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Central Asia :: Tajikistan

- ## Introduction :: TAJIKISTAN

- Background:
  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. 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 endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, 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. 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 major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.

- ## Geography :: TAJIKISTAN

- Location:
  Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
  Geographic coordinates:
  39 00 N, 71 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 144,100 sq km
  land: 141,510 sq km
  water: 2,590 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Wisconsin
  Land boundaries:
  total: 4,130 km
  border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 km, China 477 km, Kyrgyzstan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1,312 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
  Terrain:
  Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
  highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
  Natural resources:
  hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 34.7%
  arable land 6.1%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 27.7%
  forest: 2.9%
  other: 62.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  7,421 sq km (2009)
  Total renewable water resources:
  21.91 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 11.49 cu km/yr (6%/4%/91%)
  per capita: 1,740 cu m/yr (2006)
  Natural hazards:
  earthquakes; floods
  Environment - current issues:
  inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR

- ## People and Society :: TAJIKISTAN

- Nationality:
  noun: Tajikistani(s)
  adjective: Tajikistani
  Ethnic groups:
  Tajik 84.3%, Uzbek 13.8% (includes Lakai, Kongrat, Katagan, Barlos, Yuz), other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2010 est.)
  Languages:
  Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
  note: different ethnic groups speak Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Pashto
  Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
  Population:
  8,191,958 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32.75% (male 1,365,565/female 1,317,285)
  15-24 years: 19.7% (male 818,661/female 795,125)
  25-54 years: 39.26% (male 1,590,051/female 1,626,091)
  55-64 years: 5.1% (male 191,688/female 226,134)
  65 years and over: 3.19% (male 109,084/female 152,274) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 60.9%
  youth dependency ratio: 56%
  elderly dependency ratio: 4.8%
  potential support ratio: 20.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 23.9 years
  male: 23.4 years
  female: 24.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.71% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Birth rate:
  24.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Death rate:
  6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Net migration rate:
  -1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 26.8% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.62% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  DUSHANBE (capital) 822,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  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 (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 33.93 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 38.23 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 29.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 67.39 years
  male: 64.28 years
  female: 70.66 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Total fertility rate:
  2.71 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  27.9% (2012)
  Health expenditures:
  6.8% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Physicians density:
  1.92 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  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.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.35% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  16,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: malaria (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  12% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  13.3% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Education expenditures:
  4% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.8%
  male: 99.8%
  female: 99.7% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 10 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 164,432
  percentage: 10% (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 16.7%
  male: 19.2%
  female: 13.7% (2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72

- ## Government :: TAJIKISTAN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
  conventional short form: Tajikistan
  local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
  local short form: Tojikiston
  former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
  Government type:
  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)
  Administrative divisions:
  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
  Independence:
  9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994; amended 1999, 2003 (2009)
  Legal system:
  civil law system
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  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%
  Legislative branch:
  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 2020); Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held 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%, Democratic Party 1.7%, other 6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, APT 5, PERT 3, SPT 1, CPT 2, Democratic Party 1
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]
  Communist Party of Tajikistan or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
  Democratic Party of Tajikistan [Saidjafar ISMONOV]
  Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan or IRPT [Muhiddin KABIRI]
  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 ZOYIROV]
  Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFOROV]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  influential religious leader Akbar TURAJONZODA
  New Tajikistan party [Zayd SAIDOV] (unregistered)
  Guruhi-24 (Group-24) [Umarali QUVVATOV] (unregistered opposition group)
  presidential candidate of Union of Reformist Forces of Tajikistan Oynihol BOBONAZAROVA (unregistered)
  Vatandor (Patriot) Movement [Dodojon ATOVULLOEV]
  Youth Party of Tajikistan [Izzat AMON] (unregistered)
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Susan M. ELLIOTT (since 25 July 2012)
  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
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  crown surmounted by seven, five-pointed stars; national colors: red, white, green
  National anthem:
  name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
  lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Suleiman 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

- Economy - overview:
  Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to the uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and its large external debt burden. Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. 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 amount to nearly 50% of GDP. Less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the most important crop. Tajikistan imports approximately 60% of its food, mostly by rail. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, 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. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30-50% of GDP. Tajikistan has sought to develop its substantial hydroelectricity potential through partnership with Russian and Iranian investors. The government is pinning its drive for energy independence on completion of the Roghun dam, which will take at least 8 to 11 years to construct, according to a World Bank feasibility study that was published in July 2014. If built according to plan, Roghun would be the tallest dam in the world and would significantly expand Tajikistan’s electricity output. However, Uzbekistan opposes the project, which has damaged relations between the two countries. Uzbekistan closed one of the rail lines into Tajikistan in late 2011, hampering the transit of goods to and from the southern part of the country. As a result, food and fuel prices in Tajikistan have increased to the highest levels since 2002.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $22.32 billion (2014 est.)
  $20.92 billion (2013 est.)
  $19.48 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 140
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $9.242 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.7% (2014 est.)
  7.4% (2013 est.)
  7.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $2,700 (2014 est.)
  $2,500 (2013 est.)
  $2,300 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Gross national saving:
  5.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  12.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  15.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 107.3%
  government consumption: 12%
  investment in fixed capital: 12.8%
  investment in inventories: 9.4%
  exports of goods and services: 15.1%
  imports of goods and services: -56.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 27.2%
  industry: 21.6%
  services: 51.2% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
  Industries:
  aluminum, cement, vegetable oil
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Labor force:
  2.209 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 46.5%
  industry: 10.7%
  services: 42.8% (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  2.5% (2013 est.)
  2.5% (2012 est.)
  note: official rates; actual unemployment is much higher
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Population below poverty line:
  35.6% (2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  32.6 (2006)
  34.7 (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Budget:
  revenues: $2.828 billion
  expenditures: $2.868 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  30.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Public debt:
  6.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  NA%
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.1% (2014 est.)
  5.4% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.8% (31 December 2013)
  6.5% (31 December 2012)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  22% (31 December 2014 est.)
  6.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.329 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Stock of broad money:
  $2.085 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.778 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.598 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.362 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  $NA
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$839 million (2014 est.)
  -$330 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Exports:
  $654.8 million (2014 est.)
  $794.1 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Exports - commodities:
  aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
  Exports - partners:
  Turkey 23.2%, Iran 13%, Afghanistan 10.7%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Italy 8.5%, Bangladesh 7.4%, China 6.9%, Russia 5.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $4.348 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  China 46.6%, Russia 16.8%, Kazakhstan 10.5%, Turkey 5.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $651.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $660.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Debt - external:
  $3.821 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.714 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $2.272 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  $16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
  Exchange rates:
  Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -
  4.916 (2014 est.)
  4.7644 (2013 est.)
  4.76 (2012 est.)
  4.6103 (2011 est.)
  4.379 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: TAJIKISTAN

- Electricity - production:
  17.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Electricity - consumption:
  16.09 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Electricity - exports:
  1 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Electricity - imports:
  300.5 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  4.476 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  91% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Crude oil - production:
  206 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  12 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  15,290 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  20,090 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Natural gas - production:
  3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Natural gas - consumption:
  3.928 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Natural gas - imports:
  188 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  2.618 million Mt (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144

- ## Communications :: TAJIKISTAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 440,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Telephone system:
  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 stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state-run TV broadcaster transmits nationally on 4 stations and regionally on 4 stations; 11 independent TV stations broadcast locally and regionally; some households are able to receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite; state-run radio broadcaster operates Radio Tajikistan, Voice of Dushanbe, and several regional stations; a small number of independent radio stations (2010)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  16 (number of licensed stations with only about 10 broadcasting) (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  24 (number of licensed stations with only about 15 active) (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .tj
  Internet users:
  total: 1.3 million
  percent of population: 16.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118

- ## Transportation :: TAJIKISTAN

- Airports:
  24 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m:
  5 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 680 km
  broad gauge: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Roadways:
  total: 27,767 km (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Waterways:
  200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 98

- ## Military :: TAJIKISTAN

- Military branches:
  Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Forces (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,012,790
  females age 16-49: 2,020,618 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,490,267
  females age 16-49: 1,675,083 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 76,430
  female: 74,038 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: TAJIKISTAN

- Disputes - international:
  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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 1,364 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  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

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