Living in Turkmenistan guide for expats

Turkmenistan stretches over 491,210 square kilometres and is mostly desert interrupted by irrigated oases. Over 80% of the country's land is covered by the Karakum, the biggest desert in Central Asia. The current population of Turkmenistan is close to six million people (5,758,075 to be precise), and the country is divided into five provinces. The capital is the city of Ashgabat, and other big cities are Balkanabat, DaÅoguz, Mary, Türkmenabat, and Turkmenbashi. Turkmen is the official language ' though Russian is spoken in some areas. The main ethnic groups are Turkmen (the majority of the population), Uzbek, and Russian.

Turkmenistan has significant reserves of oil and possesses the fourth largest reserve of natural gas. There is limited farming with the main crops being cotton and wheat. The country's per capita GDP was estimated at USD 11.630 in 2016, but with fluctuating oil and gas prices, the outlook is not certain.

Though Turkmenistan is far from being a major expat destination, the country is hiding some unique attractions, which may appeal to travellers. Here, you can visit the Darvaza gas crater known as 'the Gates of Hell', soak in the eerie waters of the Kow-Ata underground lake, discover the archaeological site of Gonur Tepe, and try a different kind of entertainment at the Turkmen version of Disneyland, World of Turkmenbashi Tales.

One of the reasons Turkmenistan is not a popular travel destination is the country's visa policy. Residents of all countries require a visa to enter Turkmenistan. You will need to apply in advance at a Turkmen Embassy in your country or consult your Embassy about the possibility of getting a visa on arrival, which is a more expensive option.