View source for List of cities in Turkmenistan

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[[File:Turkmenistan-2019-US-Dept-State-map.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of Turkmenistan]]

This is a '''list of [[city|cities]] in [[Turkmenistan]]'''. For a full list of settlements see the [[list of cities, towns and villages in Turkmenistan]].

Which municipalities are categorized as "cities" is established by law in Turkmenistan. Cities fall into three categories: one city equivalent to a province (the capital city, [[Ashgabat]]), cities "equivalent to a district" ({{langx|tk|etrap hukukly}}), and cities "in a district" ({{langx|tk|etrapdaky}}). By law cities equivalent to a district must have a population of more than 30,000 and must be either a provincial capital or be one of the economic, cultural and administrative centers in its province. Cities "in a district" are subordinated to the district (''etrap'') government and are administered jointly.  By law they must have a population of more than 8,000, and must possess industrial enterprises, construction and transport organizations, utilities, municipally owned housing stock, socio-cultural institutions, trade and social services.<ref name=osm>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Turkmenistan#Administrative_Structure|title=Turkmenistan § Administrative_Structure|access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=geography>{{cite book|last1=Çaryýew|first1=B.|last2=Ilamanow|first2=Ýa.|title=Türkmenistanyň Geografiýasy|publisher=Türkmenistanyň Bilim Ministrligi| year=2010| place=Ashgabat| url=https://www.kitaphana.net/electronic-book/457}}</ref> The government maintains a list of municipalities broken out by category, but publishes this list irregularly, and does not post it online. An authoritative list of Turkmenistan's municipalities based on published official Turkmen decrees and laws is on the OpenStreetMap wiki.<ref name=osm2>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Districts_in_Turkmenistan|title=Districts in Turkmenistan|access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref> The most recent published version of the list was released in 2012.<ref name=list>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/images/2/2a/1992-2018-TKM_geoname_changes_TK-ocr.pdf|pages=77–141|title=Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň 2010-njy ýylyň 10-njy maýynda kabul eden № 112-1V kararyna GOŞUNDY Türkmenistanyň dolandyryş>çäk birlikleriniň SANAWY|date=27 August 2012}}</ref>

Districts and cities with district status are headed by a [[President of Turkmenistan|presidentially]] appointed ''häkim'' (district governor or city mayor). Three cities in Turkmenistan, [[Ashgabat]], [[Arkadag]], and [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Turkmenbashy]], are further subdivided into [[boroughs]] with district status, each with its ''häkim''.  Cities "in a district" and towns are headed by an elected council ({{langx|tk|geňeş}}) chaired by an ''arçyn'', who serves as both council chair and mayor.<ref name=osm /><ref name=geography />

==List==
===Municipalities designated as cities===
[[File:Panorama From Ashgabat TV Tower.JPG|thumb|[[Ashgabat]], capital of Turkmenistan.]]
[[File:Центр Туркменабада.jpg|thumb|[[Türkmenabat]]]]
[[File:TurkmenistanMaryMosque.jpg|thumb|[[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]]]]
[[File:Turkmenbashi3.jpg|thumb|[[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]]]
[[File:A newly constructed railway station in Bereket city, October 2013.jpg|thumb|[[Bereket]]]]
Unless otherwise annotated, population figures are as of 2010 (estimate).  Provincial capitals are '''bolded'''. Cities with district status are ''italicized''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:5px;"| Nº
! style="width:140px;"| City
! style="width:15px;"| Population
! style="width:120px;"| [[Provinces of Turkmenistan|Province]]
|- 
|'''1'''||[[Ashgabat]]|| align="right" |823,000
<sup>(2018)</sup><ref>{{Cite web |title=General Information |url=https://ashgabat.embassy.qa/en/turkmenistan/info |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=ashgabat.embassy.qa}}</ref>
| national capital region
|- 
|2||'''''[[Türkmenabat]]'''''<ref>formerly Çärjew</ref>|| align="right" |279,765 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|- 
|3||'''''[[Daşoguz]]'''''|| align="right" |245,872 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''4'''||'''''[[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]]'''''|| align="right" |126,141 || [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''5'''||'''''[[Balkanabat]]'''''|| align="right" |120,800 || [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|- 
|'''6'''||[[Gyzylarbat]]<ref>from 1999 to 2022 Serdar</ref>|| align="right" |93,692 || [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|- 
|'''7'''||''[[Baýramaly]]''|| align="right" |91,713 || [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|- 
|'''8'''||[[Tejen]]||align = right|79,324 || [[Ahal Province|Ahal]] 
|- 
|'''9'''||''[[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]''<ref>formerly Krasnovodsk</ref>||align = right|73,803 || [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''10'''||[[Magdanly]]<ref>formerly Gowurdak</ref>||align = right|68,133 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''11'''||'''''[[Arkadag (city)|Arkadag]]'''''<ref name=decree20221220>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/68829/postanovlenie-medzhlisa-milli-gengesha-turkmenistana-ob-otnesenii-k-kategorii-goroda-novogo-sovremennogo-administrativnogo-centra-ahalskogo-velayata-i-prisvoenii-emu-naimenovaniya |title=Постановление Меджлиса Милли Генгеша Туркменистана об отнесении к категории города нового современного административного центра Ахалского велаята и присвоении ему наименования |date=21 December 2022|language=ru |publisher=Электронная газета «Золотой век»}}</ref>||align=right|64,086<br><sup>(2022)</sup><ref name=image>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/storage/app/media/Images/2022/12-2022/21122022/PR-rus/21122022-03ru.jpg |title=Главный план города Аркадаг ахалского велаята на 2022 год (Main Plan of the City of Arkadag of Ahal Province for 2022) |date=21 December 2022|language=ru |publisher=Электронная газета «Золотой век»}}</ref> ||[[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|- 
|'''12'''||[[Kerki]]<ref>formerly Atamyrat</ref>||align = right|39,602 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''13'''||[[Ýolöten]]||align = right|38,936 || [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''14'''||[[Konye-Urgench]]||align = right|35,386 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''15'''||[[Anau, Turkmenistan|Anau]]||align = right|30,042 || [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''16'''||[[Andalyp (city)|Andalyp]]<ref>formerly Gurbansoltan eje adyndaky, Ýylanly</ref>||align = right|27,451 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''17'''||[[Bäherden]] ||align = right|25,065 || [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''18'''||[[Gazojak]]||align = right|25,043 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''19'''||[[Bereket]]<ref>formerly Gazanjyk or Gazandzhyk</ref>||align = right|23,762 || [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''20'''||[[Boldumsaz]]||align = right|23,728 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''21'''||[[Geok Tepe|Gökdepe]]||align = right|21,465 || [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''22 '''||[[Hojambaz]] ||align = right|21,454|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''23'''||[[Saýat]]||align = right|21,160 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''24'''||[[Seýdi]]||align = right|21,160 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''25'''||[[Kaka, Turkmenistan|Kaka]]||align = right|20,218 || [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''26'''||[[Görogly (city)|Görogly]]||align = right|18,660 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''27'''||[[Farap]]||align = right|17,277 || [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''28'''||[[Gubadag]]||align = right|17,118 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''29'''||[[Akdepe]]||align = right|15,898 || [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''30'''||[[Murgap, Turkmenistan|Murgap]]||align = right|15,724 || [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''31'''||[[Serhetabat]]<ref>formerly Guşgy</ref>||align = right|15,713 || [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''32'''||[[Sarahs]] ||align = right|9,585|| [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''33'''||[[Köýtendag]]<ref>formerly Çarşaňňy</ref>||align = right|8,654|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''34'''||[[Magtymguly (city)]]<ref>formerly Garrygala</ref>||align = right|8,412|| [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''35'''||[[Dänew]]<ref>formerly Galkynyş</ref>||align = right|7,932 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989>{{cite web|url=http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng89_reg2.php|title= Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность городского населения союзных республик, их территориальных единиц, городских поселений и городских районов по полу|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090226132826/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng89_reg2.php|access-date=10 April 2021|archive-date= 2009-02-26}}</ref>|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''36'''||[[Shabat, Turkmenistan|Shabat]]<ref>formerly Nyýazow, Täzebazar</ref>||align = right|7,291|| [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''37'''||[[Darganata]]<ref>formerly Birata</ref>||align = right|7,212 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''38'''||[[Babadaýhan]]<ref>formerly Kirovsk</ref>||align = right|7,130 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Ahal Province|Ahal]]
|-
|'''39'''||[[Şatlyk]] ||align = right|7,000 (2011)|| [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''40'''||[[Garabogaz]]<ref>formerly Bekdash</ref> ||align = right|6,895 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''41'''||[[Gyzyletrek|Etrek]]<ref>formerly Gyzyletrek</ref> ||align = right|6,855 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''42'''||[[Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy adyndaky]]<ref>formerly Oktyabrsk</ref>||align = right|6,770|| [[Daşoguz Province|Daşoguz]]
|-
|'''43'''||[[Türkmengala]] ||align = right|6,465 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Mary Province|Mary]]
|-
|'''44'''||[[Esenguly]] ||align = right|5,823 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Balkan Province|Balkan]]
|-
|'''45'''||[[Garabekewül]]<ref>formerly Karabekaul</ref> ||align = right|5,509 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''46'''||[[Halaç]] ||align = right|5,101 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|'''47'''||[[Dostluk]]<ref>formerly Yuzhnyy</ref>||align = right|4,534 <sup>(1989)</sup><ref name=pop1989 />|| [[Lebap Province|Lebap]]
|-
|}

===Changes in 2022===
The former cities of [[Gumdag]] and [[Hazar, Turkmenistan|Hazar]] were downgraded to town status in November 2022, and thus have been removed from this list.<ref name=decree20221110>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/67749/postanovlenie-medzhlisa-milli-gengesha-turkmenistana-8 |title=Постановление Меджлиса Милли Генгеша Туркменистана |date=10 November 2022 |language=ru |publisher=Электронная газета «Золотой век»}}</ref> The cities previously named Gurbansoltan Eje adyndaky, Nyýazow, and Serdar were renamed Andalyp, Shabat, and Gyzylarbat, respectively.<ref name=decree20221110>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/67749/postanovlenie-medzhlisa-milli-gengesha-turkmenistana-8 |title=Постановление Меджлиса Милли Генгеша Туркменистана |date=10 November 2022 |language=ru |publisher=Электронная газета «Золотой век»}}</ref> The new city of Arkadag was formally incorporated on 20 December 2022 by act of the Turkmen parliament.<ref name=decree20221220>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/68829/postanovlenie-medzhlisa-milli-gengesha-turkmenistana-ob-otnesenii-k-kategorii-goroda-novogo-sovremennogo-administrativnogo-centra-ahalskogo-velayata-i-prisvoenii-emu-naimenovaniya |title=Постановление Меджлиса Милли Генгеша Туркменистана об отнесении к категории города нового современного административного центра Ахалского велаята и присвоении ему наименования |date=21 December 2022|language=ru |publisher=Электронная газета «Золотой век»}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Districts of Turkmenistan]]
*[[List of renamed cities in Turkmenistan]]
*[[List of cities, towns and villages in Turkmenistan]]
*[https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Turkmenistan_Geoname_Changes OpenStreetMap: Turkmenistan Geoname Changes]
*[https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Districts_in_Turkmenistan OpenStreetMap: Districts in Turkmenistan] (authoritative list of all municipal structures as of 5 January 2018)

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Cities in Turkmenistan}}

{{Cities of Turkmenistan}}
{{Asia topic|List of cities in}}

[[Category:Populated places in Turkmenistan| ]]
[[Category:Turkmenistan geography-related lists|Cities]]
[[Category:Lists of cities by country|Turkmenistan, List of cities in]]