Tajikistan is a small country with a rapidly growing economy. GDP in 2024 was about $14.8 billion and has witnessed robust growth in recent years, averaging 7.7 percent between 2021 and 2024. The economy expanded by 8.4 percent in 2024, fueled by strong domestic demand enabled by remittances from Russia and rising exports from the mining sector. Tajikistan’s population is about 10.6 million people, with an estimated one to two million Tajiks residing in Russia as labor migrants. The median age of the population is 24.5 years, with a quarter of the population living in cities. 

Tajikistan has an abundance of untapped natural resources, including gold, silver, antimony, copper, coal, and zinc. Construction materials, such as concrete, gypsum, slate, and marble are also of increasing importance. It is home to the largest glaciers in Asia and has abundant wildlife, especially in its sparsely settled eastern regions. Adventure tourism and eco-tourism are nascent industries. In recent years, the capital Dushanbe has developed rapidly; it is widely regarded as a safe city. Tajikistan only has three cities with populations above 100,000 – Dushanbe, Khujand, and Bokhtar. The economy is largely reliant on imports for food, energy, consumer and industrial goods. Tajikistan’s most exported goods in 2024 included minerals – 24 percent; precious metals - 17.8 percent; antimony - 13.3 percent; cotton yarn - 10.9 percent; and primary aluminum - 10.4 percent.

Tajikistan’s electricity predominantly comes from hydropower, and the country continues to construct the Roghun hydropower plant (HPP) and modernize the Nurek, Kairakkum, and Sarband HPPs.

Tajikistan is seeking to leverage artificial intelligence, hosting Central Asia’s first AI cluster and adopting a long-term AI strategy through 2040, aiming to generate 5 percent of its GDP from AI-driven initiatives. The Government declared 2025–2030 the “Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development,” laying out ambitious plans for policy reform and digital transformation. 

Infrastructure remains one of the country’s primary focal areas, with investments needed in transportation, telecommunication, digital network development, and logistics. The country is investing in its digital infrastructure but is starting from a low base. Cash transactions have become less common in recent years, as electronic wallets gain widespread use.

Political Environment

Visit the State Department website for background on Tajikistan’s political and economic environment.