Background and political system
With a population of more than 7 million, Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia along the Caspian Sea, bordering Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan’s first multi-candidate parliamentary elections were held in 1994, following the country’s independence in 1991.
The Constitution of Turkmenistan adopted in 1992 and most recently revised in 2016, provides the overall framework for the country’s political institutions and governance. Turkmenistan is a unitary presidential republic, divided into five regions and two cities – the capital city of Ashgabat and the city of Arkadag with a special status.
Turkmenistan’s state power consists of the Executive and Legislative branches, complemented by the Judicial branch, acting independently. The executive branch is led by the President of the Republic, who is elected by the public for a seven-year term and acts as the Head of State and Head of Government. The Cabinet of Ministers consists of Deputy Chairpersons appointed by the President. The legislative Assembly (Mejlis) is formed by members directly elected by the public and serve in a unicameral parliament. The judicial branch hosts the Turkmenistan Supreme Court, consisting of a Chairperson and several judges, in addition to subordinate courts. Turkmenistan also has a representative body, the People’s Council (Halk Maslakhaty), whose main goals are the widespread involvement of people in resolving issues of national importance, in the implementation of reforms and socio-economic programmes in the country.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment
Women’s right to vote and to stand for election was first ensured in the country in 1927, under the Soviet administration, and this right was confirmed at independence in 1991. The first woman in Parliament was elected in 1990. The current Ombudsperson is also a woman, Yazdursun Gurbannazarova.
Traditional patriarchal values and gender stereotypes have persisted in the Turkmen society, both beneath the surface of the communist era despite formal gender equality, and following the country’s democratic transition, creating barriers to practical socioeconomic and political equality and participation. Twelve percent of women aged 18-59 years have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a spouse or partner, while 6.1 percent of women aged 20–24 years old who were married or in a union before age 18.
According to UN Women, only 20.6 percent of indicators needed to monitor the SDGs from a gender perspective are available, with gaps in key areas such as violence against women, unpaid care and domestic work and key labour market indicators (e.g., the gender pay gap).
Structure of parliament
The Parliament (Mejlis) is composed of 125 deputies elected to five-year terms, through a majoritarian system. The Parliament is responsible for examining a wide range of public policies.
There are no legislated gender quotas for a minimum gender representation enacted in Turkmenistan.
Women's representation in parliament
As of July 2024, the Turkmenistan Parliament has 32 women members, out of a total of 125 deputies, representing 25.6 percent. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Dunyagozel Akmuhammedovna Gulmanova. Gulmanova is also the youngest Speaker of Parliament in the world. The next elections will be held in 2028.
Forecast based on past trends
If changes continue at the current pace, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the average rate of improvement from 1995 to 2023 and projecting it into the future.
Forecast based on recent trends
If changes registered in the past five years continue, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the average rate of change in the past five years and projecting it into the future.
Best case forecast
If the situation improves similarly to the country performing best in the region, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the rate of improvement from the country performing best in the region and accelerating the change with this amount over five years and then keeping it constant.
Worst case forecast
If the situation deteriorates similarly to the country registering the worst drop in the region, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the drop rate in the country performing worst in the region and deteriorating the situation with this amount over five years and then keeping it constant.
Women Chairpersons of Parliament Committees
The Turkmenistan Parliament has eight specialized Committees on Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms; Law and Order; Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy; Economic Issues; Social Policy; International and Parliamentary Relations; Protection of the Environment, Use of Nature and Agro-Industrial Complex; Local Representative Authorities and Self-Government.
As of July 2024, the Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy is headed by a woman, Seyidova Bahar Khojamuradovna.
Structure of government
Government
The Turkmenistan President is the Head of State and Head of Government, as well as the Commander of the Armed Forces. The President is also the guarantor of the country’s independence and territorial integrity, of respect for the Constitution, and of fulfilment of international obligations.
The Cabinet of Ministers is composed of nine members, who take on the positions of Deputy Chairpersons within the Turkmen Government. Ministers are not part of the Cabinet. Within the executive branch, the Cabinet of Ministers, led by the President, constitutes the Government of Turkmenistan and is responsible for managing executive bodies of Turkmenistan and ensuring their coordinated activities. The Cabinet of Ministers is accountable to the President.
The current President of Turkmenistan is Serdar Berdimuhamedow, who has been in power since 2022. Turkmenistan has not yet had a woman serve as President. As of July 2024, there are only two women in the Cabinet: Mahrijemal Mammedova (Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers for Culture and Mass Media), and Bayramgul Motyevna Orazdurdyeva (Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers for Health, Education and Public Associations).
Ministers or Cabinet Members
Mahrijemal Mammedova
Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers for Culture and Mass Media
Bayramgul Motyevna Orazdurdyeva
Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers for Health, Education and Public Associations
Local bodies of representative and executive power
At local level, local bodies of representative power (people’s councils) in the regions (velayats), districts (etraps) and cities are elected by citizens of Turkmenistan living in the corresponding administrative-territorial units. Local bodies of representative power are made up of elected officials, the number of which is proportional to the population they represent. The head of each representative body is elected by the people’s councils in the corresponding administrative-territorial units. Like the national, there is no gender quota applied to local government representation. Local bodies of executive power consist of velayat khyakims in regions, etrap khakims in districts, and city khyakims in the cities, and are nominated by the President of Turkmenistan.
For more information on gender quotas adopted at the national level, visit the women in parliament section.
Structure of public administration
The government's roles and responsibilities include executing the laws and acts of Turkmenistan; ensuring the rights, freedoms and safety of citizens; submitting proposals for and managing political, economic, social and cultural development; managing public enterprises, institutions and organizations; strengthening monetary and credit systems; responsibility for international relations; and leading the activities of ministries and state organizations.
Local self-government bodies are not included in the system of public administration. Gengeshes are local self-government bodies formed only in districts (etraps), towns and villages (gengeshliks), and are endowed by law with certain state powers with the allocation of material and financial resources necessary for their implementation.
The powers of the Gengesh, in particular, include making decisions on holding local referendums; determining the main directions of economic, social and cultural development of its territory; developing and approving the budget; establishing local taxes and fees; developing measures for the rational use of natural resources and environmental protection; administering construction and repair of roads and bridges of local importance; coordinating the activities of cultural institutions located on its territory, taking measures to expand their network.
Women’s representation as employees and decision-makers in public administration
This visualization was developed based on data provided by GIRL@University of Pittsburgh.
Data across countries and territories is not comparable. For more information about the methodology and sources used, read here.
There is no available data on women’s representation in public administration in Turkmenistan, at both the employee and decision-making levels.