Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Tajikistan is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. It is a UN member state, and its standard international identifiers come from the United Nations Statistical Commission and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This profile explains which facts about Tajikistan are stable, how to verify the figures that change, and how to tell the difference between a statistical category and a political claim. It is a starting point for comparison, not a travel or visa guide.
Stable identifiers
The following identifiers are maintained by the UN Statistics Division’s M49 standard and the World Bank country metadata API. M49 is a statistical coding scheme; it defines regions and subregions for data collection and does not make political or territorial claims. The World Bank capital field is administrative data, not a political statement.
- UN M49 code: 762
- ISO alpha-2: TJ
- ISO alpha-3: TJK
- UN region: Asia
- UN subregion: Central Asia
- UN member state: Yes
- World Bank capital field: Dushanbe
These codes remain stable even when borders, governments, or names change. For the authoritative list, see the UN M49 overview at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/ and the World Bank country API at https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/TJ?format=json.
How to verify figures that change
Population estimates, economic indicators, language data, and currency rates all shift. Instead of freezing a number here, use the primary sources below. For every figure you cite, record the definition, the source, and the reference year.
Population
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes biennial revisions through the World Population Prospects. The World Bank also publishes population estimates by nation through its indicator API (use SP.POP.TOTL). Both sources label the reference year, so check the date next to the number. The national source is the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, which conducts the census and household surveys. Its most recent census was in 2020, though full results may appear later than the enumeration date. When comparing figures, note whether the number is a census count, an estimate, or a projection, and whether it includes or excludes migrant workers abroad.
- UN data: https://population.un.org/wpp/
- World Bank country API: https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/TJ?format=json
Capital
Dushanbe. The World Bank API returns “Dushanbe” in the capitalCity field for Tajikistan. This is administrative metadata, not a political designation.
Currency
The national currency is the Tajikistani somoni (TJS). Currency codes are maintained by ISO 4217. Exchange rates move continuously; use a named rate source such as the National Bank of Tajikistan or an international financial data provider, and state the date. For current banknote and coin circulation, refer to the National Bank of Tajikistan.
Languages
Tajik is the state language, and Russian is designated for interethnic communication under the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan. Language usage figures are survey-based and change with migration and education policy. The CIA World Factbook and Ethnologue are useful secondary sources, but they may use different reference dates. For current language data, check the CIA World Factbook language section and UNESCO education statistics.
Government and legal status
Tajikistan is a presidential republic; the president is head of state and head of government. Constitutional provisions and current officeholders should be verified against the official government website or a current edition of the CIA World Factbook. Political descriptions are observational, not prescriptive. Within the UN M49 standard, Tajikistan is coded 762, assigned alpha-2 TJ and alpha-3 TJK, and grouped in the UN region Asia and subregion Central Asia. For boundary or sovereignty questions, attribute statements to the relevant official source.
Economy
The World Bank classifies Tajikistan as a low-income or lower-middle-income nation; the grouping can change annually. For GDP, GDP per capita, and poverty headcount, use the World Bank country API and cite the indicator, the source, and the reference year. Remittances are a significant share of GDP, but the figure changes; verify the current share from the World Bank or national statistics. GDP figures differ between nominal and purchasing power parity (PPP), and the Gini index is a measure of inequality, not wealth.
Data literacy: comparing sources
When you pull a figure for Tajikistan, ask three questions. First, is the number a census count, an estimate, or a projection? Census data is typically two to five years old and may undercount rural, migrant, and informal groups. Second, which organisation produced the number, and what method did they use? The UN and the World Bank both publish population estimates, but they rely on different demographic models and may differ. Third, what is the reference year? A figure without a date is not usable.
If you cite the CIA World Factbook, treat it as a secondary compilation and cross-check it against the primary source. For demographic and development data, the UN Population Division and the UNDP Human Development Report publish annual or biennial updates.
Travel, safety, and health
Visa policy and entry requirements change frequently. Refer to your own foreign ministry or the IATA Travel Centre for current visa rules. Do not rely on a static statement of specific visa requirements or fees.
This profile does not provide medical or security advice. Direct readers to their government’s travel advisory and the WHO country page for Tajikistan.
Sources
- UN M49 overview: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/
- World Bank country API: https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/TJ?format=json
- WHO country page: https://www.who.int/countries/tjk/
- UNESCO country page: https://uis.unesco.org/en/country/tj
- IMF country page: https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/TJK
- IANA root zone database: https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/tj.html
- IATA Travel Centre: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/
- CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tajikistan/
- Tajikistan national statistical agency: https://www.stat.tj/
- World Bank country overview: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/tajikistan
- UN member states list: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states
Read next
-
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Southern Asia, officially grouped by the United Nations under the M49 standard.
-
Armenia
Armenia is a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus, classified by the United Nations as part of Western Asia.
-
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Its UN M49 code is 031, its ISO alpha-2 code is AZ, and its ISO alpha-3 code is AZE.
-
Bahrain
Bahrain is an island nation in the Persian Gulf, classified by the United Nations as part of Western Asia.
-
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a UN member state in Southern Asia. Its official language is Bengali (Bangla) and the capital is Dhaka. The country code top-level domain is .bd.
-
Bhutan
Bhutan sits in the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between China to the north and India to the south, east and west.