Tajikistan

Full name of country: Republic of Tajikistan

Region: Central Asia

Official language: Tajik

Population: 10,394,063 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Tajikistani(s) (noun), Tajikistani (adjective)

Land area: 141,510 sq km (54,637 sq miles)

Water area: 2,590 sq km (1,000 sq miles)

Capital: Dushanbe

National anthem: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem), by Gulnazar Keldi/Sulaimon Yudakov

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

Population growth: 1.92% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +5

Flag: The flag of Tajikistan features three horizontal bands of red (top), white (center), and green (bottom), with the top and bottom stripes of equal proportion. The colors symbolize agriculture (green), the cotton crop or purity (white), and the land or independence from Russia (red). Centered in the larger middle band is a golden crown topped by an arc of seven stars. (The use of the numeral seven is representative of both Tajik and Islamic symbolism.)

Independence: September 9, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Government type: presidential republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law system

The Republic of Tajikistan is a small country in Central Asia bordering Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. The country was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1991. With the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991, it emerged as an independent nation for the first time in its history. Political and economic instability ensued, leading to a civil war which exacerbated the hardships of an already impoverished populace and damaged or destroyed much of the country's infrastructure. After the 1997 ceasefire, Tajikistan slowly started to make modest economic reforms and forge a post-Soviet, multiethnic identity, but internal conflict and corruption remained ongoing problems.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography

People and Culture

Population: Tajikistan is a mountainous country with lowlands in the north and west. The vast majority of the population lives in these lowlands and in the river valleys of the mountain foothills.

In 2023, more than 71 percent of the population lived in rural areas; small villages, built around collections of families, are common. Dushanbe, in western Tajikistan, is the capital and largest city, with an estimated population of 987,000 in 2023. The northern city of Chuçand is the second largest in the country.

Tajik is the most commonly spoken language in Tajikistan. Belonging to the Indo-Iranian language family, it is most commonly written in the Cyrillic alphabet, a legacy of Soviet rule. However, efforts are being made to return to the Arabic script. Uzbek, a Turkic language, is spoken by ethnic Uzbeks. Russian is the language of the Russian minority and is still frequently used in government and business. Minorities living in the Pamir Mountains speak distinct Iranian languages.

Islam has been the dominant religion since its introduction to the region in the eighth century. Under Soviet rule, religion was officially considered regressive and its practice was discouraged. Since independence, Tajikistanis have enjoyed greater freedom of worship, and Islam has resurged. Some Tajikistanis, while not adhering to the faith, recognize it as an important part of their culture.

As of the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report, Muslims accounted for approximately 90 percent of the population, nearly all of them Sunni. An estimated 4 percent were Shia, which includes the Pamiris who belong to a persecuted Shia sect called Ismailism. There are also some who practice Christianity, usually Russian Orthodoxy or Catholicism, and also a small Jewish community that diminished considerably following an airlift of thousands to Israel in 1992. Adherents to the Baha’i, Jehovah's Witness, and Buddhist faiths were also present in small numbers.

An estimated 22.5 percent of the population was living below the poverty line in 2022. Tajikistan's HDI value for 2022 is 0.679— which put the country in the Medium human development category—positioning it at 126 out of 193 countries and territories. It has a young, growing population, with a median age of 22.8 years in 2024, and a high birth rate. Large families are culturally favored. Life expectancy is 70.1 years for men and 73.8 years for women (2024 estimates).

Indigenous People:Tajiks were the largest ethnic group, accounting for just over 84 percent of the total population (2014 estimate). The earliest written records for the region indicate that they have lived there for at least 2,500 years, having descended from Eastern Iranian tribes such as the Sogdians and Bactrians. Culturally they are similar to Uzbeks, who made up nearly 14 percent of the population (2014 estimate).

There are also small Indigenous ethnic groups, such as the Pamiris, living in the eastern autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan. Historically, this area has had little political clout, and so separatists have declared it an autonomous region of Tajikistan. Non-Indigenous populations such as the Russians and Germans have been in decline since Tajikistan's independence, a decline which sped up during the civil war years.

Education: The Soviet system left a tradition of free and universal education and a high literacy rate—nearly the entire adult population can read and write. After independence, the civil war seriously interrupted the educational system, which is functioning better but is still not adequately funded by the state. It is compulsory for children to attend primary and lower secondary school for a total of nine years; an additional two years of upper secondary schooling are optional.

Most institutions of higher education are located in Dushanbe. These include Tajik State University of Commerce, Tajik Technical University, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, and the Tajik Agrarian University.

Health Care: Tajikistan's health care system is underdeveloped. There is a shortage of medical facilities, equipment, and supplies, and access to even the most basic health care and medicine is difficult for much of the rural population. The number of health care professionals also decreased dramatically during the civil war, since many had the opportunity to immigrate.

Ecological mismanagement has further compromised the public health of Tajikistan. The food and water supply have been polluted with bacteria and toxic levels of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Food: Many of the dishes made in Tajikistan are common throughout the region. Osh is a rice dish mixed with mutton or beef, vegetables, and dried fruit. Meat is often prepared on skewers and cooked over charcoal. Shurpo is a traditional soup. Bread is considered sacred, and a type of flat bread is consumed with every meal.

Arts & Entertainment: Tajikistan's culture is not confined to the modern borders of the country, but extends to the achievements attained in the Persian cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, now in Uzbekistan, and in Iran. As such it has a particularly rich literature. Important authors from early periods include the philosopher Avicenna, the mathematician and poet Omar Khayyam, and mystical philosophers and poets like Saadi and Al-Ghazali. The epic tradition has ancient roots and reached its most revered expression in the poet Firdawsi. The father of modern Tajik literature is Sadridden Maradzada (1878–1954), known as Ayni, who wrote on political and historical themes.

Russian culture has also left its stamp on Tajikistan. Ballet, opera, and theatrical performances became a tradition in the twentieth century and are still common, particularly in Dushanbe. The cultures in the Pamir Mountains largely escaped the effects of colonization, and thus their traditions have undergone fewer changes.

During the Soviet era, the tradition of carpet weaving went into decline. It is still customary to give carpets for important events like weddings, however, and the craft itself has been making a return.

Holidays: Independence from the Soviet Union is commemorated on September 9 each year. Outside the major Islamic holidays, which are no longer repressed, Tajikistanis celebrate Navruz on March 21 and 22. It is an Islamic new year's celebration with pre-Islamic Persian roots, welcoming spring. The festivities, which are preceded by elaborate preparation rituals such as spring cleaning, include a purification rite in which people jump over fire, the buying of new clothes, trips to the countryside, and feasting. People also play buzkashi, a game similar to polo, and stage horse races. Secular holidays include the International Day of Solidarity and Victory Day in May, Day of National Unity in June, and Constitution Day in November.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Over 90 percent of Tajikistan is mountainous, and nearly half of the country's territory lies above 3,000 meters (9,843 feet). In the lower elevations of the north, northwest, and southwest, where the population is concentrated, steppe land and foothills predominate.

Part of the Fergana Valley is in the far north of Tajikistan. Rivers flowing from higher elevations bring water and fertile soil deposits to this valley, making it a rich agricultural center. The Turkestan, Zarafshon, and Hisor Mountains (the western end of the Tian Shan mountain system) traverse these lower elevations and divide the north from the south.

The other two principal mountain ranges are the Pamir and the Alay, in eastern Tajikistan. The Pamir range contains several peaks that rise above 7,000 meters (22,965 feet). The highest, at an elevation of 7,495 meters (24,590 feet), is called Ismail Samani Peak (formerly Mount Communism). From these mountains descend many streams and rivers. They also contain numerous glaciers and the majority of the country's lakes. The largest lake is the dead, salty Lake Karakul.

The Syr Darya and the Zeravshan are the major rivers of northern Tajikistan, the Syr Darya feeding the Fergana Valley. The Amu Darya is the largest river in Central Asia. The Vahhsh and the Kofarnihon are its major tributaries. Most of the country's southern border with Afghanistan is formed by the Amu Darya and the Panj Darya, its tributary.

Natural Resources: The country's mountainous terrain restricts agricultural activity. The mountains, however, yield a variety of mineral deposits. These include zinc, gold, silver, and mercury. Other deposits, such as uranium, have been exhausted.

The extensive network of rivers gives Tajikistan great potential for generating hydroelectricity, but only a few rivers such as the Vakhsh have been harnessed for this purpose. Deposits of other conventional fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum, do exist, but by the early 2020s they had not been significantly exploited.

Tajikistan has severe environmental problems that stem from the Soviet legacy of poor land management and pressure to increase yield. Much soil and water is polluted from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the soil has also suffered from excessive irrigation, increasing saline levels. Tapped so heavily for irrigation, the levels of the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya have decreased drastically, affecting in turn the water level of the threatened Aral Sea.

Plants & Animals: The vegetation of Tajikistan is variously polar, alpine, arid and tropical. There are approximately 5,000 species of plants, the majority of them growing in the foothills and mountains. These include wildflowers such as poppies, tulips, iris and edelweiss, and trees such as the spruce, juniper, and walnut. These middle and higher elevations, where they are not covered by forest, have meadows that are used as pastures during summer and winter months. Wild plants are gathered as sources of medicine, dye, and oil. Hearty grasses and shrubs cover the steppe land.

The country's abundant animal life also varies according to elevation. In the higher mountains, goat and sheep are plentiful. This area also has provided habitat for the snow leopard, the tiger, and the markhor, a type of horned goat. In the lower mountains, wolves, boar, and bear are found. Deer and fox commonly occupy the lowlands.

Climate: Tajikistan has a wide range of climates, mirroring its range of elevations. The Pamir Mountain region is the coldest and can reach temperatures of –60 degrees Celsius (–76 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter. The average temperature, however, is 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) in July and –15 to –20 degrees Celsius (5 to –4 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

In contrast, a continental climate prevails in the lowlands. Hot summers and cold winters are the rule. In Chuçand, for example, 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) is the average temperature for July, and −1 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) is the average temperature for January.

Rainfall is not heavy in Tajikistan. The annual average for the entire country is between 70 and 160 centimeters (28 and 63 inches), but the Pamirs receive far less than the average. When it does rain, the valleys are prone to landslides.

Earthquakes, some of them severe, are common throughout the country. In the lowlands, summer dust storms often occur. In spring and summer, the river levels rise as the glacial waters leave the mountains. The springtime flow, heavier than the summer's, can cause flooding.

Economy

Industry: During the Soviet era, Tajikistan was primarily forced to produce cotton, process aluminum, and mine certain minerals. The economy was further restricted by the post-independence civil war, which was estimated to have caused US$12 billion in damage to industry. At the same time, production levels plummeted.

Since the peace accords, the economy has made progress. The gross domestic product (GDP) was US$46.467 billion in 2023, with per capita GDP at US$4,500. Unemployment may be as high as 20 to 40 percent, particularly among working-age youth, although official estimates placed this number at 6.98 percent in 2023. Russia, China, and Iran are Tajikistan's main trading partners for both exports and imports, while significant amounts of exports are also sent to Turkey, Switzerland, and Algeria.

Industry accounted for about a quarter of Tajikistan's GDP by the late 2010s. Aluminum processing is the most important industrial sector, and aluminum is one of the country's primary exports. The main processing plant, west of the capital, was built by the Soviets. It now produces under capacity, largely because it depends on importing raw material.

Agriculture: Agricultural production has also rebounded since the end of the civil war. Fruit, vegetables, and grains are major crops, but cotton is still the leader, primarily as an export crop in unprocessed form. As a result of this lack of diversification, not enough food is grown to meet domestic needs.

Animal husbandry extends to cattle, sheep, and goats.

Tourism: Since the end of the civil war, tourism has increased in Tajikistan, though infrastructure remains largely undeveloped. Since the cities are generally modern or ancient but not well-preserved, the country's tourist highlights are mostly natural. Mountain treks and ecotourism are the most popular visitor activities. The festivities of Navruz also attract some tourists.

Government

Tajikistan was unprepared for independence in 1991. After decades of domination by the Soviet Union, the lack of experience with reform and the desire of the local ruling elite to maintain the status quo led to extreme social instability and sparked a violent civil war that lasted until 1997. Those who opposed Communist forces had various visions for the future of Tajikistan: some were fighting for a secular parliamentary democracy, others for an Islamic republic. While the government is officially a presidential republic, one political party—the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT), led for years by President Emomali Rahmon—has dominated since 1994. Elections are considered neither free nor fair by many opposition groups and international observers.

The chief of state in Tajikistan is a president. The president nominates the prime minister, who serves as head of government, as well as the council of ministers and the Supreme Court judges for the approval of the legislature. He or she can serve a maximum of two consecutive seven-year terms.

The bicameral legislature, collectively called the Supreme Assembly, or Majlisi Oli, is made up of the Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Namoyandagon) and the National Assembly (Majlisi Milli). Twenty-five of the National Assembly’s thirty-four members are indirectly elected by local representative assemblies, eight are appointed by the president, and one seat is reserved for the previous president. Members of the Assembly of Representatives are directly elected, forty-one by majority vote and twenty-two by proportional representation vote. Both houses’ members serve five-year terms.

The independent judicial branch is comprised of the Supreme Court and several subsidiary courts such as the High Economic Court and the Constitutional Court. Judges are appointed for ten-year terms, of which they can serve an unlimited number.

Though the PDPT continues to dominate the political life of Tajikistan, in the interest of national reconciliation opposition parties which were once banned now have the right to operate. These include the Agrarian Party, the Communist Party, and the Party of Economic Reform, all of which have had some representation in the government, though all are small minorities compared to the PDPT. There are also several smaller parties, notably Lali Badakhshan, the party working toward protection of the interests of the Pamiri people and greater autonomy for Gorno-Badakhshan.

The Republic of Tajikistan is divided into two provinces and the autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan, which are further divided into districts. There is also a "district under republic administration," Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri, and Dushanbe is considered a distinct capital district. Local councils administer the regions, though power is concentrated at the national level.

Interesting Facts

• Dushanbe was named Stalinbad until 1961. The current name means "Monday," probably in reference to a weekly market.
• One of the highest dams in the world lies east of Dushanbe at Norek, on the Vakhsh River.
• The Silk Road was a trade route between China and Europe that began during the Roman Empire. It was of great importance to the development of Tajik culture.
• The Tajik National Park (Pamir Mountains) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

Bibliography

Heathershaw, John, and Edmund Herzig, editors. The Transformation of Tajikistan: The Sources of Statehood. Routledge, 2012.

"International Tourism, Number of Arrivals." The World Bank, data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL. Accessed 2 Oct. 2020.

Nourzhanov, Kirill, and Christian Bleuer. Tajikistan: A Political and Social History. ANU P, 2013.

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

"Tajikistan." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tajikistan/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.