2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)

note

the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,396,349/female 1,375,168) 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,091,476/female 2,108,889) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 154,162/female 194,771) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Airports

40 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3

total

17

under 914 m

3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

22 (2006)

Area

land

142,700 sq km

total

143,100 sq km

water

400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Background

The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-1997 civil war. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace. Geography Tajikistan

Birth rate

32.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$622 million; including capital expenditures of $86 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$527.5 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

38 35 N, 68 48 E

name

Dushanbe

time difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

6 November 1994

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Tajikistan

conventional short form

Tajikistan

former

Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Jumhurii Tojikiston

local short form

Tojikiston

Currency (code)

somoni

Currency code

TJS

Current account balance

$-73.95 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$829 million (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON

embassy

109-A Ismoili Somoni Ave., Dushanbe 734003

mailing address

7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189

telephone

[992] (37) 229-20-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

telephone

[1] (202) 223-6090

Disputes - international

in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.7 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$67 million from US (2005)

Economy - overview

Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 6% of the land area is arable; cotton is the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of the population continue to live in abject poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, and to 7% in 2006. Tajikistan's economic situation, however, remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the external debt burden. Continued privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises could increase productivity. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt to Russia. Tajikistan ranks third in the world in terms of water resources per head. A proposed investment to finish the hydropower dams Rogun and Sangtuda I and II would substantially add to electricity production, which could be exported for profit. If finished, Rogun will be the world's tallest dam. In 2006, Tajikistan was the recipient of substantial Shanghai Cooperation Organization infrastructure development credits to improve its roads and electricity transmission network.

Electricity - consumption

15.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

4.459 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

4.81 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

16.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.9%

hydro

98.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m

lowest point

Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6% (2000 census)

Exchange rates

Tajikistani somoni per US dollar - 3.2475 (2006), 3.1166 (2005), 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003), 2.7641 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly

chief of state

President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)

election results

Emomali RAHMONOV reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 76.4%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 7.2%, other 16.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006 (next to be held November 2013); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January 1999)

Exports

$1.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles

Exports - partners

Netherlands 46.6%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 9.1%, Uzbekistan 7.3%, Latvia 4.9%, Iran 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 223-6091

[992] (37) 229-20-50

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Tajikistan

Flag description

three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe Economy Tajikistan

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22.7%

industry

28.5%

services

48.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.066 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$9.405 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 71 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR People Tajikistan

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.2% (1998)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Illicit drugs

major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$1.513 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Russia 19.3%, Kazakhstan 12.7%, Uzbekistan 11.5%, Azerbaijan 8.6%, China 7%, Ukraine 6.2%, Romania 4.6%, Turkmenistan 4% (2005)

Independence

9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

8.2% (2002 est.)

Industries

aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Infant mortality rate

female

94.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

117.83 deaths/1,000 live births

total

106.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.tj

Internet hosts

98 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2002)

Internet users

5,000 (2005) Transportation Tajikistan

Investment (gross fixed)

19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

7,220 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

3.7 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

67.2%

industry

7.5%

services

25.3% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

total

3,651 km

Land use

arable land

6.52%

other

92.59% (2005)

permanent crops

0.89%

Languages

Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Legal system

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the former president; all serve five-year terms)

election results

Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3

elections

last held 27 February and 13 March 2005 for the Assembly of Representatives (next to be held February 2010) and 25 March 2005 for the National Assembly (next to be held February 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68 years (2006 est.)

male

62.03 years

total population

64.94 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.1% (2003 est.) Government Tajikistan

male

99.6%

total population

99.4%

Location

Central Asia, west of China

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,568,780 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,556,415

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,297,891 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,244,941

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

85,869 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

87,846

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

20.4 years (2006 est.)

male

19.7 years

total

20 years

Military branches

Ground Troops, Air and Air Defense Troops, Mobile Troops (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$35.4 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.9% (FY01) Transnational Issues Tajikistan

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)

Nationality

adjective

Tajikistani

noun

Tajikistani(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.389 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

39 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

earthquakes and floods

Natural resources

hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold

Net migration rate

-2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

28,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

252.8 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005)]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOYEV]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

unregistered political parties

Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV]; Party of Justice [Abdurahim KARIMOV]; People's Unity Party [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Socialist Party [Mirhuseyn NAZRIYEV]; note - this is the SPT that was disbanded, another pro-government SPT (listed above under political parties) replaced it; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]

Population

7,320,815 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

64% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.19% (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)

Radios

1.291 million (1991)

Railways

broad gauge

482 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)

total

482 km

Religions

Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$209.2 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

total

27,767 km (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the domestic telecommunications network has historically been under-funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephony is rare and coverage remains limited.

general assessment

poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not linked to the national network

international

country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat

Telephones - main lines in use

245,200 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

265,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2006)

Televisions

820,000 (1997)

Terrain

Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Total fertility rate

4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% (2004 est.)

Waterways

200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2006) Military Tajikistan