Tajikistan | People, Religion, History, & Facts

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class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan">Tajikistan</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Tajikistan">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref73592"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan#ref73592">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73593"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan#ref73593">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73594"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan#ref73594">Drainage and soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73595"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan#ref73595">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73596"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan#ref73596">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref73598"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342335"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref342335">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342336"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref342336">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342337"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref342337">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73597"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref73597">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342338"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref342338">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref73599"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref73599">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73600"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref73600">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73601"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref73601">Agriculture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73602"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/People#ref73602">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342342"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342343"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref342343">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73603"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref73603">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref73604"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref73604">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73605"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref73605">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342344"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref342344">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342345"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref342345">Judiciary</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73606"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref73606">Education</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref73607"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Finance#ref73607">Health and welfare</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref73608"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342346"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342346">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342347"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342347">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342348"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342348">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342349"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342349">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214553"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref214553">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342329"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342329">Early history and Islamic period</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342330"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Cultural-life#ref342330">Russian imperialism and the Soviet era</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342331"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Independence">Independence</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref342332"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Independence#ref342332">Civil war</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref342333"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Independence#ref342333">Centralization and opposition sidelined</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref342334"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Tajikistan/Independence#ref342334">One-party rule</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Tajikistan">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/7243-050-76BDAF83/Flag-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/62339" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/7243-004-0BD9009E/Flag-Tajikistan.jpg" alt="Tajikistan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/7249-050-E80B2F12/Tajikistan-map-boundaries-cities-locator.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/62344" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/7249-004-15E0857E/Tajikistan-map-boundaries-cities-locator.jpg" alt="Tajikistan" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-050-97B8516C/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/139163" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-004-D3E2ADFD/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg" alt="Zeravshan Range" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-050-615F3612/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/208688" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-004-04386AA9/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg" 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/tajikistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Globaledge - Tajikistan: Introduction</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://tj.usembassy.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Official Site of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tajikistan-virtual-jewish-history-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Jewish Virtual Library - Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://tourism.tj/index.php/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Official Tourism Site of Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tajikistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/tajik-intro.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">GlobalSecurity.org - Tajikistan - Introduction</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Tajikistan/345798" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tajikistan - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Tajikistan/277250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tajikistan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 d-none mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10 px-sm-5 px-md-10 js-header-ai-ask-button"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Jumhurii Tojikiston, Republic of Tajikistan, Tadzhikistan, Tojikiston</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Aleksandr-Ilyich-Imshenetsky/1430" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Aleksandr Ilyich Imshenetsky</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Former Senior Research Associate, Scientific Council on the Location of U.S.S.R. Productive Forces, Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Moscow<i>.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Aleksandr Ilyich Imshenetsky</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Gavin-RG-Hambly/1207" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Gavin R.G. Hambly</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of History, University of Texas at Dallas.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Gavin R.G. Hambly</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-25T00:00:00CST" >Feb 25, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-843212" rel="nofollow">Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan settle border dispute that sparked deadly clashes</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 22, 2025, 1:26 AM ET (Jerusalem Post) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-842176" rel="nofollow">Court in Tajikistan jails over 30 people for attempted mass poisoning linked to ISIS offshoot</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 15, 2025, 3:56 AM ET (Jerusalem Post) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/tajik-court-issues-long-jail-terms-for-attempted-murder-of-top-muslim-cleric" rel="nofollow">Tajik court issues long jail terms for attempted murder of top Muslim cleric</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 13, 2025, 3:30 AM ET (Straits Times) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-uzbek-osce-cancels-election-monitoring-for-tajikistan/7965800.html" rel="nofollow">VOA Uzbek: OSCE cancels election monitoring for Tajikistan</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 6, 2025, 2:48 PM ET (Voice of America English News) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="139163" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-050-97B8516C/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/581047/139163"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-050-97B8516C/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-050-97B8516C/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg?w=300" alt="Zeravshan Range" data-width="1560" data-height="1160" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/136782-050-97B8516C/Zeravshan-Range-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/139163">Zeravshan Range</a><span>Zeravshan Range, Tajikistan.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref598739"></span>Tajikistan</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/landlocked-country" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">landlocked country</a> lying in the heart of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Central-Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Central Asia</a>. It is bordered by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyrgyzstan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kyrgyzstan</a> on the north, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">China</a> on the east, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Afghanistan</a> on the south, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Uzbekistan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Uzbekistan</a> on the west and northwest. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tajikistan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tajikistan</a> includes the <span id="ref598740"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Badakhshan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gorno-Badakhshan</a> (“Mountain Badakhshan”) <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="autonomous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomous" data-type="MW">autonomous</a> region, with its capital at <span id="ref598741"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Khorugh" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Khorugh</a> (Khorog). Tajikistan <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encompasses" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompasses" data-type="MW">encompasses</a> the smallest amount of land among the five Central Asian states, but in terms of elevation it surpasses them all, enclosing more and higher mountains than any other <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> in the region. Tajikistan was a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constituent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent" data-type="MW">constituent</a> (union) <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/republic-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">republic</a> of the <span id="ref598742"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Soviet Union</a> from 1929 until its independence in 1991. The capital is <span id="ref598743"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dushanbe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dushanbe</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208688" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-050-615F3612/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/581047/208688"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-050-615F3612/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-050-615F3612/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg?w=300" alt="Tajikistan" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/183771-050-615F3612/World-Data-Locator-Map-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/208688">Tajikistan</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Several ethnic ties and outside influences complicate Tajikistan’s national identity to a greater extent than in other Central Asian republics. The <span id="ref598744"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tajik-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tajik</a> people share close kinship and their language with a much larger population of the same nationality living in northeastern Afghanistan, whose population also includes a large proportion speaking Dari, a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dialect" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialect" data-type="MW">dialect</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Persian" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Persian</a> intelligible to Tajiks. Despite sectarian differences (most Tajiks are <span id="ref598745"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sunni" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sunni</a> Muslims, while Iranians are predominantly Shiʿis), Tajiks also have strong ties to the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> and people of <span id="ref598746"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Iran" class="md-crosslink ">Iran</a>; the <span id="ref598747"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tajik-language" class="md-crosslink ">Tajik</a> and <span id="ref598748"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Persian-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Persian languages</a> are closely related and mutually intelligible. The Tajiks’ centuries-old economic <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="symbiosis" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbiosis" data-type="MW">symbiosis</a> with oasis-dwelling Uzbeks also somewhat confuses the expression of a distinctive Tajik national identity. Since the early years of independence, Tajikistan has been wracked by conflict between the government and the Islamic opposition and its allies.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/7243-050-76BDAF83/Flag-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/62339" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/7243-050-76BDAF83/Flag-Tajikistan.jpg" alt="Tajikistan" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Tajikistan">flag of Tajikistan</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of Government: </dt> <dd>Prime Minister: Kokhir Rasulzoda</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Dushanbe">Dushanbe</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2025 est.) 10,576,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State: </dt> <dd>President: Emomali Rahmon</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>republic with two legislative houses (National Assembly [34<sup>1</sup>]; Assembly of Representatives [63])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Language: </dt> <dd>Tajik</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>none</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Jumhurii Tojikiston (Republic of Tajikistan)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>141,400</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>54,595</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>somoni (TJS)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2025) 92</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>11,080,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2025) 193.7</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2025) 74.8</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2022) 28.8%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2022) 71.2%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2019) 73.5 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2019) 76.8 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: not available</dd> <dd>Female: not available</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 14,585</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 1,440</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Officially: </dt> <dd>Republic of Tajikistan</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Tajik: </dt> <dd>Tojikiston or Jumhurii Tojikiston</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Tajikistan also spelled: </dt> <dd>Tadzhikistan</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>Includes eight members appointed by the president and one seat reserved for the outgoing president.</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Tajikistan"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref73592"> <h2 class="h1"><span id="ref598749"></span>Land</h2> <section data-level="2" id="ref73593"> <h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="122591" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/96060-050-EEA73BE2/peaks-Pamirs-Tajikistan.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/581047/122591"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/96060-050-EEA73BE2/peaks-Pamirs-Tajikistan.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/96060-050-EEA73BE2/peaks-Pamirs-Tajikistan.jpg?w=300" alt="Pamir mountains in Tajikistan" data-width="1600" data-height="1030" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/96060-050-EEA73BE2/peaks-Pamirs-Tajikistan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/581047/122591">Pamir mountains in Tajikistan</a><span>Rugged peaks of the western Pamirs, Tajikistan.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">More than nine-tenths of Tajikistan’s territory is mountainous; about half lies 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) or more above <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">sea level</a>. The Trans-Alay range, part of the <span id="ref598750"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tien-Shan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tien Shan</a> system, reaches into the north. The massive ranges of the southern Tien Shan—the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkistan-Range" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Turkestan Mountains</a> and the slightly lower <span id="ref598751"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Zeravshan-Range" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Zeravshan</a> and <span id="ref598752"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gissar-Range" class="md-crosslink ">Gissar</a> ranges—define the east-central portion of the country. The ice-clad peaks of the <span id="ref598753"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pamirs" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pamir</a> mountain system occupy the southeast. Some of Central Asia’s highest mountains, notably <span id="ref598754"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lenin-Peak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ibn Sīnā</a> (23,406 feet [7,134 metres]) and <span id="ref598755"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Imeni-Ismail-Samani-Peak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Imeni Ismail Samani</a> (24,590 feet [7,495 metres]) peaks, are found in the northern portion of the Pamirs. The valleys, though important for Tajikistan’s human geography, make up less than one-tenth of the country’s area. The largest are the western portion of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Fergana-Valley" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Fergana Valley</a> in the north and the Gissar, Vakhsh, Yavansu, Obikiik, Lower Kofarnihon (Kafirnigan), and Panj (Pyandzh) valleys to the south.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The entire southern Central Asian region, including Tajikistan, lies in an active <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/seismic-belt" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">seismic belt</a> where severe <span id="ref598756"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/earthquake-geology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">earthquakes</a> are common. Seismologists have long studied the region, especially in connection with the massive hydroelectric dams and other <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/public-utility" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">public works</a> in the area.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/the-country-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/129640-131-0EB20858/Flags-countries-world-flags-Country-blog-geography-2009.jpg" alt="Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">The Country Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref73594"> <h2 class="h2">Drainage and soils</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The dense river network that drains the republic includes two large swift rivers, the upper courses of the <span id="ref598757"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Syr-Darya" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Syr Darya</a> and the <span id="ref598758"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Amu-Darya" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Amu Darya</a>, together with their tributaries, notably the <span id="ref598759"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Vakhsh-River" class="md-crosslink ">Vakhsh</a> and <span id="ref598760"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kafirnigan-River" class="md-crosslink ">Kofarnihon</a>. The Amu Darya is formed by the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="confluence" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confluence" data-type="MW">confluence</a> of the <span id="ref598761"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Panj-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Panj</a> and Vakhsh rivers; the Panj forms much of the republic’s southern boundary. Most of the rivers flow east to west and eventually drain into the Aral Sea basin. The rivers have two high-water periods each year: in the spring, when rains fall and mountain snows melt, and in the summer, when the glaciers begin to melt. The summer flow is particularly helpful for irrigation purposes.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The few lakes in Tajikistan lie mostly in the Pamir region; the largest is <span id="ref598762"></span>Lake Karakul, lying at an elevation of about 13,000 feet. <span id="ref598763"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Sarez" class="md-crosslink ">Lake Sarez</a> was formed in 1911 during an earthquake, when a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="colossal" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/colossal" data-type="EB">colossal</a> landslide dammed the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Morghab-River" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Murgab River</a>. The Zeravshan Range contains <span id="ref598764"></span>Iskanderkul, which, like most of the country’s lakes, is of glacial origin.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Tajikistan’s soil is poor in humus but rich in mineral nutrients. Sand, shingle, scree, bare rock, and permanent snow and ice cover about two-thirds of the surface.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref73595"> <h2 class="h2">Climate</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The climate of Tajikistan is sharply continental and changes with altitude. In the warm-temperate valley areas, summers are hot and dry; the mean temperature in July is 81 °F (27 °C) in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Khujand" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Khujand</a> (Khojand) and 86 °F (30 °C) in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kulob" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kŭlob</a> (Kulyab), farther south. The corresponding January figures are 30 °F (−1 °C) and 36 °F (2 °C), respectively. In very cold winters, temperatures of −4 °F (−20 °C) and lower have been recorded. Annual precipitation is slight and ranges between 6 and 10 inches (150 and 250 millimetres) but is higher in the Gissar Valley. In the highlands conditions are different: the mean January temperature for Murghob in the Pamirs is −3 °F (−20 °C), and temperatures can drop to −51 °F (−46 °C). In this area precipitation barely reaches 2 to 3 inches a year, most of it falling in summer. Moist air masses move from the west up the valleys, suddenly reaching low-temperature areas and producing locally heavy precipitation, mainly heavy snow of as much as 30 to 60 inches of annual accumulation.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref73596"> <h2 class="h2">Plant and animal life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The topographic and climatic variety gives Tajikistan an extremely varied plant life, with more than 5,000 kinds of flowers alone. Generally grasses, bushes, and shrubs predominate. The country’s animal life is abundant and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> and includes species such as the great gray lizard, jerboa, and gopher in the deserts and deer, tiger, jackal, and wildcat in wooded areas or reedy thickets. Brown bears live at lower mountain levels, and goats and golden eagles higher up.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":5,"pageId":581047,"pageLength":901,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.36"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.36' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Tajikistan | People, Religion, History, & Facts | Britannica