Districts of Turkmenistan



The districts of Turkmenistan (etraplar, sing. etrap) are territorial entities below the provinces of Turkmenistan (welaýatlar, sing. welaýat). They may be counties, cities, or boroughs of cities. The heads of the districts (häkim, translated as "governor" for districts of a welaýat and "mayor" for cities or boroughs of a city) are appointed by the President of Turkmenistan (Constitution of Turkmenistan, Articles 80-81).

Regarding cities "with district status" (etrap hukukly), by Turkmen law, "...such cities must have population over 30,000 and be the administrative center of a province (welaýat); headed by a presidentially appointed häkim." Though this officially limits the possible number of such cities to five (the number of provinces), in reality other cities are periodically accorded the status of a district. As of 9 November 2022, 7 cities in Turkmenistan enjoyed the status of districts. One city, the capital city of Ashgabat, enjoys the status of a province.

Two cities in Turkmenistan feature subordinate districts headed by mayors. Such districts are best rendered into English as "boroughs" to distinguish them from municipal districts without their own governments, which are also called etraplar in Turkmen (but are called микрорайоны in Russian). Ashgabat has four boroughs and as of November 2022 Turkmenbashy has one.

Aşgabat City
See also Map of the Boroughs of Ashgabat

As of January 5, 2018, Ashgabat includes four boroughs (uly etraplar):


 * 1) Bagtyýarlyk etraby (formerly President Niyazov, Lenin District, expanded to include former Ruhabat District plus new territory)
 * 2) Berkararlyk etraby (formerly Azatlyk, Sovetskiy District)
 * 3) Büzmeýin etraby (formerly Abadan District, expanded to include former Arçabil and Çandybil Districts)
 * 4) Köpetdag etraby (formerly Proletarskiy District)

This number is a reduction from the previous number of boroughs.

Ahal Province

 * 1) Ak bugdaý (formerly Gäwers)
 * 2) Babadaýhan
 * 3) Bäherden (formerly Baharly)
 * 4) Gökdepe
 * 5) Kaka
 * 6) Sarahs
 * 7) Tejen

Balkan Province

 * County Districts:
 * 1) Bereket (previously Gazanjyk)
 * 2) Esenguly
 * 3) Etrek (previously Gyzyletrek)
 * 4) Gyzylarbat (previously Gyzylarvat, Serdar)
 * 5) Magtymguly (previously Garry Gala)
 * 6) Türkmenbaşy


 * City Boroughs of Türkmenbaşy City:
 * 1) Awaza etraby

Daşoguz Province

 * 1) Akdepe
 * 2) Boldumsaz
 * 3) Görogly (formerly Tagta)
 * 4) Köneurgenç
 * 5) Ruhubelent
 * 6) Shabat (formerly Dashoguz/Dashowuz, Nyýazow)
 * 7) Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy

Lebap Province

 * 1) Çärjew (formerly Türkmenabat/Serdarabat)
 * 2) Dänew (formerly Galkynyş)
 * 3) Darganata (formerly Birata)
 * 4) Halaç
 * 5) Hojambaz
 * 6) Kerki (formerly Atamyrat)
 * 7) Köýtendag (formerly Çarşaňňy)
 * 8) Saýat

Mary Province

 * 1) Baýramaly
 * 2) Garagum
 * 3) Mary
 * 4) Murgap
 * 5) Sakarçäge
 * 6) Tagtabazar
 * 7) Türkmengala
 * 8) Wekilbazar
 * 9) Ýolöten

Cities with "district status"
Under Turkmen law, some cities are granted "district status" (etrap hukukly), meaning they are headed by a presidentially appointed mayor (häkim) and control their own budgets. Cities without this status (cities "in a district", etrapdaky) are headed by a council (geňeş) chaired by an arçyn rather than a mayor. Cities in Turkmenistan with district status are:

Ahal Province

 * 1) Arkadag şäheri

Balkan Province

 * 1) Balkanabat şäheri
 * 2) Türkmenbaşy şäheri

Daşoguz Province

 * 1) Daşoguz şäheri

Lebap Province

 * 1) Türkmenabat şäheri

Mary Province

 * 1) Baýramaly şäheri
 * 2) Mary şäheri

Abolished districts
These districts no longer exist.


 * Altyn Asyr District
 * Archabil District
 * Beýik Türkmenbaşy District
 * Çandybil District
 * Derweze District
 * Döwletli District
 * Farap District
 * Garabekewül District
 * Gubadag District
 * Gurbansoltan Eje District
 * Kenar District (Türkmenbaşy City)
 * Magdanly District
 * Oguzhan District
 * Ruhabat District
 * Sakar District
 * Serhetabat District