Country Guide

Tajikistan Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan


Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 71 00 E


Map references:
Asia


Area:
total:143,100 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 96
land:141,510 sq km
water:2,590 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin


Land boundaries:
total:3,651 km
border countries:Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point:Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m


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


    Land use:
arable land:5.96%
permanent crops:0.91%
other:93.13% (2011)


Irrigated land:
7,421 sq km (2009)


Total renewable water resources:
21.91 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
21.91 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes; floods


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


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 and Society

Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective:Tajikistani


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


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


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


Population:
8,051,512 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 97


Age structure:
0-14 years:33% (male 1,352,150/female 1,304,615)
15-24 years:20.1% (male 819,936/female 796,211)
25-54 years:38.9% (male 1,547,863/female 1,586,218)
55-64 years:4.8% (male 178,161/female 210,616)
65 years and over:3.2% (male 107,137/female 148,605) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:64.33 %
youth dependency ratio:59.1 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.2 %
potential support ratio:19.2 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:23.5 years
male:23 years
female:24 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.75% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 69


Birth rate:
24.99 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 56


Death rate:
6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 157


Net migration rate:
-1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 152


Urbanization:
urban population:26.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
DUSHANBE (capital) 739,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
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:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.73 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
22.8


Maternal mortality rate:
65 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:35.03 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 64
male:39.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female:30.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:67.06 yearscountry comparison to the world: 166
male:63.96 years
female:70.32 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.76 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 71


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
27.9% (2012)


Health expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 93% of population
rural: 64% of population
total: 71.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7% of population
rural: 36% of population
total: 28.3% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 93.6% of population
rural: 94.6% of population
total: 94.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.4% of population
rural: 5.4% of population
total: 5.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 94


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,900 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 98


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 87


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
8.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 136


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
15% (2007)country comparison to the world: 49


Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 114

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.7%
male:99.8%
female:99.6% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:11 years
male:12 years
female:10 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:16.7%country comparison to the world: 77
male:19.2%
female:13.7% (2009)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form:Tajikistan
local long form:Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form:Tojikiston
former:Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Dushanbe
geographic coordinates:38 33 N, 68 46 E
time difference:UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


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)


Independence:
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)


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


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


Legal system:
civil law system


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government:Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013); First Deputy Prime Minister Davlatali SAIDOV (since 19 November 2013)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for two terms); election last held on 6 November 2013 (next to be held in November 2020); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON 83.9%, Ismoil TALBAKOV 5%, other 11.1%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milli (34 seats; 25 members selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the former president; members serve five-year terms) and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members elected through constituencies, 22 members elected through party selection; members serve five-year terms)
elections:National Assembly - last held on 28 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2015); Assembly of Representatives - last held on 28 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2015)
election results:National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 71%, IRPT 8.2%, CPT 7%, APT 5.1%, PERT 5.1%, other 3.6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, IRPT 2, CPT 2, APT 2, PERT 2


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 three 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


    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


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


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Farhod SALIM (since 21 May 2014)
chancery:1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:[1] (202) 223-6090
FAX:[1] (202) 223-6091


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Susan M. ELLIOTT (since 25 July 2012)
embassy:109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address:7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone:[992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX:[992] (37) 229-20-50


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


National symbol(s):
crown surmounted by seven, five-pointed stars


National anthem:
name:'Surudi milli' (National Anthem)

lyrics/music:Gulnazar KELDI/Suleiman YUDAKOV
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

Economy

Economy - overview:
Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. The 1992-1997 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 in Tajikistan through remittances. Less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the most important crop. Until 2008, cotton production was closely monitored and controlled by the government. In the wake of the National Bank of Tajikistan's admission in December 2007 that it had directed the AgroInvestBank to improperly lend money to politically connected investors in the cotton sector, the IMF canceled its stand-by assistance program in Tajikistan. As part of the Tajik government’s subsequent reforms, over a half billion dollars in farmer debt has been forgiven. In 2008 Tajikistan passed new law authorizing farmers to decide for themselves what crops to grow, and this has resulted in a gradual decrease in cotton output. Tajikistan imports approximately 60% of its food, most of which comes by rail. 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 increased to the highest levels since 2002. 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 below 25% of capacity. Electricity output expanded with the completion of the Sangtuda-1 hydropower dam - finished in 2009 with Russian investment. The smaller Sangtuda-2 hydropower dam, built with Iranian investment, began operating in 2012 at a limited capacity. The Tajik government is tens of millions of dollars in arrears for both Sangtuda dams, and Sangtuda-2 has been closed for “maintenance” since January 2014. The government is pinning its drive for energy independence on completion of the Roghun dam, which is scheduled for mid-2014. In 2010, the government began a coerced sale of shares in the Roghun enterprise to its population, ultimately raising over $180 million before stopping under intense criticism from international donors, but the dam is likely to cost billions of dollars. The World Bank funded two feasibility studies (technical-economic, and social-environmental) for the dam. If built according to plan, Roghun will be the tallest dam in the world, will operate year around, and will significantly expand Tajikistan’s electricity output. In 2013, the Tajik government finalized an agreement to import one million tons of fuel and oil products from Russia each year, at reduced prices. Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and its large external debt burden.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$17.88 billion (2012 est.)
$16.63 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.513 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
7.5% (2012 est.)
7.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$2,200 (2012 est.)
$2,100 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
12.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
17.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
10% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:97%
government consumption:12%
investment in fixed capital:14%
investment in inventories:6.7%
exports of goods and services:13.7%
imports of goods and services:-48.5%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:21.1%
industry:23.2%
services:55.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats


Industries:
aluminum, cement, vegetable oil


Industrial production growth rate:
3.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force:
2.209 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:46.5%
industry:10.7%
services:42.8% (2013 est.)


    Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
2.5% (2012 est.)
note:official rates; actual unemployment is much higher


Population below poverty line:
35.6% (2013 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA% (2009 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 103
34.7 (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$2.425 billion
expenditures:$2.423 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
28.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Public debt:
6.5% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 155
NA%


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
5.8% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.8% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
6.5% (31 December 2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
17.13% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$1.044 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$1.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$2.033 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$1.555 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.611 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$330 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
-$246.2 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$1.163 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$826.6 million (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles


Exports - partners:
Turkey 40.7%, Russia 10.6%, Iran 9.9%, Afghanistan 8.7%, China 7.4%, Kazakhstan 7.4%, Switzerland 6.6% (2012 est.)


Imports:
$4.121 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$3.778 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs


Imports - partners:
Russia 22%, Kazakhstan 15.2%, China 14.5%, Lithuania 4.7%, Kyrgyzstan 4.4%, Turkey 4.4%, Iran 4.3% (2012 est.)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.072 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$972 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$2.162 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$3.439 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)


Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -
4.76 (2013 est.)
4.76 (2012 est.)
4.379 (2010 est.)
4.1428 (2009)
3.4563 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
17.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Electricity - consumption:
16.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Electricity - exports:
1 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59


Electricity - imports:
300.5 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
4.476 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
91% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126


Crude oil - production:
553 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88


Refined petroleum products - production:
400 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 113


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
20,090 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Refined petroleum products - exports:
500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113


Refined petroleum products - imports:
20,090 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106


Natural gas - production:
3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93


Natural gas - consumption:
3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
2.618 million Mt (2013 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
393,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 106


Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.528 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 98


Telephone system:
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
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
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)



    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 hosts:
6,258 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 142


Internet users:
700,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110

Transportation

Airports
24 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 131


Airports - with paved runways
total:17
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
under 914 m:3 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:7
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
5 (2013)


    Pipelines
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2013)


Railways
total:680 kmcountry comparison to the world: 103
broad gauge:680 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:27,767 km (2000)country comparison to the world: 98

Waterways

Military

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)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:2,012,790
females age 16-49:2,020,618 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,490,267
females age 16-49:1,675,083 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:76,430
female:74,038 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

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


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons:2,300 (2012)


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
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook