2023 Edition

Background

The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. At that time, bands of indigenous guerrillas (known as "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 in 1929 the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd Province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997. Though the country holds general elections for both the presidency (once every seven years) and legislature (once every five years), observers note an electoral system rife with irregularities and abuse, with results that are neither free nor fair. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power in 1992 during the civil war and was first elected president in 1994, used an attack planned by a disaffected deputy defense minister in 2015 to ban the last major opposition political party in Tajikistan. In December 2015, RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself declared "Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation," with limitless terms and lifelong immunity through constitutional amendments ratified in a referendum. The referendum also lowered the minimum age required to run for president from 35 to 30, which made RAHMON's first-born son Rustam EMOMALI, the mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020. In April 2020, RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan's senate), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election in October 2020 and received 91% of the vote.The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers working in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, and the opiate trade and other destabilizing violence emanating from neighboring Afghanistan. Tajikistan has endured several domestic security incidents since 2010, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and residents and informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists with vehicles and knives, killing four.    

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

highest point

Qullai Somoniyon 7,495 m

lowest point

Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m

mean elevation

3,186 m

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 71 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR

Irrigated land

5,690 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

4,130 km

Land use

agricultural land

34.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 27.7% (2018 est.)

forest

2.9% (2018 est.)

other

62.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan

Major rivers (by length in km)

Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

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

Population distribution

the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west

Terrain

mountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Age structure

0-14 years

29.98% (male 1,411,335/female 1,360,882)

15-64 years

65.84% (male 3,025,782/female 3,061,836)

65 years and over

4.18% (2023 est.) (male 159,728/female 226,374)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

26.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.1%

women married by age 18

8.7% (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

7.6% (2017)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

29.3% (2017)

Current health expenditure

8.2% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

72% (2023 est.)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Tajikistan has a youthful age structure with almost 50% of the population under the age of 25.  As a Soviet republic, Tajikistan had the highest fertility rate in the Soviet Union.  The total fertility rate – the average number of births per woman – was highest in the mid-1970s, when it reached 6.3.  In an effort to expand populations to meet economic goals, the Soviets provided resources that made large families affordable.  The fertility rate decreased to 5 by the time of independence in 1991 and continued to decline thereafter.  In 1996, the Tajik Government discontinued subsidies for large families and having several children became too expensive.  The loss of subsidies, the 5-year civil war that followed independence, and other factors caused fertility to continue to fall steadily, but it remains above replacement level at 2.5.  The availability of healthcare providers and family planning services is limited, contributing to couples having more children than they would like.  As of 2017, 21% of women were using contraceptives. Tajikistan’s ethnic make-up changed with the Soviet’s introduction of industrialization.  Large numbers of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants arrived in the mid-1920s. Some were forced to immigrate while others came voluntarily to work in the cotton industry and in Tajikistan’s Soviet Government.  The Russian and Ukrainian immigrants formed urban communities, while Tajiks and Uzbeks continued to live predominantly in rural areas.  In addition, thousands of Tatars and Germans were deported to Tajikistan, accused of Nazi complicity during WWII.  Tajikistan’s ethnic composition was later shaped by the post-independence civil war from 1992-1997 and the economic devastation that followed.  Most non-Tajik ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Russians, Kyrgyz, and Ukrainians, fled to Russia and other former Soviet republics and many never returned, making the country overwhelming Tajik; approximately 80% of the population was Tajik by 2000.  Since the mid-1990s, labor has probably been Tajikistan’s main export.  Remittances accounted for 30% of GDP in 2018 and are Tajikistan’s largest source of external income.  Poverty, a lack of jobs, and higher wages abroad push Tajiks to emigrate.  Russia – particularly Moscow – is the main destination, while a smaller number of religious Muslims, usually of Uzbek ancestry, migrate to Uzbekistan.  The vast majority of labor migrants are unskilled or low-skilled young men who work primarily in construction but also agriculture, transportation, and retail.  Many Tajik families are dependent on the money they send home for necessities, such as food and clothing, as well as for education and weddings rather than investment.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.5

potential support ratio

18.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

65.9

youth dependency ratio

60.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 79.9% of population

improved: total

total: 84.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 20.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 15.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.5% of population

Education expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.75 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

26 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

Languages

Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Китоби Фактҳои Ҷаҳонӣ, манбаи бебадали маълумоти асосӣ (Tajik)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: Russian widely used in government and business

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.1 years

male

69.2 years

total population

71.1 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2015)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2023)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Major urban areas - population

987,000 DUSHANBE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

23.2 years

male

22.3 years

total

22.7 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.2 years (2017 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Tajikistani

noun

Tajikistani(s)

Net migration rate

-2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.2% (2016)

Physicians density

1.72 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

9,245,937 (2023 est.)

Population distribution

the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west

Population growth rate

1.94% (2023 est.)

Religions

Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 99.6% of population

improved: total

total: 99.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2013)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.6 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

28.2% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

14.4%

male

19.4%

total

17.4% (2021 est.)

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 (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)

note

note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Capital

etymology

today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar occurred on Mondays, hence the name Dushanbe, which in Persian means Monday, i.e., the second day (du) after Saturday (shambe)

geographic coordinates

38 33 N, 68 46 E

name

Dushanbe

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan’s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended; amended 1999, 2003, 2016

history

several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Tajikistan

conventional short form

Tajikistan

etymology

the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Tajikistan literally means "Land of the Tajik [people]"

former

Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Jumhurii Tojikiston

local short form

Tojikiston

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Manuel P. MICALLER JR (since 9 March 2023)

email address and website

DushanbeConsular@state.govhttps://tj.usembassy.gov/

embassy

109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019

FAX

[992] (37) 229-20-50

mailing address

7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC  20521-7090

telephone

[992] (37) 229-20-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Farrukh HAMRALIZODA (since 17 February 2021)

email address and website

tajemus@mfa.tj; tajikistan@verizon.nethttps://mfa.tj/en/washington

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

2020: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA (APT) 3.1%, and other 4.8%2013: Emomali RAHMOND reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMOND (PDPT) 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV CPT) 5%, other 11%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (two-term limit); however, as the "Leader of the Nation" President RAHMON can run an unlimited number of times; election last held on 11 October 2020 (next to be held in 2027); 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

presidential 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, UNISFA, 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, family, criminal, administrative offense, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, deputy chairman, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists of 16 judicial positions)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no term limits, but the 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: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 each living former president; members serve 5-year terms)Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by 2-round absolute majority vote and 22 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition as of mid-2202 (31 members) - men 23, women 8, percent of women 25.8%Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 50.4%, PERT 16.6%, APT 16.5%, SPT 5.2%, DPT 5.1%, CPT 3.1%, other 3.1%; seats by party - PDPT 47, APT 7, PERT 5, CPT 2, SPT 1, DPT 1; composition as of mid 2022 - men 46, women 17, percent of women 27%; note - total Supreme Assembly percent of women 26.6%

elections

National Assembly - last held on 1 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV

name

"Surudi milli" (National Anthem)

note

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c); Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

crown surmounted by an arc of seven, five-pointed stars; snow leopard; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Rustam LATIFZODA]Communist Party of Tajikistan or CPT [Miroj ABDULLOEV]Democratic Party of Tajikistan or DPT [Saidjafar USMONZODA]Party of Economic Reform of Tajikistan or PERT [Rustam RAHMATZODA]People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan or SDPT (vacant)Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFORZODA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, cotton, carrots/turnips, beef

Budget

expenditures

$2.393 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$2.222 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Moody's rating

B3 (2017)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B- (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$185.295 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$335.906 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$734.735 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$5.849 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$6.47 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

lower middle-income Central Asian economy; key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter; declining poverty; sustained high growth; very limited private sector; substantial illicit drug trade; significant remittances; environmentally fragile

Exchange rates

Currency

Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

8.55 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

9.151 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

9.53 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

10.322 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

11.309 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$1.243 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$1.409 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$2.161 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, aluminum, cotton, zinc, antimony, lead (2019)

Exports - partners

Turkey 24%, Switzerland 22%, Uzbekistan 16%, Kazakhstan 12%, China 10% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

10.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption

13.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

98.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-36.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

11.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

2.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

28.6% (2017 est.)

industry

25.5% (2017 est.)

services

45.9% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.522 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

34 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

(2009 est.) NA

lowest 10%

(2009 est.) NA

Imports

Imports 2019

$3.409 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$3.125 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$4.258 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, wheat, natural gas, bauxite, aircraft (2019)

Imports - partners

China 40%, Russia 38%, Kazakhstan 19%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

22.04% (2021 est.)

Industries

aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

7.3% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

3.9% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

7.7% (2019 est.)

Labor force

2.5 million (2021 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

43%

industry

10.6%

services

46.4% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.3% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

42% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

50.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$33.382 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$34.851 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$38.058 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

7.4% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

4.4% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

9.2% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$3,600 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$3,700 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$3,900 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$1.466 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$2.238 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$2.499 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: official rate; actual unemployment is much higher

Unemployment rate 2019

7.06% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

7.58% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

7.75% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

14.4%

male

19.4%

total

17.4% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

4.362 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

309,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.971 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

7.643 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

2.16 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

57,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

2.103 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

375 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

15.071 billion kWh (2019 est.)

exports

3.175 billion kWh (2019 est.)

imports

281 million kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

7.114 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.429 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

99.8% (2021)

electrification - total population

99.5% (2021)

electrification - urban areas

98.9% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

8.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

91.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

27.651 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

157.611 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

139.375 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

18.208 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

900 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

12 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

26,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

300 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

22,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

172 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.1 (2020 est.)

total

6,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run TV broadcasters transmit nationally on 9 TV and 10 radio stations, and regionally on 4 stations; 31 independent TV and 20 radio stations broadcast locally and regionally; many households are able to receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite (2016)

Internet country code

.tj

Internet users

percent of population

30.4% (2022 est.)

total

3,009,054 (2022 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line over 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 120 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

the nation of Tajikistan has had to struggle through economic hardship following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic; the strain on financial resources inevitably means a continuation of the absence of any meaningful investment or development programs for telecommunications infrastructure; the fixed line telephony and fixed broadband markets continue to languish far behind the mobile sector in terms of teledensity and penetration; with only around 6,000 fixed broadband customers (0.07% penetration), there would appear to be growth potential, but the limited fixed line infrastructure in the country suggests there’s little likelihood of that occurring any time soon; the size of Tajikistan’s mobile market dwarfs the fixed line segment, with an estimated penetration rate of nearly 120%; with a number of private sector companies active in the mobile market, there been more commitment to investment in network upgrades and expansion; three MNOs have all launched commercial 5G services, initially in areas of the capital city Dushanbe; the move towards higher speed mobile services should further underpin the growth in the nascent mobile broadband market, which is still estimated to be at a relatively low penetration level of 42% (at least relative to most other Asian nations) but is predicted to be a strong compound annual growth rate of more than 8% for at least the next five years (2021)

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); 3 satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

500,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

12 million (2021 est.)

Airports

24 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

17

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

7

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EY

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2.34 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

492,320 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Pipelines

549 km gas, 38 km oil (2013)

Railways

broad gauge

680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

total

680 km (2014)

Roadways

total

30,000 km (2018)

Waterways

200 km (2011) (along Vakhsh River)

Military - note

Tajikistan is the only former Soviet republic that did not form its armed forces from old Soviet Army units following the collapse of the USSR in 1991; rather, Russia retained command of the Soviet units there while the Tajik government raised a military from scratch; the first ground forces were officially created in 1993 from groups that fought for the government during the Tajik Civil Warthe military is a small and limited force equipped largely with Soviet-era weapons; its primary concerns are terrorism, border security, territorial defense, and instability in neighboring countries; following the 2021 Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Tajikistan deployed thousands of troops to the Afghan border and conducted exercises focused on border-related scenarios; since 2012, Tajikistan has had more than 100 border-related clashes with Kyrgyzstan, triggered mostly by disputes over water, roads, or land along a poorly-defined frontier; the most recent in September 2022 saw the use of armored vehicles and artillery and resulted in about 100 killed; the Tajik Land and Mobile Forces have together an estimated 5 combat brigades of mechanized infantry, light/mountain infantry, air assault and special forces, and artillery; the Air and Air Defense force has a small number attack and multipurpose helicoptersRussia is Tajikistan’s primary security partner; approximately 5-7,000 Russian soldiers are stationed in the country, primarily at the 201st military base, which is leased until at least 2042; the Russian forces include combat troops and combat aircraft; Russia and Tajikistan have a joint air defense system and they conduct periodic joint exercises; Tajikistan has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force (2023)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Land Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces; National GuardMinistry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops (reserves for Armed Forces in wartime), policeState Committee on National Security: Border Guard Forces (2023)

note

note: the National Guard, formerly the Presidential Guard, is tasked with ensuring public safety and security, similar to the tasks of the Internal Troops; it also takes part in ceremonial duties

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 10,000 active-duty troops (8,000 Land and Mobile Forces; 2,000 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is comprised of older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; it has received limited quantities of weapons systems in recent years, most of which was secondhand material from Russia (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

2.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory (men only) or voluntary (men and women) military service; 24-month conscript service obligation; in August 2021, the Tajik Government began allowing men to pay a fee in order to avoid conscription (2023)

Disputes - international

Tajikistan-Afghanistan: none identified Tajikistan-China: in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; in 2011, Tajikistan and China ratified the 2002 border demarcation agreement whereby Tajikistan ceded approximately 1,100 square kilometers in the Pamirs to China Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan: disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan; in May 2021, both countries agreed to a ceasefire following recent clashes at their border Tajikistan-Uzbekistan: talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and clear minefields; as of January 2020, Uzbekistan reported that it had cleared all mines along its side of the border

Illicit drugs

Tajikistan is a primary transit country along the “Northern Route” for Afghanistan-sourced opiates and cannabis for the Russian and Eastern European markets and beyond; minimal domestic recreational drug use though it is increasing

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

6,775 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021)

stateless persons

4,898 (2022)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note 1: US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.31 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

4.87 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

53.65 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

areas of high air pollution from motor vehicles and industry; water pollution from agricultural runoff and disposal of untreated industrial waste and sewage; poor management of water resources; soil erosion; increasing levels of soil salinity

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

34.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 27.7% (2018 est.)

forest

2.9% (2018 est.)

other

62.4% (2018 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.54% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

1.12% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

21.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

7.38 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.61 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

910 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

28.2% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,787,400 tons (2013 est.)