2015 Edition

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. Bands of indigenous guerrillas (called "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic in 1929 and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992 to 1997. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistanis working in Russia, pervasive corruption, and the major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.

Area

land

141,510 sq km

total

144,100 sq km

water

2,590 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Climate

mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,740 cu m/yr (2006)

total

11.49 cu km/yr (6%/4%/91%)

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

Irrigated land

7,421 sq km (2009)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Afghanistan 1,357 km, China 477 km, Kyrgyzstan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1,312 km

total

4,130 km

Land use

arable land 6.1%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 27.7%

agricultural land

34.7%

forest

2.9%

other

62.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

earthquakes; floods

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

21.91 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

32.75% (male 1,365,565/female 1,317,285)

15-24 years

19.7% (male 818,661/female 795,125)

25-54 years

39.26% (male 1,590,051/female 1,626,091)

55-64 years

5.1% (male 191,688/female 226,134)

65 years and over

3.19% (male 109,084/female 152,274) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

24.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

10% (2005 est.)

total number

164,432

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

27.9% (2012)

Death rate

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.8%

potential support ratio

20.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

60.9%

youth dependency ratio

56%

Drinking water source

urban: 93.1% of population

rural: 66.7% of population

total: 73.8% of population

urban: 6.9% of population

rural: 33.3% of population

total: 26.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Tajik 84.3%, Uzbek 13.8% (includes Lakai, Kongrat, Katagan, Barlos, Yuz), other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2010 est.)

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.35% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

700 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

29.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

38.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

33.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

note

different ethnic groups speak Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Pashto

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.66 years (2015 est.)

male

64.28 years

total population

67.39 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2015 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

DUSHANBE (capital) 822,000 (2015)

Median age

female

24.4 years (2015 est.)

male

23.4 years

total

23.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Tajikistani

noun

Tajikistani(s)

Net migration rate

-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12% (2014)

Physicians density

1.92 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

8,191,958 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.71% (2015 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 93.8% of population

rural: 95.5% of population

total: 95% of population

urban: 6.2% of population

rural: 4.5% of population

total: 5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2012)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.71 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.7% (2009 est.)

male

19.2%

total

16.7%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.62% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

26.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor), 1 capital region** (viloyati poytakht), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)

note

the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Capital

geographic coordinates

38 33 N, 68 46 E

name

Dushanbe

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994; amended 1999, 2003 (2009)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Susan M. ELLIOTT (since 25 July 2012)

embassy

109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019

FAX

[992] (37) 229-20-50

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 Farhod SALIM (since 21 May 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 223-6091

telephone

[1] (202) 223-6090

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

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

election results

Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 83.9%, Ismoil TALBAKOV (CPT) 5%, other 11.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for 2 terms); election last held on 6 November 2013 (next to be held in November 2020); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)

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; red represents the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity, cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the seven stars signify the Tajik magic number "seven" - a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness

Government type

republic

Independence

9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, vice-president, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists 16 judicial positions)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president of the republic and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no limit on terms, but last appointment must occur before the age of 65

subordinate courts

regional and district courts; Dushanbe City Court; viloyat (province level) courts; Court of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National Assembly or Majlisi Milli (34 seats; 25 members indirectly elected by local representative assemblies or majlisi, 8 appointed by the president, and 1 reserved for the former president; members serve 5-year terms) and the Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by two-round absolute majority vote and 22 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 65.4%, APT 11.7%, PERT 7.5%, SPT 5.5%, CPT 2.2%, Democratic Party 1.7%, other 6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, APT 5, PERT 3, SPT 1, CPT 2, Democratic Party 1

elections

National Assembly - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held 2020); Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held 2020)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gulnazar KELDI/Suleiman YUDAKOV

name

"Surudi milli" (National Anthem)

note

adopted 1991; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet republic but adopted new lyrics

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

crown surmounted by seven, five-pointed stars; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]

Communist Party of Tajikistan or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]

Democratic Party of Tajikistan [Saidjafar ISMONOV]

Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan or IRPT [Muhiddin KABIRI]

Party of Economic Reform of Tajikistan or PERT [Olimjon BOBOEV]

People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]

Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]

Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFOROV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

influential religious leader Akbar TURAJONZODA

New Tajikistan party [Zayd SAIDOV] (unregistered)

Guruhi-24 (Group-24) [Umarali QUVVATOV] (unregistered opposition group)

presidential candidate of Union of Reformist Forces of Tajikistan Oynihol BOBONAZAROVA (unregistered)

Vatandor (Patriot) Movement [Dodojon ATOVULLOEV]

Youth Party of Tajikistan [Izzat AMON] (unregistered)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$2.868 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$2.828 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.8% (31 December 2013)

6.5% (31 December 2012)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

22% (31 December 2014 est.)

6.6% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$839 million (2014 est.)

-$330 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$3.821 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.714 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.6 (2006)

34.7 (1998)

Economy - overview

Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to the uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and its large external debt burden. Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in Tajikistan, more than one million Tajik citizens work abroad - roughly 90% in Russia - supporting families back home through remittances that amount to nearly 50% of GDP. Less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the most important crop. Tajikistan imports approximately 60% of its food, mostly by rail. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists mainly of small obsolete factories in food processing and light industry, substantial hydropower facilities, and a large aluminum plant - currently operating well below its capacity. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30-50% of GDP. Tajikistan has sought to develop its substantial hydroelectricity potential through partnership with Russian and Iranian investors. The government is pinning its drive for energy independence on completion of the Roghun dam, which will take at least 8 to 11 years to construct, according to a World Bank feasibility study that was published in July 2014. If built according to plan, Roghun would be the tallest dam in the world and would significantly expand Tajikistan’s electricity output. However, Uzbekistan opposes the project, which has damaged relations between the two countries. Uzbekistan closed one of the rail lines into Tajikistan in late 2011, hampering the transit of goods to and from the southern part of the country. As a result, food and fuel prices in Tajikistan have increased to the highest levels since 2002.

Exchange rates

Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -

4.916 (2014 est.)

4.7644 (2013 est.)

4.76 (2012 est.)

4.6103 (2011 est.)

4.379 (2010 est.)

Exports

$654.8 million (2014 est.)

$794.1 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Turkey 23.2%, Iran 13%, Afghanistan 10.7%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Italy 8.5%, Bangladesh 7.4%, China 6.9%, Russia 5.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

15.1%

government consumption

12%

household consumption

107.3%

imports of goods and services

-56.6%

investment in fixed capital

12.8%

investment in inventories

9.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

27.2%

industry

21.6%

services

51.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,700 (2014 est.)

$2,500 (2013 est.)

$2,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (2014 est.)

7.4% (2013 est.)

7.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.242 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.32 billion (2014 est.)

$20.92 billion (2013 est.)

$19.48 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

5.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

12.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

15.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$4.348 billion (2014 est.)

$4.6 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 46.6%, Russia 16.8%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Turkey 5.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2014 est.)

Industries

aluminum, cement, vegetable oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2014 est.)

5.4% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.209 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

46.5%

industry

10.7%

services

42.8% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

35.6% (2013 est.)

Public debt

6.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$651.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$660.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.085 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.778 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

$16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.362 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.329 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2013 est.)

2.5% (2012 est.)

note

official rates; actual unemployment is much higher

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.618 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

206 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

12 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

16.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

1 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

91% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

300.5 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.476 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

17.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

188 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

15,290 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

500 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

20,090 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run TV broadcaster transmits nationally on 4 stations and regionally on 4 stations; 11 independent TV stations broadcast locally and regionally; some households are able to receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite; state-run radio broadcaster operates Radio Tajikistan, Voice of Dushanbe, and several regional stations; a small number of independent radio stations (2010)

Internet country code

.tj

Internet users

percent of population

16.1% (2014 est.)

total

1.3 million

Radio broadcast stations

16 (number of licensed stations with only about 10 broadcasting) (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed line availability has not changed significantly since 1998, while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by competition among multiple operators, has expanded rapidly; coverage now extends to all major cities and towns

general assessment

foreign investment in the telephone system has resulted in major improvements; conversion of the existing fixed network from analogue to digital was completed in 2012

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 - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

440,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

99 (2014 est.)

total

8 million

Television broadcast stations

24 (number of licensed stations with only about 15 active) (2009)

Airports

24 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

2

total

17

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

7

Pipelines

gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2013)

Railways

broad gauge

680 km 1.520-m gauge (2014)

total

680 km

Roadways

total

27,767 km (2000)

Waterways

200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,020,618 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,012,790

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,675,083 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,490,267

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

74,038 (2010 est.)

male

76,430

Military branches

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Forces (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation; males required to undergo compulsory military training between ages 16 and 55; males can enroll in military schools from at least age 15 (2012)

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

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); significant consumer of opiates

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

1,364 (2014)