{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
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.
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
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024": { "text": "$50.37 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$46.467 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$42.905 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2024": { "text": "8.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "8.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "8% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2024": { "text": "$4,800 (2024 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$4,500 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$4,200 (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$14.205 billion (2024 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "7.7% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "3.9% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "7.3% (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "22.9% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "33.6% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "34.7% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "89.6% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "10.7% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "28.3% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "3.4% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "17.2% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-48.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "potatoes, milk, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, vegetables, grapes (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "9.9% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.78 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "11.7% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "11.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "11.7% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "27.1% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "30% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "23.3% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "20.4% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015": { "text": "34 (2015 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3% (2015 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "26.4% (2015 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2024": { "text": "47.9% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Remittances 2023": { "text": "37.8% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "49.9% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$2.911 billion (2023 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$3.036 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2016": { "text": "42% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "10.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2024": { "text": "$887.016 million (2024 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "$584.022 million (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$1.635 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2024": { "text": "$1.618 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Exports 2023": { "text": "$2.105 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$1.753 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Switzerland 31%, Kazakhstan 18%, China 17%, Uzbekistan 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, precious metal ore, aluminum, lead ore, antimony (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2024": { "text": "$6.907 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Imports 2023": { "text": "$5.931 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$5.261 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 57%, Kazakhstan 13%, Uzbekistan 8%, Turkey 6%, UAE 4% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "garments, footwear, cars, wheat, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$3.304 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$3.847 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$2.499 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$3.024 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "10.799 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "10.845 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "11.031 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "11.309 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "10.322 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "99%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "100%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "6.481 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "15.275 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "3.101 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "714.025 million kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "3.94 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "92.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "2.394 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "2.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "475,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "147,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "4.075 billion metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "300 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "12 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "18.476 million cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "43.767 million cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "24.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "16.192 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "502,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "5 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "7.92 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "119 (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".tj" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "57% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "6,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "EY" }, "Airports": { "text": "19 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "680 km (2014)" }, "broad gauge": { "text": "680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Ground Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces