AFaithIndependent states
Islam in Turkmenistan
The religion of more than 95% of the population; Turkmens are mostly Sunni Muslims.
According to 2020 data, 95.8% of Turkmenistan's population is Muslim; like their kin in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Turkmens are mostly Sunni.
Nomadic customs and reverence for ancestors are important in Turkmen Islam, and pilgrimage to the tombs of holy men is widespread — the mausoleums of Merv, Konye-Urgench and elsewhere have drawn pilgrims for centuries.
Most Turkmens see Islam as an integral part of their cultural heritage; many new mosques have been built since independence, and Turkmenistan is a secular state.
Sources
Updated: October 3, 2026







