Country Context
TAJIKISTAN | 2022 |
Population, million | 10 |
GDP, current $ billion | 10.5 |
GDP per capita, current $ | 1054.7 |
Life Expectancy at Birth, years | 68 |
Over the last decade, Tajikistan has experienced strong economic performance, with growth rate averaging above 7 percent. Sustainable economic growth has translated into improved living standards, with the poverty rate falling from 32 percent in 2009 to 13.4 percent in 2022 (at the international poverty line of $3.65 a day; 2017 PPP).
Despite significant progress achieved, Tajikistan remains vulnerable to external shocks due to its high dependency on migrant remittances, the undiversified economy and export base, as well as a high risk of debt distress. The inflow of workers’ remittances accounts for a third of the annual GDP. Moreover, the private sector is small and accounts for only 15 percent of total investment, 30 percent of industrial output, and about 13 percent of formal employment. While public debt is sustainable, the risk of debt distress remains high due to upcoming repayments of Eurobonds.
Tajikistan has enormous growth potential, which includes a young and growing population, water and hydropower potential, agriculture and food processing, mineral resources, tourism and much more.
The Government of Tajikistan has set an ambitious target–to increase domestic incomes by 2 to 3.5 times between 2016 and 2030–which will require a new growth model based on a dynamic private sector that is motivated to invest and create jobs for the rapidly growing population. This transition requires implementing important structural reforms, focusing on public sector efficiency and transparency, including in the state-owned enterprises sector, improvements in the investment climate, energy sector reforms, trade connectivity, access to finance, and an enhanced competition framework, especially in the telecom and aviation sectors. Given Tajikistan’s high exposure to climate change risks, it is also critical to enhance environmental resilience through mitigation and adaptation measures.