Turkmenistan

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Turkmenistan
Population: 6,118,000
Principal Languages: Turkmen
Literacy Rate: 100% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Sebeok 1963
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Turkmenistan is 9. Of these, 8 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 2 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 4 are developing, and 3 are vigorous. Also listed are 29 unestablished languages.

Languages

Aimaq aiq: Users: 245,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Armenian, Western hyw: Major cities. Users: 84,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Azerbaijani, North azj: Scattered. Users: 50,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Balochi, Western bgn: Mary province: 2 areas, one northeast of capital, the other on Murgap river upstream from Mary city. Users: 49,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
Bashkort bak: Users: 7,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Belarusian bel: Users: 5,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019a), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Brahui brh: Users: 1,200 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Northern
Chagatai chg: Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the 1600s (Boeschoten and Vandamme 1998). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Chaghatai, Chaghatay, Jagatai, Tschagataisch Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Chechen che: Users: 1,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 2,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chuvash chv: Users: 3,500 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
Crimean Tatar crh: Users: 1,600 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
Dargwa dar: Users: 3,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Dargan Medz Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi
Erzya myv: Users: 3,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
Georgian kat: Users: 1,800 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
German, Standard deu: Users: 1,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Karakalpak kaa: Users: 5,600 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Kazakh kaz: Users: 29,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Korean kor: Scattered. Users: 1,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Ahal province: mainly Ashgabat area. Users: 49,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Khorasani, Khorasani Kurmanji, Kurmancî, Kurmanji Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Kyrgyz kir: Users: 1,400 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Lak lbe: Users: 4,400 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lak
Lezgi lez: Users: 18,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Ossetic oss: Users: 3,800 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
Pashto, Northern pbu: Users: 9,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Pashto, Southern pbt: Users: 1,500 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes: Ashgabat. Users: 16,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Romanian ron: Users: 3,200 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Major cities. Users: 900,000 in Turkmenistan (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 724,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 241,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 18,000 in Turkmenistan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 12,000–24,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Tajik tgk: Ahal province: Ashgabat area; Balkan, Lebap, and Mary provinces. Users: 10,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tatar tat: Users: 81,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Turkish tur: Users: 53,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turkmen tuk: Widespread. Users: 4,340,000 in Turkmenistan (2020 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 5,100,000 (2020). Total users in all countries: 6,547,060. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 13). Alternate Names: Trukhmen, Trukhmeny, Turkmani, Turkmanian, Turkmenian, Turkmenler, Turkomans, Türkmen dili Autonym: Türkmençe, түркменче‎ (Türkmençe) Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian
Ukrainian ukr: Ashgabat and other urban centers. Users: 22,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Uyghur uig: Users: 2,300 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Uzbek, Northern uzn: Dasoguz province: Dashhowuz area; scattered elsewhere. Users: 543,000 in Turkmenistan (2020). Ethnic population: 302,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: oʻzbek, oʻzbek tili, oʻzbekcha Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Users: 3,100 in Turkmenistan (2002 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Turkmen

[tuk] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 13). 4,340,000 in Turkmenistan (2020 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 5,100,000 (2020). Total users in all countries: 6,547,060.

5 (Dispersed)

Russian

[rus] 5* (Dispersed). 900,000 in Turkmenistan (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 724,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 241,000 (2020).

Uzbek, Northern

[uzn] 5* (Dispersed). 543,000 in Turkmenistan (2020). Ethnic population: 302,000 (2020).

5 (Developing)

Aimaq

[aiq] 5* (Developing). 245,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Developing). 84,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

6a (Vigorous)

Balochi, Western

[bgn] 6a* (Vigorous). 49,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] 6a* (Vigorous). 49,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 6a (Vigorous). 18,000 in Turkmenistan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 12,000–24,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population.

10 (Extinct)

Chagatai

[chg] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the 1600s (Boeschoten and Vandamme 1998).

Unestablished

Azerbaijani, North

[azj] Unestablished. 50,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Bashkort

[bak] Unestablished. 7,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Belarusian

[bel] Unestablished. 5,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019a), based on ethnicity.

Brahui

[brh] Unestablished. 1,200 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Chechen

[che] Unestablished. 1,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 2,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Chuvash

[chv] Unestablished. 3,500 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Crimean Tatar

[crh] Unestablished. 1,600 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Dargwa

[dar] Unestablished. 3,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Erzya

[myv] Unestablished. 3,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Georgian

[kat] Unestablished. 1,800 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 1,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Karakalpak

[kaa] Unestablished. 5,600 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Kazakh

[kaz] Unestablished. 29,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 1,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Kyrgyz

[kir] Unestablished. 1,400 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Lak

[lbe] Unestablished. 4,400 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Lezgi

[lez] Unestablished. 18,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Ossetic

[oss] Unestablished. 3,800 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Pashto, Northern

[pbu] Unestablished. 9,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Pashto, Southern

[pbt] Unestablished. 1,500 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 16,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 3,200 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Tajik

[tgk] Unestablished. 10,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Tatar

[tat] Unestablished. 81,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 53,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 22,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Uyghur

[uig] Unestablished. 2,300 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] Unestablished. 3,100 in Turkmenistan (2002 J. Leclerc).

Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Turkmenistan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Turkmenistan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Turkmenistan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Turkmenistan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Turkmenistan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

View Terms
Each Ethnologue country digest is a licensed product with restricted terms of use. Before downloading the product, you must agree to the following terms:
- This is a license for individual use. Just as with a conventionally published book, it is a violation of copyright to make a copy and give it to others.
- You may not redistribute this work in any form, including ingesting the contents into a database that is shared with others or posting it on a web site (whether public or private).
To inquire about permission for reuse or redistribution, please use the Contact Us form in the footer.
I agree to the digest terms of use.
Digest of the languages of Turkmenistan ($149.95, 28 page PDF)

Turkmenistan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action