On 4 February in Ashgabat, the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics, in cooperation with UNICEF, presented the results of the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7). The report has become the most comprehensive source of data on the lives of children and women in the country, covering key social indicators.

Turkmenistan has been participating in the global MICS programme since 1995. Work on the current, seventh round has been ongoing since 2022 and included the training of specialists, a nationwide data collection conducted in 2024, and thorough analysis of the results. The project was implemented with the support of the European Union and UNFPA.

Why is this important for citizens? The survey results are more than just numbers. They provide a clear picture in the following areas:

• Health and nutrition: assessing access to healthcare and the quality of diets;

• Education: data on actual school attendance and educational outcomes for children;

• Protection of rights: identifying areas that require special attention from the state.

These data help the government make informed decisions — where to direct investments, which social programmes to strengthen, and how to more effectively protect the interests of every family.

The success of MICS7 has confirmed the high level of expertise of national specialists. The experience gained will serve as a foundation for future monitoring rounds — MICS8 and MICS Plus. This ensures that efforts to improve the well-being of children in Turkmenistan will continue to be based on solid evidence and international standards.

The full report and analytical materials are available on the official UNICEF portal.

ORIENT