Economy overview: Tajikistan has the lowest GDP per capita among the 15 former Soviet republics. Cotton is the most important crop. Minerals are diverse – silver, gold, uranium and tungsten – but their reserves are limited. Industry includes a large aluminum smelter, hydroelectric power plants, and small light and food industries with outdated equipment. The Tajik economy has been severely weakened by six years of civil war and the loss of Moscow’s subsidies and markets for its products. Most people live in humiliating poverty. Tajikistan is dependent on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as international humanitarian aid, to meet basic needs. The future of the Tajik economy and the potential to attract foreign investment depend on maintaining stability and progress in a peaceful settlement. See topb2bwebsites.com to know more about Tajikistan in 2004. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $7.3 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $1,140 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 19.8%; industry: 18.1%; services: 62.1% (1997). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 80% (2000 est.). Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: 33% (2000 est.). Labor force: 1.9 million people (1996). Employment structure: agriculture and forestry 50%, industry 20%, services 30% (1997 est.). Unemployment rate: 5.7%, includes only officially registered unemployed; there is also a large number of underemployed and unregistered unemployed (December 1998). Budget: revenues: $146 million; expenditures: $196 million, including capital expenditures – NA (2000 est.). Economic sectors: Growth in industrial production: 10% (2000 est.). Electricity generation: 15.623 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 1.9%; hydropower: 98.1%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 14.729 billion kWh (1999) Export of electricity: 3.9 billion kWh (1999). Electricity import: 4.1 billion kWh (1999). Agricultural products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats. Exports: $761 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruit, vegetable oil, textiles. Export partners: Liechtenstein 26%, Uzbekistan 20%, Russia 8% (1998). Imports: $782 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Imports: electricity, oil products, alumina, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Import partners: Europe 32.3%, Uzbekistan 29%, Russia 13.6% (1998). External debt: $1.3 billion (1999 est.). Economic aid recipient: $64.7 million (1995) Donor of economic assistance: Currency: somoni. Currency code: SM. Exchange rate: SM/USD1 – 2.2 (January 2001), 1,550 (January 2000), 998 (January 1999), 350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996); note: the new currency was introduced on October 30, 2000, one somoni is equal to 1,000 old Tajik rubles. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 363,000 (1999). Mobile cell phones: 2,500 (1997). Telephone system: poorly developed and poorly maintained; many cities are not connected to the national network; internal: cable and microwave radio relay; international: cable and microwave radio relay communication with other CIS republics and via leased channels with the Moscow international exchange; Dushanbe is connected via Intelsat to an international exchange in Ankara (Turkey); ground satellite stations – 1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat. Broadcast stations: AM – 9, FM – 6, shortwave – 5 (1998). Radio receivers: 1.291 million (1991) Television broadcast stations: 0 (however, programs are being rebroadcast from Russia, Iran and Turkey) (1997). Televisions: 860,000 (1991). Internet country code: tj Internet service providers: unknown. Number of users: 2,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total: 480 km of public use; excluding industrial lines (1990). Motorways: total: 29,900 km; paved: 21,400 km (these roads are considered to be paved, some paved, others gravel and usable regardless of weather conditions); unpaved: 8,500 km (these roads become unusable in rainy weather) (1990). Pipelines: for natural gas – 400 km (1992). Ports and harbours: no. Airports: 53 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 2; from 1524 to 2437 m:1; less than 914 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 51; over 3,047 m: 1; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2; from 914 to 1,523 m: 12; less than 914 m: 36 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: army, air force, air defense, presidential national guard, security forces (internal and border troops). Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total military manpower: men 15 to 49 pets: 1,586,700 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men 15 to 49 pets: 1,300,252 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 72,056 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $17 million (1997) Military spending as part of GDP: 1.8% (1997).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: some sections of the northern and western border with Uzbekistan and the eastern border with China are not demarcated; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan over the northern border in the Isfara Valley. Illicit drugs: major transit point for heroin and opiates from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis, predominantly for domestic consumption.
