Turkmenistan's incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has won re-election with a landslide victory, election authorities said on Monday.

More than three million people voted for Berdymukhamedov, accounting for nearly 97.7 percent of the votes, according to the country's Central Election Commission (CEC).

The poll had a turnout of over 97 percent, said the CEC.

Eight other contenders, nominated by political parties or groups of citizens, competed with 59-year-old Berdymukhamedov. They had all expressed support for Berdymukhamedov's government.

Turkmenistan amended its constitution in 2016, extending the presidential term from five to seven years and removing the 70-year age limit for presidential candidates.

"If I am elected, then our policies aimed at improving the welfare of the people will continue," Berdymukhamedov said as he went to the polls on Sunday. 

Berdymukhamedov took power in 2006 following the death of former President Saparmurat Niyazov, who had led the central Asian country for two decades. Berdymukhamedov was re-elected in 2012, garnering over 97 percent of the votes.