Introduction :: TAJIKISTAN
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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, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. 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 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 criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. In September 2015, government security forces rebuffed attacks led by a former high-ranking official in the Ministry of Defense. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power during the civil war, used the attacks to ban the main opposition political party in Tajikistan. RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself designated “Leader ofthe Nation” and removing term limits on himself through constitutional amendments in a referendum on May 2016. 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 opiate trade in neighboring Afghanistan.
Geography :: TAJIKISTAN
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Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Asia
total: 144,100 sq km
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
country comparison to the world: 96
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
total: 4,130 km
border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 km, China 477 km, Kyrgyzstan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1,312 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
mean elevation: 3,186 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
agricultural land: 34.7%
arable land 6.1%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 27.7%
forest: 2.9%
other: 62.4% (2011 est.)
7,420 sq km (2012)
the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
earthquakes; floods
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
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
landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR
People and Society :: TAJIKISTAN
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8,330,946 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Tajik 84.3%, Uzbek 13.8% (includes Lakai, Kongrat, Katagan, Barlos, Yuz), other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2010 est.)
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
note: different ethnic groups speak Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Pashto
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 32.56% (male 1,380,959/female 1,331,790)
15-24 years: 19.04% (male 804,625/female 781,469)
25-54 years: 39.79% (male 1,640,657/female 1,674,198)
55-64 years: 5.37% (male 205,541/female 241,770)
65 years and over: 3.24% (male 112,279/female 157,658) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Central Asia
::TAJIKISTAN
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 60.9%
youth dependency ratio: 56%
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8%
potential support ratio: 20.7% (2015 est.)
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.8 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
1.66% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
23.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
urban population: 26.8% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 2.62% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
DUSHANBE (capital) 822,000 (2015)
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 (2016 est.)
22.8
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)
32 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
total: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 37.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
total population: 67.7 years
male: 64.6 years
female: 71 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
2.67 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
27.9% (2012)
6.9% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 120
1.92 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 93.1% of population
rural: 66.7% of population
total: 73.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.9% of population
rural: 33.3% of population
total: 26.2% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 93.8% of population
rural: 95.5% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.2% of population
rural: 4.5% of population
total: 5% of population (2015 est.)
0.31% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
16,200 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
800 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2016)
12% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 136
13.3% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 56
5.2% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 114
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2013)
total number: 164,432
percentage: 10% (2005 est.)
total: 16.7%
male: 19.2%
female: 13.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Government :: TAJIKISTAN
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conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology: the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Tajikistan literally means "Land of the Tajik [people]"
presidential republic
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 33 N, 68 46 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994; amended 1999, 2003, 2014 (2016)
civil law system
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application
18 years of age; universal
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%
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 in 2020); Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in 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%, DPT 1.7%, other 6%; seats by party - PDPT 51, APT 5, PERT 3, SPT 1, CPT 2, DPT 1
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
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Rustam LATIFZODA]
Communist Party of Tajikistan or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Democratic Party of Tajikistan or DPT [Saidjafar ISMONOV]
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 ZOIROV]
Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFOROV]
Group 24 [Sharofiddin GADOEV] (banned)
New Tajikistan Party [Zayd SAIDOV] (unregistered, SAIDOV jailed since 2013)
Vatandor (Patriot) Movement [Dodojon ATOVULLOEV]
Youth for the Revival of Tajikistan [Maqsud IBROHIMOV] (banned, IBROHIMOV jailed in 2015)
Youth Party of Tajikistan [Izzat AMON] (unregistered)
Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan or IRPT [Muhiddin KABIRI] (banned)
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
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Elisabeth MILLARD (since 11 March 2016)
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
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
crown surmounted by seven, five-pointed stars; national colors: red, white, green
name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon 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
Economy :: TAJIKISTAN
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Tajikistan is a poor, mountainous country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, metals processing, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production, and today, Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the most important crop. Tajikistan imports approximately 60% of its food. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, antimony, 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.
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 have been equivalent to nearly 50% of GDP. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30-50% of GDP.
Since the end of the devastating, five-year civil war, the country has pursued half-hearted reforms and privatizations, but the poor business climate remains a hurdle to attracting investment. Tajikistan has sought to develop its substantial hydroelectricity potential through partnership with Russian and Iranian investors, and is pursuing completion of the Roghun dam - which, if built according to plan, would be the tallest dam in the world. However, the project will take at least 8 to 11 years to construct and faces financing shortfalls and opposition from downstream Uzbekistan.
Recent slowdowns in the Russian and Chinese economies, low commodity prices, and currency fluctuations are hampering economic growth in Tajikistan. By some estimates, the dollar value of remittances from Russia to Tajikistan dropped by more than 65% in 2015. The government faces challenges financing the public debt, which is equivalent to 35% of GDP, and the National Bank of Tajikistan has aggressively spent down reserves to bolster the weakening somoni, leaving little space for fiscal or monetary measures to counter any additional economic shocks.
$25.81 billion (2016 est.)
$24.35 billion (2015 est.)
$22.97 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 139
$6.612 billion (2015 est.)
6% (2016 est.)
6% (2015 est.)
6.7% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$3,000 (2016 est.)
$2,900 (2015 est.)
$2,800 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 193
12.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
12.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
13% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
household consumption: 116.1%
government consumption: 14.5%
investment in fixed capital: 13.8%
investment in inventories: 4%
exports of goods and services: 22.8%
imports of goods and services: -71.2% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 29.2%
industry: 21.6%
services: 49.2% (2016 est.)
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
aluminum, cement, vegetable oil
0.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
2.209 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
agriculture: 46.5%
industry: 10.7%
services: 42.8% (2013 est.)
2.5% (2013 est.)
2.5% (2012 est.)
note: official rates; actual unemployment is much higher
country comparison to the world: 17
35.6% (2013 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% (2009 est.)
32.6 (2006)
34.7 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 106
revenues: $1.841 billion
expenditures: $1.985 billion (2016 est.)
27.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
-2.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
6.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
NA%
country comparison to the world: 179
calendar year
8% (2016 est.)
10.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
4.8% (31 December 2013)
6.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 81
26% (31 December 2016 est.)
25.84% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$653.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$773 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$2.085 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.778 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.401 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
-$331 million (2016 est.)
-$470 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$530.8 million (2016 est.)
$572 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Turkey 19.7%, Kazakhstan 17.6%, Switzerland 13.7%, Iran 8.7%, Afghanistan 7.5%, Russia 5.1%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.8% (2015)
$2.34 billion (2016 est.)
$2.825 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs
China 42.3%, Russia 17.9%, Kazakhstan 13.1%, Iran 4.7% (2015)
$416.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$494.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$3.976 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$3.938 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$NA
$16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -
8.364 (2016 est.)
6.1631 (2015 est.)
6.1631 (2014 est.)
4.9348 (2013 est.)
4.76 (2012 est.)
Energy :: TAJIKISTAN
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16 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
12 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
1.3 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
33 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
5.3 million kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
91% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
181.6 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
78.6 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
12 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 91
445 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
14,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
427.9 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
12,870 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
12 million cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
224 million cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
212 million cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 94
3.7 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Communications :: TAJIKISTAN
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total subscriptions: 457,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
total: 8.489 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
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 stat (2016)
state-run TV broadcasters transmit nationally on 9 TV and 10 radio stations, and regionally on 4 stations; 31 independent TV and 20 radio stations broadcast locally and regionally; many households are able to receive Russian and other foreign stations via (2016)
.tj
total: 1.555 million
percent of population: 19% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Transportation :: TAJIKISTAN
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number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 802,470
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 105,376 mt-km (2015)
EY (2016)
24 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 131
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)
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2013)
total: 680 km
broad gauge: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 103
total: 27,767 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 97
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 98
Military and Security :: TAJIKISTAN
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Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Forces (2013)
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)
1.1% of GDP (2014)
Transnational Issues :: TAJIKISTAN
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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
stateless persons: 19,469 (2015)
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
