World Factbook
Tajikistan
Introduction
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 (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 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 parliament (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 1994 during the civil war, 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 would make RAHMON's son Rustam EMOMALI, the current mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020.
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 criminal groups 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.
Geography
Location
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
Geographic coordinates
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total: 144,100 sq km
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
country comparison to the world: 97
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries
total: 4,130 km
border countries (4): Afghanistan 1357 km, China 477 km, Kyrgyzstan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1312 km
Coastline
0 km(landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain
mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation
mean elevation: 3,186 m
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
agricultural land: 34.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 6.1% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.9% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 27.7% (2011 est.)
forest: 2.9% (2011 est.)
other: 62.4% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
7,420 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
earthquakes; floods
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, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR
People and Society
Population
8,604,882 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Nationality
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups
Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.)
Languages
Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz .8%, Russian .5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.)
note: Russian widely used in government and business
Religions
Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 32.05%(male 1,404,403 /female 1,353,704)
15-24 years: 18.35%(male 801,172 /female 777,524)
25-54 years: 40.34%(male 1,721,081 /female 1,749,819)
55-64 years: 5.85%(male 231,820 /female 271,946)
65 years and over: 3.41%(male 121,405 /female 172,008) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 62.5 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 57.1 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.5 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 24.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 24.2 years
female: 25.4 years
country comparison to the world: 160
Population growth rate
1.58% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Birth rate
22.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Death rate
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Net migration rate
-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
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
Urbanization
urban population: 27.3% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 2.62% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
894,000 DUSHANBE (capital) (2019)
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22 years (2017 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Infant mortality rate
total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 34.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 59
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 65.2 years
female: 71.7 years
country comparison to the world: 168
Total fertility rate
2.59 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Contraceptive prevalence rate
29.3% (2017)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 93.1% of population
rural: 66.7% of population
total: 73.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 6.9% of population
rural: 33.3% of population
total: 26.2% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
7% (2016)
Physicians density
1.7 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density
4.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 93.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 95.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 95% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 4.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 5% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.2% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
13,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<500 (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
14.2% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 128
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
7.6% (2017)
country comparison to the world: 71
Education expenditures
5.2% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 57
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2013)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 16.7%
male: 19.2%
female: 13.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
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
etymology: the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Tajikistan literally means "Land of the Tajik [people]"
Government type
presidential 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)
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)
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
Independence
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994
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 several times, last in 2016 (2017)
Legal system
civil law system
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term for a maximum of two terms; however, as the "Leader of the Nation" President RAHMON can run an unlimited number of times; 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 (PDPT) 83.9%, Ismoil TALBAKOV (CPT) 5%, other 11.1%
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 proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
National Assembly - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
election results:
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 28, women 6, percent of women 17.6%
Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 65.4%, APT 11.7%, PERT 7.5%, SPT 5.5%, CPT 2.2%, DPT 1.7%, other 6%; seats by party - PDPT 51, APT 5, PERT 3, CPT 2, SPT 1, DPT 1; composition - men 50, women 13, percent of women 20.6%; note - total Supreme Assembly percent of women 19.6%
Judicial branch
highest courts: 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
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 OUDRATOV]
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]
Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOIROV]
Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFOROV]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
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 John Mark POMMERSHEIM (since 15 March 2019)
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
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 an arc of seven, five-pointed stars; snow leopard; national colors: red, white, green
National anthem
name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon 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 is a poor, mountainous country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, metals processing, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, antimony, tungsten, and coal. 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. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Today, Tajikistan is the poorest among the former Soviet republics. Because less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the predominant crop, Tajikistan imports approximately 70% of its food.Since the end of the civil war, the country has pursued half-hearted reforms and privatizations in the economic sphere, but its poor business climate remains a hindrance to attracting foreign investment. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30%-50% of GDP.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 in 2017 were equivalent to nearly 35% of GDP. Tajikistan’s large remittances from migrant workers in Russia exposes it to monetary shocks. Tajikistan often delays devaluation of its currency for fear of inflationary pressures on food and other consumables. Recent slowdowns in the Russian and Chinese economies, low commodity prices, and currency fluctuations have hampered economic growth. The dollar value of remittances from Russia to Tajikistan dropped by almost 65% in 2015, and the government spent almost $500 million in 2016 to bail out the country’s still troubled banking sector.Tajikistan’s growing public debt – currently about 50% of GDP – could result in financial difficulties. Remittances from Russia increased in 2017, however, bolstering the economy somewhat. China owns about 50% of Tajikistan’s outstanding debt. Tajikistan has borrowed heavily to finance investment in the country’s vast hydropower potential. In 2016, Tajikistan contracted with the Italian firm Salini Impregilo to build the Roghun dam over a 13-year period for $3.9 billion. A 2017 Eurobond has largely funded Roghun’s first phase, after which sales from Roghun’s output are expected to fund the rest of its construction. The government has not ruled out issuing another Eurobond to generate auxiliary funding for its second phase.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$28.43 billion (2017 est.)
$26.55 billion (2016 est.)
$24.83 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 135
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.144 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
7.1% (2017 est.)
6.9% (2016 est.)
6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,200 (2017 est.)
$3,000 (2016 est.)
$2,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 192
Gross national saving
24.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
11.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 98.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 13.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.5% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 10.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -36.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 25.5% (2017 est.)
services: 45.9% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries
aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil
Industrial production growth rate
1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Labor force
2.295 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 43%
industry: 10.6%
services: 46.4% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.4% (2016 est.)
2.5% (2015 est.)
note: official rate; actual unemployment is much higher
country comparison to the world: 25
Population below poverty line
31.5% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA (2009 est.)
highest 10%: NA (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
32.6 (2006)
34.7 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 116
Budget
revenues: 2.269 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 2.374 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
31.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Public debt
50.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
42% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.3% (2017 est.)
5.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Central bank discount rate
16% (20 March 2017)
6.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 12
Commercial bank prime lending rate
30% (31 December 2017 est.)
24.24% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Stock of narrow money
$1.389 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.108 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Stock of broad money
$1.389 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.108 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Stock of domestic credit
$1.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.711 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Market value of publicly traded shares
NA
Current account balance
-$35 million (2017 est.)
-$362 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Exports
$873.1 million (2017 est.)
$691.1 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Exports - partners
Turkey 27.5%, China 17.7%, Russia 13.4%, Switzerland 12.5%, Algeria 8.2%, Iran 7.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Imports
$2.39 billion (2017 est.)
$2.554 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
Russia 38%, Kazakhstan 19%, China 8.7%, Iran 4.4% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.292 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$652.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Debt - external
$5.75 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.495 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$16.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Exchange rates
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -
8.764 (2017 est.)
7.8358 (2016 est.)
7.8358 (2015 est.)
6.1631 (2014 est.)
4.9348 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
17.03 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - consumption
12.96 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - exports
1.4 billion kWhNA (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - imports
103 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - installed generating capacity
5.508 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - from fossil fuels
6% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
94% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - production
180 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Crude oil - proved reserves
12 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Refined petroleum products - production
172 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Refined petroleum products - consumption
24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Refined petroleum products - imports
22,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - production
19.82 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - consumption
19.82 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
6.329 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 468,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 9.4 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
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; the country has endeavored to launch 4G/LTE services with mixed results; 7 major cities have 4G coverage; 5 major operators in the market; low broadband penetration (2018)
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; fixed-line 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 111 per 100 (2018)
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
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
total: 1,705,345
percent of population: 20.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 6,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Military and Security
Military expenditures
1.22% of GDP (2015)
1.13% of GDP (2014)
1% of GDP (2012)
1.09% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 104
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Land Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard; Internal Troops (Ministry of Internal Affairs/reserves for Armed Forces in wartime); Border Guard Forces (State Committee on National Security) (2019)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; 12-18 month conscript service obligation (2019)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 802,470 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 105,376mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
EY (2016)
Airports
24 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 132
Airports - with paved runways
total: 17 (2013)
over 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
under 914 m: 3 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 7 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Pipelines
549 km gas, 38 km oil (2013)
Railways
total: 680 km (2014)
broad gauge: 680 km1.520-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 102
Roadways
total: 30,000 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 97
Waterways
200 km(along Vakhsh River) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 98
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: 4,616 (2018)
Illicit drugs
Tajikistan sits on one of the world's highest volume illicit drug trafficking routes, between Afghan opiate production to the south and the illicit drug markets of Russia and Eastern Europe to the north; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; significant consumer of opiates
