Tajikistan
Republic of TajikistanJumhurii Tojikiston
presidential republicIndependence 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Tajikistan as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 146 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 established as an autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924, but in 1929 the Soviet Union made Tajikistan as 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 after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the country experienced a civil war among political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997.
Despite Tajikistan's 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, and 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 party in Tajikistan.
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.
RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection in 2020 as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (the upper chamber of Tajikistan's parliament), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election later that year and received 91% of the vote.
The country remains the poorest of the former Soviet republics. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in 2013, but its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, the opiate trade, and 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 informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.
Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists, killing four. Friction between forces on the border between Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic flared up in 2021, culminating in fatal clashes between border forces in 2021 and 2022.
Geography
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
19 fieldsLand useshare of 144,100 sq km
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
Natural resources
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
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 km
note: [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)
Population distribution
the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
Geography - note
landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR
People and Society
35 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female(2024 est.)
Ethnic groups(2014 est.)
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: Russian widely used in government and business
Population distribution
the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.81 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Environment
10 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- air pollution from motor vehicles and industry;
- water pollution from agricultural runoff and untreated industrial waste and sewage;
- poor management of water resources;
- soil erosion;
- increasing levels of soil salinity
International environmental 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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 28.2% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
8.616 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 4.676 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 3.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 86,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 1.787 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 13.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 912 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 1.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 7.378 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Emomali RAHMON (since 16 November 1994; Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)
25 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
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 - ostan means "land," so the country name means "Land of the Tajik [people];" the name Tajik comes from the Sanskrit tajika , a name originally used to distinguish Arabs from Turks and derived from the Tay, an Arab people
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:
- the name means Monday in Persian; today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar was held on Mondays, or 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 (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Constitution
- history:
- several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994
- amendment process:
- 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
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Emomali RAHMON (since 16 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since 20 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
- election/appointment process:
- president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (two-term limit), but as the "Leader of the Nation," president has no term limit;
- prime minister appointed by the president
- most recent election date:
- 11 October 2020
- election results:
- 2020 : Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA (APT) 3.1%, other 4.8%; 2013: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV CPT) 5%, other 11%
- expected date of next election:
- 2027
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name:
- House of Representatives (Majlisi namoyandogon)
- number of seats:
- 63 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- mixed system
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 3/2/2025
- parties elected and seats per party:
- People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) (49);
- Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) (7);
- Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) (5);
- Other (2)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 28.6%
- expected date of next election:
- March 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name:
- National Assembly (Majlisi milli)
- number of seats:
- 33 (25 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 3/28/2025
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 30.3%
- expected date of next election:
- March 2030
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
Political parties
- Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT
- Democratic Party or DPT
- Party of Economic Reforms or PERT
- People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT
- Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador-designate Zavqi ZAVQIZODA (since 14 November 2025)
- chancery:
- 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 223-6090
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 223-6091
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://mfa.tj/en/washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Manuel P. MICALLER Jr. (since 9 March 2023)
- embassy:
- 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019
- mailing address:
- 7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC 20521-7090
- telephone:
- [992] (37) 229-20-00
- FAX:
- [992] (37) 229-20-50
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://tj.usembassy.gov/
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
Flag
- description:
- three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green;
- a gold crown under seven five-pointed gold stars is in the center of the white stripe
- meaning:
- red stands for the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation;
- white for purity, cotton, and mountain snows;
- green for Islam and nature's bounty;
- the crown symbolizes the Tajik people;
- the stars represent the number seven, which is considered a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
- lyrics/music:
- Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV
- history:
- adopted 1994; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem, but adopted new lyrics
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
- 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);
- Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve (n);
- Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (c)
Economy
31 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2023 est.)
Budget(2023 est.)
Economic overview
- lower-middle-income Central Asian economy;
- large infrastructure projects, including Rogun Dam, and a push towards green development and digitalization driving growth;
- strong metal mining, electricity, and manufacturing industries;
- challenges include land scarcity, climate vulnerability, and complex bureaucratic processes for investors
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 22.9% (2023 est.)
- industry:
- 33.6% (2023 est.)
- services:
- 34.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
potatoes, milk, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, vegetables, grapes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Labor force
2.78 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
11.7% (2024 est.) · 11.6% (2023 est.) · 11.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 27.1% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 30% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 23.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
20.4% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
34 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Remittances
47.9% of GDP (2024 est.) · 37.8% of GDP (2023 est.) · 49.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
10.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
$887.016 million (2024 est.) · $584.022 million (2023 est.) · $1.635 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$1.618 billion (2024 est.) · $2.105 billion (2023 est.) · $1.753 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
gold, precious metal ore, aluminum, lead ore, antimony (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$6.907 billion (2024 est.) · $5.931 billion (2023 est.) · $5.261 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
garments, footwear, cars, wheat, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.304 billion (2023 est.) · $3.847 billion (2022 est.) · $2.499 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$3.024 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 10.799 (2024 est.) · 10.845 (2023 est.) · 11.031 (2022 est.) · 11.309 (2021 est.) · 10.322 (2020 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 6.481 million kW(2023 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 2.394 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 2.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- exports:
- 475,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 147,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 4.075 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- crude oil estimated reserves:
- 12 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 18.476 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 43.767 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 24.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2021–23 est.)
Broadcast media
- state-run broadcaster has 9 national TV and 10 radio stations, and 4 regional stations;
- 31 independent TV and 20 independent radio stations broadcast locally and regionally;
- Russian and other foreign stations available via cable and satellite (2016)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total:
- 6,000 (2022 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
4 fieldsMilitary and Security
6 fieldsMilitary and security forces
- Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan:
- Ground Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces;
- Tajik National Guard (TNG);
- Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops of Tajikistan;
- State Committee on National Security: Border Troops (aka Tajik Border Service) (2025)
note 1: the Mobile Forces are the airborne, air assault, mountain, and rapid reaction troops of the Armed Forces
note 2: the Tajik National Guard, formerly the Presidential Guard, is a paramilitary force under direct authority of the President; it is tasked with ensuring public safety and security, similar to the tasks of the Internal Troops; it also has ceremonial duties
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 5-10,000 active paramilitary National Guard, Border Service, and Internal Troops personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the military is equipped with mostly older Russian and Soviet-era armaments;
- it also has smaller amounts of items from suppliers such as China, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-27 years of age for compulsory (men only) or voluntary (men and women) military service;
- up to a 24-month service obligation for conscripts based on education level (2025)
note 1: in addition to the Armed Forces, conscripts are assigned to Tajikistan's other security agencies
note 2: those called up to perform military service can participate in just one month of military training instead of fulfilling the full service obligation for a fee of about the equivalent of $2,200 USD
Military - note
the military's primary concerns are terrorism, border security, territorial defense, and regional security, particularly in neighboring Afghanistan; Russia is traditionally Tajikistan’s most important security partner and thousands of Russian troops are stationed in the country, primarily at the 201st military base, which Moscow has leased until at least 2042;
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; Tajikistan also cooperates on security matters with China, including joint military training
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 War (2025)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
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 the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
1 fieldRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees:
- 15,191 (2024 est.)
- IDPs:
- 238 (2024 est.)
- stateless persons:
- 4,466 (2024 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tajikistan.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tajikistan.