross debt was 3.1% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook database. The IMF projects 2.9% for 2026. The ratio was 7.1% in 2022 and 4.1% in 2024.

The IMF uses a common definition of general government debt so that countries can be compared. No national public debt figures were found on official Turkmen sites that could be read on 15 October 2026; the Ministry of Finance and Economy's website could not be reached. Recent years are estimates and are revised in each edition of the database.

Official sources: IMF World Economic Outlook database

Does Turkmenistan have a budget deficit?

Turkmenistan's general government had a small surplus of 0.1% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook database, after a deficit of 0.1% in 2024. The IMF projects a surplus of 0.5% in 2026; in 2022 the surplus was 3.4%.

Net lending or borrowing is revenue minus spending for the general government; a positive number is a surplus. The figures for recent years are IMF estimates. No national budget execution reports could be read on official sites on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: IMF World Economic Outlook database

How much revenue does Turkmenistan's government collect?

Total government revenue was 13.7% of Turkmenistan's GDP in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 17.1.1). The 2025 value is marked with an asterisk in the published series. Revenue was 13.8% of GDP in 2024, 15.0% in 2023 and 16.4% in 2022.

Since 2015 the ratio has ranged from 12.8% (2016) to 17.9% (2017). Revenue includes taxes and other government income such as fees and property income. No budget execution reports could be read on the Ministry of Finance and Economy's website, which could not be reached on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform

Does Turkmenistan spend what its budget plans?

Primary government spending in Turkmenistan was 99.7% of the originally approved budget in 2025, according to the TurkmenStat SDG platform (indicator 16.6.1). Outturn was 99.9% of the approved budget in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and 99.8% in 2023.

The indicator compares what the government actually spent, excluding interest payments, with the budget approved at the start of the year. A figure close to 100% means spending followed the plan closely; the indicator does not show whether money moved between sectors within the total. The platform does not publish the breakdown by sector.

Official sources: TurkmenStat SDG platform

How much does Turkmenistan owe to foreign lenders?

Turkmenistan's external debt stock was US$3.32 billion at the end of 2024, equal to 5.2% of gross national income, according to the World Bank International Debt Statistics. It was US$3.92 billion in 2023, US$4.65 billion in 2022 and US$6.65 billion in 2019.

External debt covers what the government, public companies and private borrowers owe to lenders abroad, so it is wider than government debt. The stock has fallen every year since 2019, and the ratio to national income dropped from 14.9% in 2019 to 5.2% in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank International Debt Statistics · ratio to national income

How much does Turkmenistan spend on education?

Government spending on education in Turkmenistan was 4.3% of GDP in 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It was 2.7% in 2023, 3.6% in 2022 and 3.8% in 2021.

The figure covers spending by all levels of government on education, including current and capital spending, as a share of GDP. Year-to-year changes can reflect both spending decisions and swings in GDP. UNESCO compiles the series from national data and publishes the same values through the World Bank's indicators database.

Official sources: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

What is Turkmenistan's government debt?

3.1% of GDP: that is general government gross debt in Turkmenistan for 2025, according to the IMF. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 46.9% of GDP; Turkmenistan is 50th highest of 51. Worldwide: 182nd of 185.

What is Turkmenistan's budget deficit?

0.1% of GDP: that is general government net lending or borrowing in Turkmenistan for 2025, according to the IMF. The peak was 10.7% of GDP in 2008 and the low -2.8% of GDP in 2017. Europe & Central Asia median: -2.4% of GDP; Turkmenistan is 14th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 34th of 188.

How much does Turkmenistan's government take in?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 14.2% of GDP. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at 22.4% of GDP; its low point was 2016, at 11.7% of GDP. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 41.3% of GDP, and Turkmenistan placed 50th highest of 50. Of 187 countries with 2025 data, 171st highest.

How big is Turkmenistan's government spending as a share of GDP?

14.1% of GDP: that is general government spending in Turkmenistan for 2025, according to the IMF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 11.7% of GDP (2008) to 21.1% of GDP (2005). It is 50th highest of 50 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 43.3% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 180th of 186.