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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-run television broadcaster transmits nationally on 4 stations and regionally on 4 stations; about 10 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 also broadcast (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.tj

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,504 (2010) country comparison to the world: 160

Internet users [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: foreign investment in the telephone system has resulted in major improvements; conversion of the existing fixed network from analogue to digital more than 90% complete by 2009 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) (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

290,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 115

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.9 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

8% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 25 13.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

22.91% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 23.7% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$330 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 -$179.9 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

32.6 (2006) country comparison to the world: 99 34.7 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in Tajikistan, nearly half of the labor force works abroad, primarily in Russia and Kazakhstan, supporting families in Tajikistan through remittances. The exact number of labor migrants is unknown, but estimated at around 1 million. Less than 7% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the most important crop, but this sector is burdened with debt and obsolete infrastructure; moreover, government has encouraged a gradual transition away from cotton and towards food cultivation due to its concerns about feeding the population. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and the external debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Completion of the Sangtuda I hydropower dam - finished in 2009 with Russian investment - and the Sangtuda II and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity output. If finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the world's tallest dam. The World Bank, in 2010, agreed to fund safety and feasibility studies for the Rogun Dam. Favorable reports from these studies could increase investor interest in the project, which has been stalled due to lack of funding. Tajikistan has also received substantial infrastructure development loans from the Chinese government to improve roads and an electricity transmission network. To help increase north-south trade, the US funded a $36 million bridge which opened in August 2007 and links Tajikistan and Afghanistan. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, more than half of the population continues to live in poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped below 8% in 2005-08, as the effects of higher oil prices and then the international financial crisis began to register - mainly in the form of lower prices for key export commodities and lower remittances from Tajiks working abroad, due to the global economic downturn. In 2009 GDP growth dropped to 3.4% as a result of the world recession.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

16.7 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 73

Electricity - exports [time series]

1 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

667.8 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

16.1 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Exchange rates [time series]

Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 4.3788 (2010), 4.1428 (2009), 3.4563 (2008), 3.4418 (2007), 3.3 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$1.318 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.039 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 19.16%, China 18.38%, Turkey 12.09%, Iran 11.11%, Uzbekistan 7.92%, Norway 6.17%, Greece 4.32% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$5.578 billion (2010 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$14.61 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $13.85 billion (2009 est.) $13.4 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 19.2% industry: 22.6% services: 58.1% (2010 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$2,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $1,900 (2009 est.) $1,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 3.4% (2009 est.) 7.9% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)

Imports [time series]

$3.301 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $2.77 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 23.92%, China 23.74%, Kazakhstan 8.92%, Turkey 4.96%, Uzbekistan 4.73% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 6.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force [time series]

2.1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 119

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 49.8% industry: 12.8% services: 37.4% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

266.1 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - imports [time series]

250 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - production [time series]

16.1 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Oil - consumption [time series]

38,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - exports [time series]

349 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - imports [time series]

10,100 bbl/day (2008) country comparison to the world: 139

Oil - production [time series]

221 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Population below poverty line [time series]

60% (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$303 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $227 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $851.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$18.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$100.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $93.05 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.209 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $939.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$863 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 141 $712.3 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 2.3% (2008 est.) note: official rates; actual unemployment is higher

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 143,100 sq km country comparison to the world: 95 land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni (Pik Imeni Ismail Samani) 7,495 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%) per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

39 00 N, 71 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

7,220 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.52% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.59% (2005)

Location [time series]

Central Asia, west of China

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes; floods

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

99.7 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Capital [time series]

name: Dushanbe geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

6 November 1994

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth GROSS 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090 FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091

Executive branch [time series]

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 Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 word "seven" - a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (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; members elected by popular vote to 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%, Islamic Revival Party 8.2%, CPT 7%, APT 5.1%, PER 5.1%, other 3.6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, Islamic Revival Party 2, CPT 2, APT 2, PER 2

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]; Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005); Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOEV]; Party of Economic Reforms [Mahmadsharif NOZIMOV]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Mirhuseyn NARZIEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the base of the party: Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from ISKANDAROV's DPT); Socialist Party or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFOROV] (splintered from NARZIEV's SPT) unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbek SSR to the newly formed Tajik SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd province. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992-97. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community since the beginning of the NATO intervention in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development and security assistance, which could create jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,980,012 females age 16-49: 1,990,084 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,461,896 females age 16-49: 1,642,240 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 77,585 female: 75,201 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Forces (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.5% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 99

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34.3% (male 1,282,681/female 1,238,607) 15-64 years: 62.1% (male 2,260,552/female 2,303,034) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 112,334/female 151,937) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.49 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Death rate [time series]

6.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.5% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 132

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

10,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 39.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 67 male: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.68 years country comparison to the world: 164 male: 62.63 years female: 68.88 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 22.2 years male: 21.7 years female: 22.7 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Population [time series]

7,487,489 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Population growth rate [time series]

1.852% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 10 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.94 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 26% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Tajikistan is a source country for women trafficked through Kyrgyzstan and Russia to the UAE, Turkey, and Russia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for the purpose of forced labor, primarily in the construction and agricultural industries; boys and girls are trafficked internally for various purposes, including forced labor and forced begging tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tajikistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, especially efforts to investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; despite evidence of low- and mid-level officials' complicity in trafficking, the government did not punish any public officials for trafficking complicity during 2007; lack of capacity and poor coordination between government institutions remained key obstacles to effective anti-trafficking efforts (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

26 (2010) country comparison to the world: 127

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 9 1,524 to 2,437: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2009)

Railways [time series]

total: 680 km country comparison to the world: 107 broad gauge: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 27,767 km (2000) country comparison to the world: 100

Waterways [time series]

200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2010) country comparison to the world: 99