Turkmen DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Turkmenistan · Central Asia
The Turkmen live in Turkmenistan, on the edge of the Karakum desert, and in neighbouring parts of Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and are known for the oasis of Merv and for Akhal-Teke horses. Turkmen is an Oghuz Turkic language, close to Azerbaijani and Turkish, and Oghuz tribes of this region gave rise to the Seljuks, who carried Turkic rule to Iran and Anatolia in the 11th century. In our model, the Turkmen average is 26.1% steppe, 19.4% Iranian Neolithic, 18.8% Ancient Northeast Asian and 17.8% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, with smaller East Asian, Levantine, Arctic Siberian, South Asian and Caucasus shares. Their East Asian-related ancestry is lower than among the Uzbeks or Kazakhs, and the West Asian farmer layers larger. Fittingly, the closest ancient group is Early Modern people with a Turkic profile from Capalibag in Anatolia (0.0433), alongside medieval Kipchaks from Kazakhstan. After another Turkmen sample, the closest modern averages are Tajiks (0.031) and Turkmen from Iran.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 26.1%, Iranian Neolithic farmers 19.4%, Ancient Northeast Asians 18.8%
- Closest other population in our data: Tajik, distance 0.0310
- Closest ancient group in our data: Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Capalibag (Turkic Profile), distance 0.0433
Where does Turkmen DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Turkmen individuals sampled in Turkmenistan and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Turkmen average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Turkmen average, 26.1%, goes to Steppe herders (Yamnaya), ahead of Iranian Neolithic farmers (19.4%) and Ancient Northeast Asians (18.8%). The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) component reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC. The Iranian Neolithic farmers share (19.4%) reflects the early farmers and herders of the Zagros mountains in Iran. No single source dominates, so the profile is best read as a balanced blend of several ancient ancestries.
Smaller traces of East Asian, Levantine Neolithic farmers, Arctic Siberian (Nganasan-related) and South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) (under 5% each) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The model fits well (fit distance 0.021), so these proportions are a reasonable summary. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Turkmen
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Turkmen average is Turkmen (Uzbekistan), at a distance of 0.013 (very close). Next come Tajik at 0.031 and Tajik (Samarkand) at 0.036. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Tajik (0.031), Tajik (Samarkand) (0.036) and Tajik (Tashkent) (0.038). By the tenth closest (Uzbek) the distance grows to 0.060, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkmen (Uzbekistan) | 0.0129 | Very close |
| 2 | Tajik | 0.0310 | Close |
| 3 | Tajik (Samarkand) | 0.0356 | Close |
| 4 | Tajik (Tashkent) | 0.0376 | Close |
| 5 | Turkmen (Iran) | 0.0380 | Close |
| 6 | Uzbek (Tashkent) | 0.0466 | Close |
| 7 | Uzbek (Khorezm) | 0.0548 | Moderate |
| 8 | Uzbek (Afghanistan) | 0.0575 | Moderate |
| 9 | Tajik (Samangan) | 0.0587 | Moderate |
| 10 | Uzbek | 0.0602 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Turkmen
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Turkmen average is Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Capalibag (Turkic Profile) (Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD), at 0.043. Kazakhstan High Medieval Kipchak Nurataldy and Ukraine Early Medieval Saltovo-Mayaki Bochkove (Bulgar, East Asian-Mixed Profile) come next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Capalibag (Turkic Profile) | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0433 |
| 2 | Kazakhstan High Medieval Kipchak Nurataldy | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0445 |
| 3 | Ukraine Early Medieval Saltovo-Mayaki Bochkove (Bulgar, East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0497 |
| 4 | Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period Early/Middle (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0562 |
| 5 | Kyrgyzstan Early-Late Modern Nomad Tian Shan | Modern era, c. 1500-1950 AD | 0.0569 |
| 6 | Russia Samara Early Medieval Novinki Novinki (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0604 |
| 7 | Mongolia Early Medieval Uygur Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0615 |
| 8 | Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0619 |
| 9 | Kazakhstan Early Medieval Turk | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0623 |
| 10 | Hungary Early Medieval Conqueror Period (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0671 |
Ancient DNA from Turkmenistan
Our ancient DNA database holds 93 individuals excavated in present-day Turkmenistan, dated from about 4,600 BC to 852 BC. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are J1a (7), R2a (7) and J2a (6), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are J1 (9), T2 (7) and U7 (7). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Turkmen population.
Ancient sample data compiled by Nomad on the GenArchivist forum.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups in ancient samples from Turkmenistan
Most frequent mtDNA haplogroups in ancient samples from Turkmenistan
Ancient DNA studies on Turkmenistan
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 93 from Turkmenistan.
Compare yourself with Turkmen
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Turkmen average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Turkmen and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Turkmen individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Turkmen. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Thanks: to Nomad (GenArchivist) for the population and ancient sample collection this atlas is built on, and to Davidski (Eurogenes) for Global25.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Turkmen average. Your own DNA has its own story: Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of Central Asian / Silk Road Turkic ancestry: ancient regional core (Botai, Andronovo, BMAC Bactria-Margiana, Saka/Scythian, Wusun, Kushan Empire, Xiongnu, Turkic Khaganate, Golden Horde) versus non-regional...
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Turkmen?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Turkmen average is about 26.1% Steppe herders (Yamnaya), 19.4% Iranian Neolithic farmers and 18.8% Ancient Northeast Asians. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Turkmen?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Turkmen (Uzbekistan)), the closest modern populations to the Turkmen average are Tajik, Tajik (Samarkand) and Tajik (Tashkent). The closest ancient matches are Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Capalibag (Turkic Profile), Kazakhstan High Medieval Kipchak Nurataldy and Ukraine Early Medieval Saltovo-Mayaki Bochkove (Bulgar, East Asian-Mixed Profile).
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Turkmen?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Turkmen average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Turkmen ancestry?
For the Turkmen average, the regional report to choose is Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.