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" (Turkmen: etrap hukukly), and cities "in a district" (Turkmen: 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.[1][2] 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.[3] The most recent published version of the list was released in 2012.[4]
Districts and cities with district status are headed by a presidentially appointed häkim (district governor or city mayor). Three cities in Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Arkadag, and 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 (Turkmen: geňeş) chaired by an arçyn, who serves as both council chair and mayor.[1][2]
The former cities of Gumdag and Hazar were downgraded to town status in November 2022, and thus have been removed from this list.[28] The cities previously named Gurbansoltan Eje adyndaky, Nyýazow, and Serdar were renamed Andalyp, Shabat, and Gyzylarbat, respectively.[28] The new city of Arkadag was formally incorporated on 20 December 2022 by act of the Turkmen parliament.[10]
Media related to Cities in Turkmenistan at Wikimedia Commons
