The Human Truth Foundation

Tajikistan (Republic of Tajikistan)

http://www.humantruth.info/tajikistan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#tajikistan

Tajikistan
Republic of Tajikistan
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index104th best
CapitalDushanbe
Land Area 139 960km21
LocationAsia
Population9.1m2
Life Expectancy71.59yrs (2017)3
GNI$4 548 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesTJ, TJK, 7625
Internet Domain.tj6
CurrencySomoni (TJS)7
Telephone+9928

1. Overview

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. Much of present-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbek SSR to the newly formed Tajik SSR in 1929. 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 1992-97. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents in 2010-12, including a mass prison-break from a Dushanbe detention facility, the country's first suicide car bombing in Khujand, and armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and government forces and criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community since the beginning of the NATO intervention in Afghanistan has brought increased economic and security assistance, which could create jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 2002, and became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverTajikistan´s awesomely dramatic highland landscapes are testing playgrounds for hardy climbers, trekkers and adventure travellers. Tajikistan is the only Central Asian republic to have so far suffered from civil war, and surrounded by Turkic-speaking `stans´, the only one where Persian is spoken. In a lofty mountain cul-de-sac at the furthest corner of the former Soviet domain, it still regards tourists as relative novelties. But this is not to say it doesn´t have a great deal to offer.

Aside from bustling Silk Road towns and colourful bazaars, Tajikistan´s main pull is the Pamir Mountains, a high-altitude plateau of intensely blue lakes, Kyrgyz yurts and rolling valleys that has impressed everyone from Marco Polo to Francis Younghusband.

The people are enormously hospitable but little English is spoken and transport is irregular. Tajikistan´s tourism potential is further restricted by long winters and infuriating border closures. But the marvels of the Wakhan Valley, the starkly beautiful `Roof of the World´ Pamirs and the breathtaking lakes and pinnacles of the Fan Mountains all make Tajikistan arguably Central Asia´s most exciting destination.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Tajikistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
119Kyrgyzstan0.692
120Venezuela0.691
121Iraq0.686
122Tajikistan0.685
123Belize0.683
124Morocco0.683
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
143Pakistan$4 624
144Marshall Islands$4 620
145Kyrgyzstan$4 566
146Tajikistan$4 548
147Kenya$4 474
148Timor-Leste (E. Timor)$4 461
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
101Bahamas89.6
102Azerbaijan89.9
103Nicaragua90.8
104Tajikistan90.8
105Nepal90.9
106Saudi Arabia91.4
Asia Avg87.1
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Tajikistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Tajikistan's population is predicted to fall to 9 016 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.19. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
92UAE9.6m
93Honduras9.6m
94Belarus9.5m
95Tajikistan9.1m
96Austria8.9m
97Serbia8.8m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
99St Kitts & Nevis71.7
100Ukraine71.6
101Bahamas71.6
102Tajikistan71.6
103Seychelles71.3
104St Lucia71.1
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
123Lesotho3.08
124Namibia3.08
125Zimbabwe3.15
126Tajikistan3.19
127Haiti3.19
128Gabon3.20
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
59Bahrain08.7
60Syria09.0
61Djibouti09.1
62Tajikistan09.1
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64Kiribati09.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
104Iran3.3%
105Kyrgyzstan3.3%
106Chad3.3%
107Tajikistan3.1%
108Cape Verde2.8%
109Burundi2.8%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
56Luxembourg11.8%
57Jordan11.3%
58Kyrgyzstan11.2%
59Tajikistan11.2%
60Cuba10.9%
61Mauritius10.9%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tajikistan #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
89Suriname86.9
90Azerbaijan87.1
91Singapore87.6
92Tajikistan88.0
93Ghana88.1
94St Vincent & Grenadines89.6
Asia Avg99.8
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Tajikistan is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. Tajikistan does better than average in opposing gender inequality20 and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights21. But unfortunately Tajikistan gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports22, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms23 (still good for Asia), LGBT equality24, freethought25 (still good for Asia), speed of uptake of HR treaties26 and in supporting press freedom27. And finally, it is the worst in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)28. Persecution of critics and opposition politicians continues29 and human rights defenders are harassed - 7 human rights lawyers have been arrested or imprisoned since 201429.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Tajikistan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #Tajikistan #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)30,31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30,31
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
...
26Nepal80.3
27Israel82.1
28Turkmenistan83.1
29Tajikistan83.1
30Turkey84.5
31Jordan84.8
32Vietnam85.4
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)30,31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30,31
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
57Macedonia82.5
58Croatia82.9
59Turkmenistan83.1
60Tajikistan83.1
61Canada83.5
62Poland83.5
63Czechia83.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives30. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau30.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean30, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa30.

For more, see:

Health:

Tajikistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Tajikistan comes in the best 20 in its suicide rate32. It does better than average in its immunizations take-up33, its alcohol consumption rate34, its smoking rate35 and in its adolescent birth rate20 (but bad for Asia). But, things still need to improve in Tajikistan. Tajikistan does worse than average in its average life expectancy11 and in its fertility rate14. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
99St Kitts & Nevis71.7
100Ukraine71.6
101Bahamas71.6
102Tajikistan71.6
103Seychelles71.3
104St Lucia71.1
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)34
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita34
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
57Benin3.0
58Togo3.1
59Central African Rep.3.3
60Tajikistan3.3
61Kenya3.4
62Mauritius3.6
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
123Lesotho3.08
124Namibia3.08
125Zimbabwe3.15
126Tajikistan3.19
127Haiti3.19
128Gabon3.20
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)35
Pos.Higher is worse35
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
89Norway 556
88Iceland 551
87S. Africa 537
86Tajikistan 533
85Cape Verde 515
84Pakistan 511
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate (2013)32
Pos.
Per 100k32
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
...
11Armenia3.9
12Dominican Rep.4.6
13St Lucia4.9
14Tajikistan5.2
15Venezuela6.5
16Malta6.9
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Overweight Adults (2016)36
Pos.Lower is better
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
68Brunei41.2
69Malaysia42.5
70Botswana43.4
71Tajikistan45.3
72Trinidad & Tobago46.0
73Antigua & Barbuda48.0
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)20
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100020
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
87Botswana32.3
88Romania34.6
89Bulgaria37.7
90Tajikistan38.1
91Vietnam38.6
92Pakistan38.7
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)33
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %33
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
44St Kitts & Nevis96.3
45Bahamas96.2
46Maldives96.2
47Tajikistan96.1
48Rwanda96.1
49Sao Tome & Principe96.0
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Tajikistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #it_security #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
...
29Jordan81.1
30Philippines81.8
31Lebanon85.7
32Tajikistan88.3
33Oman88.9
34Mongolia90.0
35Brunei91.6
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
113Venezuela87.1
114Morocco87.4
115Panama88.0
116Tajikistan88.3
117Oman88.9
118Greenland90.0
119Mongolia90.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2937
2Israel4.1137
3Japan3.5837
4Finland3.1737
5Sweden3.1637
...
102Namibia0.1438
103Georgia0.1339
104Gambia0.1340
105Tajikistan0.1241
106Burundi0.1240
107Madagascar0.1140
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)42
Pos.Higher is better42
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
30Ukraine94.6%
31Tonga93.7%
32Japan93.6%
33Tajikistan93.1%
34Barbados92.9%
35Albania92.9%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)43
Pos.Higher is better
Years43
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
141India11.9
142Kiribati11.8
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
145Micronesia11.5
146Vanuatu11.5
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Religiosity (2018)44
Pos.Lower is better
%44
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
44Mexico45
45Kyrgyzstan47
46Kosovo48
47Tajikistan50
48Romania50
49Georgia51
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)45
Pos.Higher is better45
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
154Nicaragua19%
155Uganda19%
156Zambia19%
157Tajikistan19%
158Cameroon18%
159Pakistan18%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security (2013)46
Pos.Lower is better46
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
41Saudi Arabia0.93
42Malaysia0.96
43Canada0.96
44Tajikistan1.01
45Brazil1.02
46Indonesia1.05
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
q=81.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Tajikistan has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)47
Pos.Lower is better47
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
60Israel49.4
61Philippines49.6
62Slovenia50.6
63Tajikistan50.7
64Panama52.5
65Kyrgyzstan54.9
Asia Avg62.5
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)48
Pos.Higher is better
Points48
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
153Nigeria24.0
154Cambodia24.0
155Afghanistan24.0
156Tajikistan24.0
157Zimbabwe23.0
158Myanmar (Burma)23.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)49
Pos.Higher is better49
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
77Portugal5.4
78Serbia5.4
79Greece5.4
80Tajikistan5.4
81Montenegro5.3
82Croatia5.3
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)50
Pos.Lower is better50
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
94Armenia2.08
95Sri Lanka2.08
96Benin2.09
97Tajikistan2.10
98Tunisia2.11
99Guinea-Bissau2.11
Asia Avg2.22
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)51
Pos.Lower is better
Score51
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
...
98Belgium3.64
99Angola3.78
100Tunisia3.94
101Tajikistan3.95
102Uganda3.96
103Mexico4.08
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)52
Pos.Higher is better
%52
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
72Estonia+01.2
73Seychelles+01.1
74Palestine+01.0
75Tajikistan+01.0
76Slovakia+01.0
77Russia+00.8
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)53
Pos.Higher is better53
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
126Senegal49.5
127Malawi49.2
128Guyana47.9
129Tajikistan47.9
130Kenya47.3
131Bhutan47.2
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)54
Pos.Higher is better54
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
76Kuwait07.58
77USA07.58
78Czechia07.46
79Tajikistan07.46
80Thailand07.41
81Cambodia07.35
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
167Turkey1997 May 15
168Gabon1997 Jun 12
169Burundi1997 Jul 14
170Tajikistan1998 Jan 27
171Liechtenstein1998 Feb 17
172Macedonia1998 Mar 02
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)55
Pos.Higher is better
%55
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
139Libya14.6%
140Iceland13.1%
141Uzbekistan11.3%
142Tajikistan11.1%
143Haiti10.0%
144Albania9.4%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)56
Pos.Higher is worse56
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
122Bhutan17.10
121Dominican Rep.17.00
120Sao Tome & Principe17.00
119Tajikistan16.70
118Micronesia16.10
117Iraq15.90
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)57
Pos.Lower is better
%57
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
49Jordan33.7
50Luxembourg33.8
51Sierra Leone34.0
52Tajikistan34.0
53Canada34.0
54Cyprus34.0
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)58
Pos.Lower is better
Severity58
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
4Turkmenistan.001
5Jordan.002
...
35S. Africa.025
36Indonesia.028
37Syria.029
38Tajikistan.029
39El Salvador.032
40Iraq.033
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #tajikistan

Religiosity (2018)44
Pos.Lower is better
%44
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
44Mexico45
45Kyrgyzstan47
46Kosovo48
47Tajikistan50
48Romania50
49Georgia51
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)59
Pos.Higher is better
%59
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
67Angola2
68Chile2
69Central African Rep.2
70Tajikistan2
71Turkmenistan2
72Indonesia2
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below60:

Christian1.6%
Muslim96.7%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated1.5%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 98.7% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 50% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)61.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Religion seems to be tightly controlled in TajikIstan, but it is Islam in particular that been made the subject to prejudiced and draconian legislation, combined with some harassment of those perceived to be Muslims29. A book-registration and blacklisting scheme is being used to limit the import of religious books29. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom designates Tajikistan as a "country of particular concern" with respect to religious freedom29.

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