Tajikistan (Republic of Tajikistan)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Tajikistan Republic of Tajikistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	132nd best
Capital	Dushanbe
Land Area	139 960km²₁
Location	Asia
Population	9.1m₂
Life Expectancy	71.59yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$4 548 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	TJ, TJK, 762₅
Internet Domain	.tj₆
Currency	Somoni (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

“Tajikistan´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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
119=	Kyrgyzstan	0.692
120	Venezuela	0.691
121	Iraq	0.686
122	Tajikistan	0.685
123=	Belize	0.683
123=	Morocco	0.683
125	El Salvador	0.675
126	Nicaragua	0.667
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
143	Pakistan	$4 624
144	Marshall Islands	$4 620
145	Kyrgyzstan	$4 566
146	Tajikistan	$4 548
147	Kenya	$4 474
148	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	$4 461
149	Syria	$4 192
150	Cambodia	$4 079
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
129	Bhutan	101.9
130	Senegal	103.5
131	Kenya	104.2
132	Tajikistan	104.8
133	Saudi Arabia	105.1
134	Namibia	106.4
135	Vanuatu	106.7
136	Palestine	106.8
	Asia Avg	92.4
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Tajikistan's population is predicted to fall to 9 016 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.14. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
92	UAE	9.6m
93	Honduras	9.6m
94	Belarus	9.5m
95	Tajikistan	9.1m
96	Austria	8.9m
97	Serbia	8.8m
98	Papua New Guinea	8.6m
99	Switzerland	8.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
99	St Kitts & Nevis	71.7
100	Ukraine	71.6
101	Bahamas	71.6
102	Tajikistan	71.6
103	Seychelles	71.3
104	St Lucia	71.1
105	Tonga	71.0
106	Mongolia	71.0
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
150	Kazakhstan	3.05
151	Puerto Rico	0.90
152	Tajikistan	3.14
153	Tuvalu	3.14
154	Papua New Guinea	3.17
155	Tonga	3.19
156	S. Korea	0.78
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
59	Bahrain	08.7
60	Syria	09.0
61=	Djibouti	09.1
61=	Tajikistan	09.1
63	Equatorial Guinea	09.4
64=	Kiribati	09.5
64=	Guatemala	09.5
64=	Saudi Arabia	09.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
104	Iran	3.3%
105	Kyrgyzstan	3.3%
106	Chad	3.3%
107	Tajikistan	3.1%
108	Cape Verde	2.8%
109	Burundi	2.8%
110	Chile	2.7%
111	Micronesia	2.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
56	Luxembourg	11.8%
57	Jordan	11.3%
58	Kyrgyzstan	11.2%
59	Tajikistan	11.2%
60	Cuba	10.9%
61	Mauritius	10.9%
62	Greece	10.8%
63	Mexico	10.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tajikistan #tajikistan_gender #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
133	Central African Rep.	109.1
134	Kuwait	109.5
135	Lebanon	109.6
136	Tajikistan	109.9
137	Ivory Coast	110.4
138	Sao Tome & Principe	111.8
	Asia Avg	109.13
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Tajikistan is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. 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 in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₃ (still good for Asia), freethought₂₄ (still good for Asia), LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₅ and in supporting press freedom₂₆. It falls into the worst-performing 20 in combatting modern slavery₂₇ and in its average Freedom in the World rating (one of the worst in Asia). 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:

Human Rights and Freedom in Tajikistan

5. Tajikistan's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
36	Jordan	103.7
37	Philippines	104.0
38	Bangladesh	105.4
39	Tajikistan	109.8
40	Cambodia	109.8
41	Myanmar	110.1
42	India	111.6
43	Nepal	115.8
44	Syria	120.7
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
131	Puerto Rico	108.3
132	Sao Tome & Principe	108.5
133	Botswana	108.7
134	Tajikistan	109.8
135	Cambodia	109.8
136	Myanmar	110.1
137	Venezuela	110.1
138	Nicaragua	111.1
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₁.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₁.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #suicide #tajikistan

Tajikistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Tajikistan does better than average in its suicide rate₃₂, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₃, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₄, its alcohol consumption rate₃₅ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₆. Tajikistan does not succeed in everything, however. Tajikistan does worse than average in terms of its average life expectancy₁₁, its adolescent birth rate₃₇, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₈ and in its fertility rate₁₅. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Tajikistan improved by +9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, just over the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Tajikistan's peak fertility rate was 7.04 in 1968.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
99	St Kitts & Nevis	71.7
100	Ukraine	71.6
101	Bahamas	71.6
102	Tajikistan	71.6
103	Seychelles	71.3
104	St Lucia	71.1
105	Tonga	71.0
106	Mongolia	71.0
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₅
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
57=	Benin	3.0
58	Togo	3.1
59=	Central African Rep.	3.3
59=	Tajikistan	3.3
61	Kenya	3.4
62	Mauritius	3.6
63	Malawi	3.7
64=	El Salvador	3.8
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
150	Kazakhstan	3.05
151	Puerto Rico	0.90
152	Tajikistan	3.14
153	Tuvalu	3.14
154	Papua New Guinea	3.17
155	Tonga	3.19
156	S. Korea	0.78
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₂
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
21	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.61
22	Tunisia	2.66
23	Mauritania	2.75
24	Tajikistan	2.81
25	Philippines	3.08
26	Myanmar	3.13
27	Bangladesh	3.14
28	Turkey	3.26
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		1976 %₃₆
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
80=	Solomon Islands	25.9
81	Grenada	26.2
82	Papua New Guinea	26.3
83	Tajikistan	26.4
84	Uzbekistan	27.1
85	St Kitts & Nevis	27.2
86=	Dominican Rep.	27.3
86=	Oman	27.3
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 %₃₉
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
79	Turkmenistan	20.2%
80	Luxembourg	20.2%
81	Andorra	20.5%
82	Tajikistan	20.8%
83	Mauritania	20.8%
84	Montenegro	21.1%
85	Italy	21.6%
86	Solomon Islands	21.6%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₇
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
114	Brazil	43.6
115	Egypt	43.6
116	Samoa	43.8
117	Tajikistan	44.9
118	Cambodia	45.7
119	St Vincent & Grenadines	46.5
120	Philippines	48.1
121	Botswana	48.3
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₃
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₃
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
41=	Seychelles	97.3
41=	Sri Lanka	97.3
41=	Latvia	97.3
41=	Tajikistan	97.3
45	Denmark	97.2
46=	Fiji	97.1
46=	Ghana	97.1
46=	St Kitts & Nevis	97.1
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₄
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₄
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
44	St Kitts & Nevis	96.3
45	Bahamas	96.2
46	Maldives	96.2
47	Tajikistan	96.1
48	Rwanda	96.1
49	Sao Tome & Principe	96.0
50	Malaysia	96.0
51	Croatia	95.9
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₈
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
128	Iraq	29.99
129	Micronesia	30.24
130	Syria	30.62
131	Tajikistan	31.41
132	Bhutan	32.24
133	Bolivia	33.37
134	Guyana	33.43
135	Cambodia	33.56
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Tajikistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
50	Turkmenistan	134.1
51	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
185	Palau	124.5
186	Grenada	125.0
187	Tuvalu	127.4
188	Tajikistan	128.6
189	Niue	129.5
190	Brunei	130.2
191	Somalia	131.0
192	N. Korea	132.3
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Tajikistan ranks 12th-worst in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Tajikistan does better than average in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₃. But that's it. Tajikistan has problems. It does worse than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its environmental performance₄₄ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆ (one of the lowest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		Total₄₂
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
57	Lebanon	3.8%
58	Bosnia & Herzegovina	3.6%
59	Djibouti	3.6%
60	Tajikistan	3.4%
61	Belgium	3.3%
62	Croatia	2.9%
63	Netherlands	2.8%
64	UAE	2.5%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₄
Pos.		2018₄₄
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
126	Senegal	49.5
127	Malawi	49.2
128	Guyana	47.9
129	Tajikistan	47.9
130	Kenya	47.3
131	Bhutan	47.2
132	Vietnam	47.0
133	Indonesia	46.9
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₅
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
131	Belarus	1.64
132	St Lucia	1.65
133	S. Korea	1.67
134	Tajikistan	1.67
135	Mongolia	1.68
136	China	1.68
137	UAE	1.73
138	Zimbabwe	1.74
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, Tajikistan was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most, and maintained these improvements into the 2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
123	Namibia	54%
124	Algeria	54%
125	Dominican Rep.	54%
126	Tajikistan	54%
127	St Kitts & Nevis	54%
128	Dominica	54%
129	Barbados	54%
130	Congo, (Brazzaville)	53%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
138	Denmark	14.9%
139	Libya	14.6%
140	Iceland	13.1%
141	Uzbekistan	11.3%
142	Tajikistan	11.1%
143	Haiti	10.0%
144	Albania	9.4%
145	Turkmenistan	8.6%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2021 kg₄₃
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
57	Nicaragua	31.5
58	Iran	31.6
59	Morocco	32.1
60	Tajikistan	32.4
61	Mauritania	32.4
62	Philippines	32.9
63	Burkina Faso	33.3
64	Central African Rep.	34.4
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Tajikistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
25	Brunei	78.9
26	Philippines	80.3
27	Turkmenistan	81.7
28	Tajikistan	83.9
29	India	87.2
30	Jordan	88.0
31	Iran	89.6
32	Saudi Arabia	91.7
33	N. Korea	94.5
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
100	Turkmenistan	81.7
101	Fiji	82.1
102	Trinidad & Tobago	83.1
103	Tajikistan	83.9
104	El Salvador	85.4
105	India	87.2
106	Antigua & Barbuda	87.5
107	Algeria	87.5
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₄₈. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₁
2	Israel	4.11₅₁
3	Japan	3.58₅₁
	...
102	Namibia	0.14₅₂
103=	Georgia	0.13₅₃
103=	Gambia	0.13₅₄
105=	Tajikistan	0.12₅₅
105=	Burundi	0.12₅₄
107=	Madagascar	0.11₅₄
107=	Philippines	0.11₅₆
107=	Myanmar	0.11₅₇
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2025 %₅₈
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
86=	Moldova	95
86=	Mexico	95
86=	Philippines	95
86=	Tajikistan	95
86=	S. Africa	95
86=	Cuba	95
86=	Ukraine	95
86=	Ireland	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1922, as part of the USSR. Progression:

1960 (90%): USSR metric standards in official sectors.
1970 (95%): Further standardization.
1980 (95%): High completeness.
2000 (95%): Post-independence continuity.
2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better₅₉
Pos.		2018 %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #tajikistan

In the 1990s, Tajikistan reduced its expected duration of education by over 2 years, whereas most of the world's countries increased theirs; no other country saw such a large loss. ₆₀

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2018₆₁
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
30	Ukraine	94.6%
31	Tonga	93.7%
32	Japan	93.6%
33	Tajikistan	93.1%
34	Barbados	92.9%
35	Albania	92.9%
36	Belarus	92.2%
37	Marshall Islands	92.1%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2021 Years₆₂
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
141	India	11.9
142	Kiribati	11.8
143	Nauru	11.7
144	Tajikistan	11.7
145	Micronesia	11.5
146	Vanuatu	11.5
147	Cambodia	11.5
148	Lebanon	11.3
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
140	India	50%
141	Nicaragua	49%
142	Nepal	48%
143	Tajikistan	47%
144	Lesotho	46%
145	Sri Lanka	45%
146	Vanuatu	45%
147	Cameroon	42%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IT Security Lower is better₆₃
Pos.		2013₆₃
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
41	Saudi Arabia	0.93
42	Malaysia	0.96
43	Canada	0.96
44	Tajikistan	1.01
45	Brazil	1.02
46	Indonesia	1.05
47	British Virgin Islands	1.08
48	Mali	1.12
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2024₆₄
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
111	Burkina Faso	27.0%
112	Tanzania	26.9%
113	Uganda	26.9%
114	Tajikistan	25.9%
115	Zimbabwe	24.9%
116	Mali	24.9%
117	Ethiopia	23.7%
118	Cameroon	23.4%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Tajikistan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₆₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₅
1	Singapore	18.1
2	Hong Kong	36.9
3	Japan	38.5
	...
32	Saudi Arabia	91.3
33	Uzbekistan	93.8
34	India	94.9
35	Tajikistan	98.5
36	Azerbaijan	99.4
37	Nepal	100.2
38	Palestine	100.9
39	Bangladesh	104.5
40	Iran	104.6
	Asia Avg	84.83
q=51.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₅
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
125	Sao Tome & Principe	96.1
126	Cape Verde	97.4
127	Zambia	98.3
128	Tajikistan	98.5
129	Azerbaijan	99.4
130	Malawi	99.8
131	Nepal	100.2
132	Palestine	100.9
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

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

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2022 %₆₆
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
68=	Malawi	39.0
68=	Slovenia	39.0
68=	Burkina Faso	39.0
68=	Tajikistan	39.0
68=	Peru	39.0
73=	Uzbekistan	38.0
73=	Chile	38.0
73=	Mali	38.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2022 Points₆₇
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
153=	Nigeria	24.0
153=	Cambodia	24.0
153=	Afghanistan	24.0
153=	Tajikistan	24.0
157=	Zimbabwe	23.0
157=	Myanmar	23.0
157=	Azerbaijan	23.0
157=	Honduras	23.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better₆₈
Pos.		2024 Score₆₈
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
87	Armenia	5.5
88	Hong Kong	5.5
89=	Albania	5.4
89=	Tajikistan	5.4
91	Georgia	5.4
92	Nepal	5.3
93	Laos	5.3
94	Turkey	5.3
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₉
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₉
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
143=	Burkina Faso	58.8
143=	India	58.8
143=	Mauritania	58.8
146	Tajikistan	58.5
147	Gabon	58.0
148	Ivory Coast	57.3
149	Senegal	56.8
150	Madagascar	56.5
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

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

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		2023 Score₇₀
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
98	Ecuador	2.10
99	Cuba	2.10
100	Turkmenistan	2.11
101	Tajikistan	2.11
102	Kyrgyzstan	2.12
103=	Peru	2.13
103=	Guatemala	2.13
103=	Togo	2.13
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₁
Pos.		2019 Score₇₁
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
98	Belgium	3.64
99	Angola	3.78
100	Tunisia	3.94
101	Tajikistan	3.95
102	Uganda	3.96
103	Mexico	4.08
104	Venezuela	4.10
105	Chile	4.12
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

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

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₇₂
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %₇₂
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
74	Ecuador	6.03%
75	Peru	6.27%
76	Indonesia	7.68%
77	Tajikistan	7.84%
78	Georgia	8.11%
79	Equatorial Guinea	8.79%
80	Guatemala	9.66%
81	Colombia	10.42%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, the data shows that half of Tajikistan's population rose above the poverty bracket.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₃
Pos.		2019₇₃
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
116	Philippines	15.30
117	Iraq	15.90
118	Micronesia	16.10
119	Tajikistan	16.70
120=	Dominican Rep.	17.00
120=	Sao Tome & Principe	17.00
122=	Bhutan	17.10
122=	Venezuela	17.10
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₄
Pos.		2023 %₇₄
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₅
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₅
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₆
	...
70=	Switzerland	33.7%₇₆
71=	Spain	33.9%₇₅
71=	Romania	33.9%₇₅
73	Tajikistan	34.0%₇₇
74	Sudan	34.2%₇₈
75=	Australia	34.3%₇₉
75=	Montenegro	34.3%₇₅
75=	Latvia	34.3%₇₅
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Tajikistan - only for 6 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₈₀
Pos.		2018 Severity₈₀
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
35	S. Africa	.025
36	Indonesia	.028
37	Syria	.029
38	Tajikistan	.029
39	El Salvador	.032
40	Iraq	.033
41	Suriname	.041
42	Mongolia	.042
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)₅₉
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₈₁
Pos.		Higher is better %₈₁
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
67=	Angola	2
67=	Chile	2
67=	Central African Rep.	2
67=	Tajikistan	2
67=	Turkmenistan	2
67=	Indonesia	2
73=	Paraguay	1
73=	Nicaragua	1
73=	Bolivia	1
73=	Colombia	1
73=	Costa Rica	1
73=	Honduras	1
73=	Brazil	1
73=	Ecuador	1
73=	S. Africa	1
73=	Venezuela	1
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₂:

	2010	2020
Muslim	98.9%	98.9%
Christian	1%	1%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None

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 99.9% 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:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)₈₃.

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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