World Factbook
Tajikistan
Jumhurii Tojikiston
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown under seven five-pointed gold stars is in the center of the white stripe meaning: red stands for the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation; white for purity, cotton, and mountain snows; green for Islam and nature's bounty; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the stars represent the number seven, which is considered a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness
Capital
name
Dushanbe
etymology
the name means Monday in Persian; today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar was held on Mondays, or the second day ( du ) after Saturday ( shambe )
time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
38 33 N, 68 46 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan’s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended
Country name
former
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the Persian suffix - ostan means "land," so the country name means "Land of the Tajik [people];" the name Tajik comes from the Sanskrit tajika , a name originally used to distinguish Arabs from Turks and derived from the Tay, an Arab people
local long form
Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form
Tojikiston
conventional long form
Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form
Tajikistan
Independence
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, family, criminal, administrative offense, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, deputy chairman, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists of 16 judicial positions)
subordinate courts
regional and district courts; Dushanbe City Court; viloyat (province-level) courts; Court of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no term limits, but the last appointment must occur before the age of 65
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
chief of state
President Emomali RAHMON (since 16 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since 20 November 1992)
election results
2020 : Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA (APT) 3.1%, other 4.8% 2013: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV CPT) 5%, other 11%
head of government
Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)
most recent election date
11 October 2020
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (two-term limit), but as the "Leader of the Nation," president has no term limit; prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
National color(s)
red, white, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c); Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c); Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve (n); Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (c)
Political parties
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT Democratic Party or DPT Party of Economic Reforms or PERT People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT
Legislative branch
legislature name
Supreme Council (Majlisi Oli)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
history
adopted 1994; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem, but adopted new lyrics
lyrics/music
Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV
National symbol(s)
arc of seven five-pointed stars over a crown, Marco Polo sheep
Administrative divisions
2 provinces ( viloyatho , singular - viloyat ), 1 autonomous province* ( viloyati mukhtor ), 1 capital region** ( viloyati poytakht ), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Majlisi namoyandogon)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
63 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/2/2025
expected date of next election
March 2030
percentage of women in chamber
28.6%
parties elected and seats per party
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) (49); Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) (7); Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) (5); Other (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Majlisi milli)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
33 (25 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/28/2025
expected date of next election
March 2030
percentage of women in chamber
30.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 223-6091
chancery
1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 223-6090
chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Zavqi ZAVQIZODA (since 14 November 2025)
email address and website
tajemus@mfa.tj https://mfa.tj/en/washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[992] (37) 229-20-50
embassy
109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019
telephone
[992] (37) 229-20-00
mailing address
7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC 20521-7090
chief of mission
Ambassador Manuel P. MICALLER Jr. (since 9 March 2023)
email address and website
DushanbeConsular@state.gov https://tj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction