SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(8 fields)
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 users
total: 1.3 million | percent of population: 16.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118
Radio broadcast stations
16 (number of licensed stations with only about 10 broadcasting) (2009)
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)
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 440,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Telephones - mobile cellular
total: 8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96
Television broadcast stations
24 (number of licensed stations with only about 15 active) (2009)
◆ ECONOMY(41 fields)
Agriculture - products
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Budget
revenues: $2.828 billion | expenditures: $2.868 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-0.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Central bank discount rate
4.8% (31 December 2013) | 6.5% (31 December 2012) | country comparison to the world: 78
Commercial bank prime lending rate
22% (31 December 2014 est.) | 6.6% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12
Current account balance
-$839 million (2014 est.) | -$330 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96
Debt - external
$3.821 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.714 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134
Distribution of family income - Gini index
32.6 (2006) | 34.7 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 104
Economy - overview
Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to the uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and its large external debt burden. Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. The 1992-97 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 back home through remittances that amount to nearly 50% of GDP. Less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the most important crop. Tajikistan imports approximately 60% of its food, mostly by rail. 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 well below its capacity. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30-50% of GDP. Tajikistan has sought to develop its substantial hydroelectricity potential through partnership with Russian and Iranian investors. The government is pinning its drive for energy independence on completion of the Roghun dam, which will take at least 8 to 11 years to construct, according to a World Bank feasibility study that was published in July 2014. If built according to plan, Roghun would be the tallest dam in the world and would significantly expand Tajikistan’s electricity output. However, Uzbekistan opposes the project, which has damaged relations between the two countries. 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 in Tajikistan have increased to the highest levels since 2002.
Exchange rates
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - | 4.916 (2014 est.) | 4.7644 (2013 est.) | 4.76 (2012 est.) | 4.6103 (2011 est.) | 4.379 (2010 est.)
Exports
$654.8 million (2014 est.) | $794.1 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Exports - commodities
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners
Turkey 23.2%, Iran 13%, Afghanistan 10.7%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Italy 8.5%, Bangladesh 7.4%, China 6.9%, Russia 5.4% (2014)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
$9.242 billion (2014 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$22.32 billion (2014 est.) | $20.92 billion (2013 est.) | $19.48 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 140
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 107.3% | government consumption: 12% | investment in fixed capital: 12.8% | investment in inventories: 9.4% | exports of goods and services: 15.1% | imports of goods and services: -56.6% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 27.2% | industry: 21.6% | services: 51.2% (2014 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,700 (2014 est.) | $2,500 (2013 est.) | $2,300 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 193
GDP - real growth rate
6.7% (2014 est.) | 7.4% (2013 est.) | 7.5% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35
Gross national saving
5.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 12.2% of GDP (2013 est.) | 15.4% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA% (2009 est.)
Imports
$4.348 billion (2014 est.) | $4.6 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
China 46.6%, Russia 16.8%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Turkey 5.2% (2014)
Industrial production growth rate
4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Industries
aluminum, cement, vegetable oil
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.1% (2014 est.) | 5.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force
2.209 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 46.5% | industry: 10.7% | services: 42.8% (2013 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA | $NA | $NA
Population below poverty line
35.6% (2013 est.)
Public debt
6.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | NA% | country comparison to the world: 160
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$651.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $660.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Stock of broad money
$2.085 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.778 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA | $16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Stock of domestic credit
$1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.362 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147
Stock of narrow money
$1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.329 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Taxes and other revenues
30.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Unemployment rate
2.5% (2013 est.) | 2.5% (2012 est.) | note: official rates; actual unemployment is much higher | country comparison to the world: 18
◆ ENERGY(23 fields)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
2.618 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
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: 126
Crude oil - production
206 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Crude oil - proved reserves
12 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - consumption
16.09 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - exports
1 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - from fossil fuels
9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
91% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Electricity - from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - imports
300.5 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - installed generating capacity
4.476 million kW (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - production
17.09 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - consumption
3.928 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - imports
188 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - production
3.928 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Refined petroleum products - consumption
15,290 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
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: 105
Refined petroleum products - production
400 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
◆ GEOGRAPHY(20 fields)
Area
total: 144,100 sq km | land: 141,510 sq km | water: 2,590 sq km | country comparison to the world: 96
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Climate
mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m | highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 11.49 cu km/yr (6%/4%/91%) | per capita: 1,740 cu m/yr (2006)
Geographic coordinates
39 00 N, 71 00 E
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
Irrigated land
7,421 sq km (2009)
Land boundaries
total: 4,130 km | border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 km, China 477 km, Kyrgyzstan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1,312 km
Land use
agricultural land: 34.7% | arable land 6.1%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 27.7% | forest: 2.9% | other: 62.4% (2011 est.)
Location
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
Map references
Asia
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
earthquakes; floods
Natural resources
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Terrain
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Total renewable water resources
21.91 cu km (2011)
◆ GOVERNMENT(21 fields)
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
Capital
name: Dushanbe | geographic coordinates: 38 33 N, 68 46 E | time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution
several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994; amended 1999, 2003 (2009)
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
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
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
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 (eligible for 2 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 (PDPT) 83.9%, Ismoil TALBAKOV (CPT) 5%, other 11.1%
Flag description
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe; red represents the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity, cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the seven stars signify the Tajik magic number "seven" - a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness
Government type
republic
Independence
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, 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 3 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
Legal system
civil law system
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the 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 the former president; members serve 5-year terms) and the Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by two-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 2020); Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held 2020) | election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 65.4%, APT 11.7%, PERT 7.5%, SPT 5.5%, CPT 2.2%, Democratic Party 1.7%, other 6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, APT 5, PERT 3, SPT 1, CPT 2, Democratic Party 1
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
National holiday
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
National symbol(s)
crown surmounted by seven, five-pointed stars; national colors: red, white, green
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 | New Tajikistan party [Zayd SAIDOV] (unregistered) | Guruhi-24 (Group-24) [Umarali QUVVATOV] (unregistered opposition group) | presidential candidate of Union of Reformist Forces of Tajikistan Oynihol BOBONAZAROVA (unregistered) | Vatandor (Patriot) Movement [Dodojon ATOVULLOEV] | Youth Party of Tajikistan [Izzat AMON] (unregistered)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
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. 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 the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic in 1929 and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992 to 1997. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, 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. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistanis working in Russia, pervasive corruption, and the major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.
◆ MILITARY(5 fields)
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.)
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)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(35 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 32.75% (male 1,365,565/female 1,317,285) | 15-24 years: 19.7% (male 818,661/female 795,125) | 25-54 years: 39.26% (male 1,590,051/female 1,626,091) | 55-64 years: 5.1% (male 191,688/female 226,134) | 65 years and over: 3.19% (male 109,084/female 152,274) (2015 est.)
Birth rate
24.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57
Child labor - children ages 5-14
total number: 164,432 | percentage: 10% (2005 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
13.3% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 56
Contraceptive prevalence rate
27.9% (2012)
Death rate
6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 60.9% | youth dependency ratio: 56% | elderly dependency ratio: 4.8% | potential support ratio: 20.7% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source
urban: 93.1% of population | rural: 66.7% of population | total: 73.8% of population | urban: 6.9% of population | rural: 33.3% of population | total: 26.2% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditures
4% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 114
Ethnic groups
Tajik 84.3%, Uzbek 13.8% (includes Lakai, Kongrat, Katagan, Barlos, Yuz), other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.35% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - deaths
700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
16,400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84
Health expenditures
6.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 120
Hospital bed density
5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate
total: 33.93 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 38.23 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 29.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63
Languages
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business | note: different ethnic groups speak Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Pashto
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.39 years | male: 64.28 years | female: 70.66 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.8% | female: 99.7% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: malaria (2013)
Major urban areas - population
DUSHANBE (capital) 822,000 (2015)
Median age
total: 23.9 years | male: 23.4 years | female: 24.4 years (2015 est.)
Nationality
noun: Tajikistani(s) | adjective: Tajikistani
Net migration rate
-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
12% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 136
Physicians density
1.92 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Population
8,191,958 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
Population growth rate
1.71% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69
Religions
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Sanitation facility access
urban: 93.8% of population | rural: 95.5% of population | total: 95% of population | urban: 6.2% of population | rural: 4.5% of population | total: 5% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years | male: 12 years | female: 10 years (2012)
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: 0.72 male(s)/female | total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.71 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 16.7% | male: 19.2% | female: 13.7% (2009 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Urbanization
urban population: 26.8% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 2.62% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(3 fields)
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
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 1,364 (2014)
◆ TRANSPORTATION(7 fields)
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 | 5 (2013)
Pipelines
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2013)
Railways
total: 680 km | broad gauge: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 104
Roadways
total: 27,767 km (2000) | country comparison to the world: 98
Waterways
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 98