Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Tajikistan spends US$87 million on its military, or 1.1 percent of its GDP. This makes Tajikistan the 137th highest military spender in the world and represents 0.005 percent of total global military expenditure. 

The military of Tajikistan, the Tajikistan's Armed Forces, consist of a land force and an Air Force. Due to its landlocked status, it does not have a Navy. Its Army was only formed three years after its independence due to its civil war. Most of its equipment is older Soviet equipment and its personnel is trained by the Russian military. The Russian military is also present in Tajikistan and is actively attempting to limit Islamic radicalism.

Military membership

Tajikistan is also a member of 5 international military organizations. This makes it the 90th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Collective Security Treaty Organization 
  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 
  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 
  • International Atomic Energy Agency 
  • Collective Security Treaty Organization 

Military membership

International wars

Tajikistan has partaken in 1 international war. This is: 

  • Civil war in Tajikistan 1991-1997 

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Tajikistan is a member of 8 international political organizations. This makes it the 180th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Member state of the United Nations 
  • International Labour Organization 
  • Asia Cooperation Dialogue 
  • Commonwealth of Independent States 
  • Organization of Islamic Cooperation 
  • International Criminal Court 
  • Interpol 
  • World Organization for Animal Health

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

Tajikistan is the 167th most democratic state in the world. Despite having elections, Tajikistan is ruled by a single political party as well as a single president for more than 30 years. During these 30 years, the leadership of Tajikistan actively limited freedom of the press, as well as civil liberties. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Tajikistan take place in the form of a republic. However, since the establishment of the Republic, its politics have been dominated by a single political party which has actively centralized its power. 

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Tajikistan 

Known for its cuisine, its untouched nature as well as its hydroelectric potential, Tajikistan, or the Republic of Tajikistan has had a short period of independence. Before coming into contact with Europeans, the area was ruled by several large empires such as the Persian Empire and the Empire of Alexander the great until the Arab conquest during the seventh and eighth century. From the eighth century until the 19th century, the area of Tajikistan came under the rule of several Islamic empires as well as the Mongol Empire. During the second half of the 19th century, Russia took over Turkmenistan which later on became part of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Tajikistan became independent. Shortly following independence, a civil war ensued which ended in a cease-fire and the establishment of a single political leader that rules to this day.

 Being a landlocked state located in central Asia, Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world. Its geography is made up of a high mountain range to its east and a relatively low mountain range and a flat plane to its west. Its terrain is mainly made up of low-lying vegetation which also mostly covers its mountains. In total, Tajikistan borders four other states with Kirgizstan to its north, China to its east, Afghanistan to its south and Uzbekistan to its west. 

It is the 94th largest state with a total surface area of 143.816 square kilometers or 55.577 square miles. This makes Tajikistan slightly smaller than Greece and slightly larger than Nepal. 

It has a total water surface area of 2.603 square kilometers or 1.005 square miles. This makes Tajikistan the 84th largest state in the world. 

 

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of its water comes from surface water which can be found in one of its thousand lakes, glaciers and rivers. It is estimated that Tajikistan is the supplier of more than 50 percent of central Asia's water. 

The climate of Tajikistan is a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. This temperature is also highly dependent on its elevation where its flat planes are prone to more heat during the summer compared to its mountain areas. The average temperature is 6.7 degrees Celsius or 44 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Tajikistan the 178th warmest state in the world. 

During summer, from June to September, the average high temperature is 16.8 degrees Celsius or 62 degrees Fahrenheit. 

During winter, from December to February, the average low temperature is 4.2 degrees Celsius or 39.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Despite being rich in water, Tajikistan receives little rainfall. Its rain mainly occurs during spring while its summers receive little to no rainfall. On average, Tajikistan receives 54.2 centimetres or 21.4 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 155th highest in the world. 

The capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, is home to roughly 800,000 people. The closest capital is Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with a distance of 296 kilometers or 184 miles. The capital that is furthest removed is Santiago, Chile, with a distance of 16.375 kilometers or 10.175 miles.  

As a result of limited cotton supplied by the United States during its Civil War, the Russian Empire planted large cotton plantations in Tajikistan. Throughout its Soviet times, cotton became its main export. After the Civil War, much of its industry and infrastructure had been destroyed which led to mounting public debt. After assistance from the international monetary fund and a small investment done by Russia, its economy started to grow slowly at the start of the 21st century. Currently, the economy of Tajikistan is a mixed economy which is considered to be a developing economy. Since the start of the 21st century, Tajikistan had lifted a large portion of its population out of poverty and has made investment into its cotton plantation sector as well as its mining industry. However, one of the largest contributors to its GDP are its remittances. 

Tajikistan is a member of 15 international economic organizations. This makes it the 49th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Alliance for Financial Inclusion 
  • Asian Development Bank 
  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 
  • Eurasian Development Bank 
  • International Monetary Fund 
  • Islamic Development Bank 
  • World Bank Group 
  • World Customs Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • Economic Cooperation Organization 
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 
  • TRACECA Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia 
  • Energy Charter Treaty 
  • International Renewable Energy Agency 
  • Group of 77 

It has a GDP of US$7.874 million, which makes it the 151st highest in the world and represents 0.09 percent of total global GDP.  

Its GDP per surface area is the 167th highest in the world with US$54.748 per square kilometer or US$141.672 per square mile.  

Its GDP per capita is the 174th highest in the world with US$846. 

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 158th highest in the world with US$3.396. 

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

Its total population is 9.3 million people which is the 95th highest in the world. The majority of its population are ethnic Tajikis with small minorities from Uzbekistan and Kurdistan. 

It has the 118th highest population density in the world with 65 people per square kilometer or 167 people per square mile.  

Roughly 6.2 percent of its population, or just over 550,000 people, have migrated to other states. This makes Tajikistan the 103rd state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.23 percent of total global emigration. These are mainly economic migrants as well as refugees that fled its civil war. Because of its history with Russia and the Soviet Union, the majority of people from Tajikistan speak Russian. As a result, they seek employment in Russia which is solely responsible for more than 80 percent of all migrants. 

Immigration to Tajikistan is represented by 4.1 percent of the population, or nearly 400,000 people. This makes Tajikistan the 71st state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 0.15 percent of total global immigration. More than half originated from Russia and mainly consists of people that re-migrated to Tajikistan. 

Education is free and compulsory between the ages of four and 15. This education system has been present during Soviet times which obliged every citizen to partake in schooling. As a result, Tajikistan has a literacy rate of 99.5 percent which is the 11th highest in the world. This number is likely to decrease over time as the younger generation has had poor education opportunities due to its civil war in its current economic status. 

Because of its low GDP, Tajikistan has had limited resources to invest in its healthcare system. Its current health care system is undergoing reform in order to move away from the old Soviet system and has started to introduce obligatory financial contributions to its healthcare. The largest health risks are related to cardiovascular diseases as well as diabetes. The average life expectancy is 71.8 years which is the 145th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 74.1 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 69.5 years. 

The government of Tajikistan provides freedom of religion towards all religions. However, new legislation has put limits on this freedom and has sought to diminish activities of minority religions. 

Christianity is represented by 1.3 percent of the population which makes it the 182nd most Christian state in the world. This number is likely to decrease due to limits by the government of Tajikistan on the spread of Christianity. 

 

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed 

Islam is the largest religion in Tajikistan and is represented by 96.7 percent. This makes Tajikistan the 18th most Islamic state in the world. Throughout Soviet occupation, many attempts were made to eradicate Islam by imprisonments and assassinations. After the second world war, the Soviet Union shifted its policy towards a more moderate policy which tolerated Islam. Today, the majority of Uzbekistan adheres to the Sunni branch of Islam and has grown in importance over the last three decades. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.07 percent of the population. It has reached its peak during the sixth century, but has been diminished by the seventh century during the Arab conquest. Today, a small minority of Buddhists reside within Tajikistan, but its temples and the statues remain. 

Hinduism is represented by less than 0.03 percent of the population and are mainly people that converted to Hinduism through Krishna missionaries. 

Judaism is represented by 0.03 percent of the population. 

Other religions are mainly represented by the Baha'i faith and Zoroastrians which represent 0.13 percent of the population. 

Irreligion is represented by one percent of the population.