note: the 146 km of .762 gauge track belongs primarily to Taiwan
Sugar Corporation and Taiwan Forestry Bureau, some to other entities
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 41,279 km
country comparison to the world: 88
paved: 40,843 km (includes 976 km of expressways)
unpaved: 436 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 101
country comparison to the world: 50
by type: bulk carrier 28, cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 27,
passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (France 1, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 574 (Cambodia 1, Honduras 2, Hong
Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Italy 11, Kiribati 5, Liberia 88, Marshall
Islands 2, Panama 337, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 79,
Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung
Military ::Taiwan
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
Military service age and obligation:
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service
obligation 2 years; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are
restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army);
the Ministry of Defense is in the process of implementing a
voluntary enlistment system over the period 2010-2015, although
nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service
or go through 4 months of military training (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,218,009
females age 16-49: 6,038,964 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,094,111
females age 16-49: 4,980,454 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 166,141
female: 155,070 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (in 2009, the Taiwanese president pledged to maintain
defense spending at 3.0% or higher; projected 2.73% for 2011) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Transnational Issues ::Taiwan
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China
and the Philippines over Scarborough Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions
but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by
several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China,
but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan became
more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited
islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally
declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all
parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor
chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem
with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising
problems with use of ketamine and club drugs
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Tajikistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Tajikistan
Background:
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 Sughd province.
Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the
Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions
from 1992-97. There have been no major security incidents in recent
years, although 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 development and security assistance, which could create
jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the
early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has
joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography ::Tajikistan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 95
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to
polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley
in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni (Pik Imeni Ismail Samani) 7,495
m
Natural resources:
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,
zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
99.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil
salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in
the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai
Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain
in the former USSR
People ::Tajikistan
Population:
7,487,489 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.3% (male 1,282,681/female 1,238,607)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 2,260,552/female 2,303,034)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 112,334/female 151,937) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 22.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.852% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Birth rate:
26.49 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Death rate:
6.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Net migration rate:
-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Urbanization:
urban population: 26% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 39.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.68 years
country comparison to the world: 164
male: 62.63 years
female: 68.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.94 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:
Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
Government ::Tajikistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa),
Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]*
(Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution:
6 November 1994
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994;
head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National
Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25 members
selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat
reserved for the former president; members serve five-year terms)
and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi
Namoyandagon (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 28 February 2010 (next
to be held in February 2015); Assembly of Representatives - last
held on 28 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2015)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - PDPT 71%, Islamic Revival Party 8.2%, CPT 7%, APT 5.1%,
PER 5.1%, other 3.6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, Islamic Revival
Party 2, CPT 2, APT 2, PER 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005);
Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOEV]; Party of
Economic Reforms [Mahmadsharif NOZIMOV]; People's Democratic Party
of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social Democratic Party or
SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Mirhuseyn
NARZIEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the base of
the party: Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from
ISKANDAROV's DPT); Socialist Party or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFOROV]
(splintered from NARZIEV's SPT)
unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo
NASREDDINOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party
[Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, 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,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth GROSS
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and
green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is
located in the center of the white stripe; red represents the sun,
victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity,
cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and
the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the
seven stars signify the Tajik magic word "seven" - a symbol of
perfection and the embodiment of happiness
National anthem:
name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Suleiman YUDAKOV
note: adopted 1991; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan
kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet republic but
adopted new lyrics
Economy ::Tajikistan
Economy - overview:
Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former
Soviet republics. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in
Tajikistan, nearly half of the labor force works abroad, primarily
in Russia and Kazakhstan, supporting families in Tajikistan through
remittances. The exact number of labor migrants is unknown, but
estimated at around 1 million. Less than 7% of the land area is
arable. Cotton is the most important crop, but this sector is
burdened with debt and obsolete infrastructure; moreover, government
has encouraged a gradual transition away from cotton and towards
food cultivation due to its concerns about feeding the population.
Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten.
Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower
facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry
and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the
already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in
industrial and agricultural production. Tajikistan's economic
situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural
reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and
the external debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached
with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of
Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Completion of the Sangtuda I
hydropower dam - finished in 2009 with Russian investment - and the
Sangtuda II and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity
output. If finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the
world's tallest dam. The World Bank, in 2010, agreed to fund safety
and feasibility studies for the Rogun Dam. Favorable reports from
these studies could increase investor interest in the project, which
has been stalled due to lack of funding. Tajikistan has also
received substantial infrastructure development loans from the
Chinese government to improve roads and an electricity transmission
network. To help increase north-south trade, the US funded a $36
million bridge which opened in August 2007 and links Tajikistan and
Afghanistan. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth
since 1997, more than half of the population continues to live in
poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped below 8%
in 2005-08, as the effects of higher oil prices and then the
international financial crisis began to register - mainly in the
form of lower prices for key export commodities and lower
remittances from Tajiks working abroad, due to the global economic
downturn. In 2009 GDP growth dropped to 3.4% as a result of the
world recession.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.61 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$13.85 billion (2009 est.)
$13.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.578 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
3.4% (2009 est.)
7.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$1,900 (2009 est.)
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.2%
industry: 22.6%
services: 58.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 49.8%
industry: 12.8%
services: 37.4% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
2.3% (2008 est.)
note: official rates; actual unemployment is higher
Population below poverty line:
60% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 99
34.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
6.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
13.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22.91% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
23.7% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$863 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 141
$712.3 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$851.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.209 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$939.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable
oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - production:
16.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - consumption:
16.7 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - exports:
1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
667.8 million kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
221 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - consumption:
38,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - exports:
349 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - imports:
10,100 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - production:
16.1 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - consumption:
266.1 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - imports:
250 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Current account balance:
-$330 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
-$179.9 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.318 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.039 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners:
Russia 19.16%, China 18.38%, Turkey 12.09%, Iran 11.11%, Uzbekistan
7.92%, Norway 6.17%, Greece 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$3.301 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$2.77 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 23.92%, China 23.74%, Kazakhstan 8.92%, Turkey 4.96%,
Uzbekistan 4.73% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$303 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$227 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$100.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$93.05 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$18.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 4.3788 (2010), 4.1428
(2009), 3.4563 (2008), 3.4418 (2007), 3.3 (2006)
Communications ::Tajikistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
290,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.9 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Telephone system:
general assessment: foreign investment in the telephone system has
resulted in major improvements; conversion of the existing fixed
network from analogue to digital more than 90% complete by 2009
domestic: fixed line availability has not changed significantly
since 1998 while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by
competition among multiple operators, has expanded rapidly; coverage
now extends to all major cities and towns
international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave
radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to
international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth
stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run television broadcaster transmits nationally on 4 stations
and regionally on 4 stations; about 10 independent TV stations
broadcast locally and regionally; some households are able to
receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite;
state-run radio broadcaster operates Radio Tajikistan, Voice of
Dushanbe, and several regional stations; a small number of
independent radio stations also broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.tj
Internet hosts:
1,504 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 160
Internet users:
700,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
Transportation ::Tajikistan
Airports:
26 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Pipelines: