Country Guide • Tajikistan

Flag of Tajikistan

Tajikistan is located in Central Asia and is a former republic of USSR. It is bound by Uzbekistan to the north west and west, Afghanistan to the south, China to the east and Kyrgyzstan to the north east. 93% of the republic is occupied by mountains, most notably by the sparsely populated Pamir Mountains.

Official NameRepublic of Tajikistan
Area143,100km² (55,300mile²)
Population6,863,752
ContinentAsia
Population per mile²124
Capital CityDushanbe
ReligionsSunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
LanguageTajik
GovernmentRepublic
CurrencyTajik Ruble
GDP$8 billion
GDP per Head$1,250
Natural ResourcesHydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land UseArable Land %
AgricultureCotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
IndustryAluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
TourismThe British and Foreign Commonwealth Office state: We advise against visits for tourism and suggest British nationals planning to visit Tajikistan for other purposes exercise caution. Though security is generally improving, we continue to advise against all non-essential travel in mountains and valleys of Central Tajikistan, and specifically the Karategin Valley, Tavildara, and Kofarnihon areas. We also advise against non-essential travel to the part mined mountainous areas bordering Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and districts bordering Afghanistan. We are not aware of any current specific terrorist threat to British nationals in Tajikistan, but believe that, as in other countries in the region, there is the potential for terrorist attacks by international groups
Natural HazardsEarthquakes and floods
Health RisksHepatitis A and E, altitude sickness, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid, undulant fever, and a slight risk of malaria in the south. Don't drink the water, ONLY USE BOTTLED, whatever the locals say
ClimateTajikistan has a continental climate with hot summers and severe cold winters. Average annual rainfall varies from 6 inches along the upper reaches of the Amu-Darya to 10 to 15 inches elsewhere. Average temperature ranges are from -4 to 0°C in January to 16 to 18°C in July
TimeGMT/UTC+5 hours
National DaysSeptember 9 - Independence Day
VisasBritish nationals require a visa to travel to Tajikistan, which usually takes at least 3 weeks to arrange. This is the case regardless of where (i.e. on arrival or at a Tajik Embassy abroad) the visa is issued. If you are travelling back to Russia, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, you should get the relevant re-entry visa before entering Tajikistan. Visas for Tajikistan are usually valid for three days. If you wish to stay longer, you must get a longer-term visa through Intourist Tajikistan or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Russian) after arrival
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

Information Only

The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.