Factbook dossier
Background
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 a…
Location
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
Area
total : 144,100 sq km land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km
Natural resources
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Natural hazards
earthquakes; floods
Population
total: 10,593,876 (2025 est.) male: 5,322,920 female: 5,270,956
Ethnic groups
Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (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
Religions
Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 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
Government type
presidential republic
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 )
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
legislature name: Supreme Council (Majlisi Oli) legislative structure: bicameral
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$50.37 billion (2024 est.) $46.467 billion (2023 est.) $42.905 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$4,800 (2024 est.) $4,500 (2023 est.) $4,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.7% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 7.3% (2017 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Switzerland 31%, Kazakhstan 18%, China 17%, Uzbekistan 10%, Turkey 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 57%, Kazakhstan 13%, Uzbekistan 8%, Turkey 6%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military 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 expenditures
1.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)