Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Turkmenistan: Ashgabat — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashgabat. Turkmenistan sits in Asia, has a population of 6,430,770, and uses the TMT. Official languages include Turkmen.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Ashgabat
  • Continent: Asia
  • Population: ~6,430,770
  • Area: 488,100 km²
  • Population density: 13.2 people per km²
  • Official language: Turkmen
  • Currency: TMT
  • ISO code: TM

How big is Turkmenistan?

By population, Turkmenistan ranks 110th in the world, holding roughly 0.08% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 52nd.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Turkmenistan has 13.2 people per square kilometre, which is about 4.5 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Asia, Turkmenistan is the 34th most populous country of 48.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Turkmenistan in population are El Salvador (6,336,392) and Kyrgyzstan (6,630,623).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Cameroon (475,442 km²) and Spain (505,992 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Turkmen is listed as an official language of Turkmenistan alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Turkmenistan uses the TMT, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Turkmenistan

Ashgabat is often translated as 'city of love', and it is famous for its white marble buildings. The flag is the one with carpet patterns on it.

The flag of Turkmenistan: green, red and white

🇹🇲 The flag is a green flag with a red vertical stripe near the hoist showing five carpet patterns (guls), with olive branches below, and a white crescent and five white stars beside it. The five carpet patterns stand for the five main tribes, carpets being a famous Turkmen craft. The olive branches were added after the United Nations recognised Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality in 1995, and the five stars stand for the country's regions.

Region and neighbours

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, mostly covered by the Karakum Desert. It shares land borders with 4 countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Turkmenistan is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.

Three facts about Turkmenistan

  1. The Karakum Desert covers most of Turkmenistan.
  2. The Darvaza gas crater, nicknamed the 'Door to Hell', has been burning in the desert since 1971.
  3. The ancient city of Merv, once a great stop on the Silk Road, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sources: Wikipedia: Turkmenistan, Wikipedia: Flag of Turkmenistan, Wikipedia: Ashgabat, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Turkmenistan 🇹🇲?

    • Ashgabat
    • Pyongyang
    • Thimphu
    • Seoul
    Show answer

    Ashgabat

  2. What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬?

    • Thimphu
    • Bishkek
    • Dushanbe
    • Riyadh
    Show answer

    Bishkek

  3. What is the capital of Singapore 🇸🇬?

    • Dushanbe
    • Singapore
    • Muscat
    • Astana
    Show answer

    Singapore

  4. What is the capital of Laos 🇱🇦?

    • Doha
    • Ashgabat
    • Astana
    • Vientiane
    Show answer

    Vientiane

  5. What is the capital of Lebanon 🇱🇧?

    • Baghdad
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Beirut
    • Kabul
    Show answer

    Beirut

Turkmenistan in Asia

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Turkmenistan belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Turkmenistan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Turkmenistan?

The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashgabat.

What is the population of Turkmenistan?

About 6,430,770, making it the 110th most populous country in the world.

How big is Turkmenistan?

488,100 square kilometres, ranking 52nd by land area, at a density of 13.2 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Turkmenistan use?

The TMT, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Turkmenistan flag?

The flag of Turkmenistan is a green flag with a red vertical stripe near the hoist showing five carpet patterns (guls), with olive branches below, and a white crescent and five white stars beside it. The five carpet patterns stand for the five main tribes, carpets being a famous Turkmen craft. The olive branches were added after the United Nations recognised Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality in 1995, and the five stars stand for the country's regions.

Which countries border Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan shares land borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

How can I remember the capital of Turkmenistan?

Ashgabat is often translated as 'city of love', and it is famous for its white marble buildings. The flag is the one with carpet patterns on it.

More capitals to learn

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