Central Asia and the South Pacific are two of the world’s least similar regions. As a result, determining the Central Asian country most similar to South Asia requires considering various social, cultural, economic, and political factors.
One way to answer this complex question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The Index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries, using a variety of statistics from five broad categories: demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography.
The Index suggests that Turkey and Kyrgyzstan are the most similar Central Asian countries to the South Pacific region, but for different reasons. On the other end of the spectrum, Turkmenistan has the least amount of traits in common with South Asia.
(South Pacific countries defined as East Timor, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu)
Turkey’s geography has some traits in common with the South Pacific region. However, Kyrgyzstan’s government is more democratic than other countries in Central Asia. This makes it more similar politically to countries in the South Pacific. However, neither country is especially similar overall to the South Pacific region.
Turkey
Turkey has a significant coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea. These coastal regions often have rugged landscapes, with mountains meeting the sea, similar to many parts of the South Pacific. Turkey is situated on the boundary of several tectonic plates, resulting in significant seismic activity and occasional volcanic eruptions. This is similar to many islands in the South Pacific. In addition, the Central Asian region is mostly grasslands, but Turkey has the highest percentage of forested land in the region.
The Most Similar Countries to Turkey
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan adopted a parliamentary form of government in 2010, making it one of the few countries in Central Asia with such a system. This parliamentary system is closer to the democratic governance structures found in some nations in the South Pacific. The South Pacific region is home to several democratic countries, while many Central Asian nations have tended to have more authoritarian forms of government. Kyrgyzstan is one of the most democratic in its region.
The Most Similar Countries to Kyrgyzstan
