Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-97 civil war. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
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Location:
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Central Asia, west of China
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Geographic coordinates:
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39 00 N, 71 00 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Wisconsin
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
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Terrain:
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Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
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Land use:
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arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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7,220 sq km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes and floods
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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7,320,815 (July 2006 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,396,349/female 1,375,168)
15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,091,476/female 2,108,889)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 154,162/female 194,771) (2006 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 20 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.4 years (2006 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.19% (2006 est.)
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Birth rate:
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32.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Death rate:
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8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 106.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 117.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 94.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.94 years
male: 62.03 years
female: 68 years (2006 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 200 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
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Ethnic groups:
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Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6% (2000 census)
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
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Languages:
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Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.1% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
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Independence:
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9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
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Constitution:
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6 November 1994
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Emomali RAHMONOV reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 79.3%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the former president; all serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 February and 13 March 2005 for the Assembly of Representatives (next to be held February 2010) and 25 March 2005 for the National Assembly (next to be held February 2010)
election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005); Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOYEV]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV]; Party of Justice [Abdurahim KARIMOV]; People's Unity Party [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Socialist Party [Mirhuseyn NAZRIYEV]; note - this is the SPT that was disbanded, another pro-government SPT (listed above under political parties) replaced it; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
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International organization participation:
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AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734003
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 6% of the land area is arable; cotton is the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of the population continue to live in abject poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, and to 7% in 2006. Tajikistan's economic situation, however, remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the external debt burden. Continued privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises could increase productivity. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt to Russia. Tajikistan ranks third in the world in terms of water resources per head. A proposed investment to finish the hydropower dams Rogun and Sangtuda I and II would substantially add to electricity production, which could be exported for profit. If finished, Rogun will be the world's tallest dam. In 2006, Tajikistan was the recipient of substantial infrastructure development credits from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to improve its roads and electricity transmission network. To help increase north-south trade, the United States is constructing a $36 million bridge linking Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$9.405 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$2.066 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$1,300 (2006 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 48.8% (2006 est.)
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Labor force:
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3.7 million (2003)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 67.2%
industry: 7.5%
services: 25.3% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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12% (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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64% (2004 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1998)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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34.7 (1998)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7.5% (2006 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $527.5 million
expenditures: $622 million; including capital expenditures of $86 million (2006 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
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Industries:
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aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
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Industrial production growth rate:
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8.2% (2002 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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16.5 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - consumption:
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15.7 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - exports:
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4.459 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - imports:
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4.81 billion kWh (2004)
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Oil - production:
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252.8 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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28,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day
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Natural gas - production:
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39 million cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.389 billion cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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1.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$-73.95 million (2006 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
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Exports - partners:
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Netherlands 46.6%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 9.1%, Uzbekistan 7.3%, Latvia 4.9%, Iran 4% (2005)
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Imports:
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$1.513 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 19.3%, Kazakhstan 12.7%, Uzbekistan 11.5%, Azerbaijan 8.6%, China 7%, Ukraine 6.2%, Romania 4.6%, Turkmenistan 4% (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$209.2 million (2006 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$829 million (2006 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$67 million from US (2005)
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Currency (code):
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somoni
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Exchange rates:
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Tajikistani somoni per US dollar - 3.3 (2006), 3.1166 (2005), 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003), 2.7641 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Military branches:
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Ground Troops, Air and Air Defense Troops, Mobile Troops (2005)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 1,556,415
females age 18-49: 1,568,780 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 1,244,941
females age 18-49: 1,297,891 (2005 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 87,846
females age 18-49: 85,869 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3.9% (2005 est.)
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007
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