COUNTRY FACT SHEET THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN May 2014 This Country Fact Sheet was financed by the European Refugee Fund and the Austrian Federal Office for Asylum and Immigration. The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Publisher: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Country Office for Austria Nibelungengasse 13/4 1010 Vienna Austria Tel: +43.1.585 33 22 Fax: +43.1.585 33 22 30 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.iom.int _____________________________________________________ © 2014 International Organization for Migration (IOM) _____________________________________________________ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Methodology and Sources .................................................................................................... 6 2. GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................. 7 2.1. Geography ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.2. Climate ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.3. Natural Resources ................................................................................................................ 7 2.4. Land Distribution ................................................................................................................. 8 2.5. Land Use .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.6. Population ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.7. Ethnic Minorities ............................................................................................................... 10 2.8. Religions ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.9. Languages ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.10. National Holidays in Tajikistan ........................................................................................ 11 3. INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................... 12 3.1. General Information .......................................................................................................... 12 3.2. The President .................................................................................................................... 12 3.2.1. Last Presidential Elections .............................................................................................. 13 3.3. Legislative ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.1. Last Parliamentary Elections ........................................................................................... 14 3.4. The Government ................................................................................................................ 14 3.5. Judiciary ............................................................................................................................ 14 3.6. International Actors Present in the Country ........................................................................ 15 4. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................................ 22 4.1. General information .......................................................................................................... 22 4.2. Gross Domestic Product ..................................................................................................... 23 4.3. Labour Force and Unemployment ....................................................................................... 24 4.4. Public Budget .................................................................................................................... 24 4.5. Industrial Production Growth Rate ..................................................................................... 25 4.6. Trade Balance .................................................................................................................... 25 4.7. Foreign Direct Investment .................................................................................................. 25 4.8. Development Assistance .................................................................................................... 25 4.9. Links and Contacts ............................................................................................................. 26 5. INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................... 27 5.1. Banking System ................................................................................................................. 27 5.2. Telecommunication ........................................................................................................... 38 5.2.1. Telephone .................................................................................................................. 38 5.2.2. Mobile Phone Services ............................................................................................... 38 5.2.3. Internet ...................................................................................................................... 39 5.3. Postal Services ................................................................................................................... 41 5.4. Transportation ................................................................................................................... 42 5.4.1. Road .......................................................................................................................... 42 5.4.2. Air ............................................................................................................................. 43 5.4.3. Train .......................................................................................................................... 46 3 5.5. Energy and Electricity......................................................................................................... 47 5.6. Water Supply ..................................................................................................................... 48 5.7. Agriculture ........................................................................................................................ 48 5.8. Drought ............................................................................................................................. 49 6. SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION ..................................................................................................... 50 6.1. General Information .......................................................................................................... 50 6.1.1. Human Development Index ........................................................................................ 50 6.1.2. Population Below Poverty Line ................................................................................... 50 6.1.3. Availability of Basic Commodities ............................................................................... 50 6.2. Social System ..................................................................................................................... 54 6.2.1. General Information ................................................................................................... 54 6.2.2. Average Wage and Minimum Wage ............................................................................. 56 6.2.3. Family Benefits ........................................................................................................... 56 6.2.4. Maternity Allowance .................................................................................................. 56 6.2.5. Temporary Disability Benefits ..................................................................................... 57 6.2.6. Funeral Benefits ........................................................................................................