ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 27. A total of
6,398,085 bank cards were active in Turkmenistan as of April 1,
2026, marking a 1.1% increase compared to January 1, 2026.
Data obtained by Trend from the country's Central Bank shows that
Ashgabat alone accounts for nearly 30% of all active cards. Mary
and Lebap provinces each account for a significant share,
contributing over one million cards, while Dashoguz, Balkan, and
Ahal represent more moderate portions of the total. Arkadag comes
in with a small share, having only 17,223 cards, which adds up to a
slight 2.1% bump since early January.
These figures highlight a clear concentration of bank card usage
in urban centers and densely populated areas. While card usage is
present in less populated regions, it remains relatively limited in
comparison to the more urbanized areas. This distribution reveals a
marked centralization of financial activity, with major cities
exhibiting higher adoption rates and smaller regions showing lower
penetration.
Established in 1991, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan oversees
the country’s financial system and serves as the primary authority
for official banking statistics.
