TAJIKISTAN



Republic of Tajikistan

Jumhurii Tojikistan

CAPITAL : Dushanbe

FLAG : The flag consists of a broad white horizontal stripe in the center, with a red stripe at the top and a green stripe at the bottom. The national emblem is centered in the white stripe.

ANTHEM : The flag consists of a broad white horizontal stripe in the center, with a red stripe at the top and a green stripe at the bottom. The national emblem is centered in the white stripe.

MONETARY UNIT : The Tajik ruble ( TR ) was replaced by the somoni in October 2000. S 1 = $0.3125 (or $1 = S 3.20) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : The metric system is used.

HOLIDAYS : New Year's Day, 1 January; Navruz ("New Day"), 21 March; Independence Day, 9 September.

TIME : 6 PM = noon GMT.


LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT

Tajikistan is located in central Asia, between Uzbekistan and China. Comparatively, it is slightly smaller than the state of Wisconsin with a total area of 143,100 sq km (55,251 sq mi). Tajikistan's boundary length totals 3,651 km (2,269 mi).

Its capital city, Dushanbe, is located in the western part of the country.

TOPOGRAPHY

The topography of Tajikistan features the Pamir and Alai mountains which dominate the landscape. The western Fergana Valley lies in the north with the Kafirnigan and Vakhsh valleys in the southwest. The major geographic feature in the south is the Panj River, which separates southern Tajikistan from northern Afghanistan. About 5% of Tajkistan's land is arable.

CLIMATE

The climate is semiarid to polar in the Pamirs. The mean temperature in July is 30° C (86° F ). The mean temperature in January is 0° C (32° F ). Rainfall in most of the country averages 70 to 160 cm (28 to 63 in).

FLORA AND FAUNA

Wildflowers can be found in the valleys and Marco Polo sheep, yak, and snow leopards can be found in the mountains.

ETHNIC GROUPS

In 2002, Tajiks constituted 64.9% of the population and Uzbeks (who live in the northwest) 25%. The Russian population, declining because of emigration, comprised only 3.5%, down from 7.6% in 1989. Other varied ethnic groups made up the remaining 6.6%.

FISHING

Some fishing occurs in the upper Amu Darya River; the Kayrakkum Reservoir, and the Syrdar'ya River. The total catch was 59 tons in 2000, primarily carp.

FORESTRY

Tajikistan's forests and woodlands occupied about 2.8% of the total land area in 2000. Forestry is of little commercial importance.

TAXATION

Tajikistan's maximum personal income tax rate is 40%; corporate taxes range from 25–60% with a standard rate of 30%. Also levied are a 20% VAT; a 10–90% excise tax; and a social security combination of 37% by employers and 1% by employees.

CUSTOMS AND DUTIES

The government maintains a list of commodities and services subject to import licensing and quotas. Generally, imports are free of restrictions, including tariffs and quotas, with the exception of narcotics and firearms, which are forbidden. Goods traded within the former Soviet Union are mostly free from import duties. There is a 28% value-added tax and excise taxes are levied on some products.

DEPENDENCIES

Tajikistan has no territories or colonies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdullaev, Kamoludin, and Shahram Akbarzadeh. Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2002.

Atkin, Muriel. The Subtlest Battle: Islam in Soviet Tajikistan. Philadelphia: Foreign Policy Research Institute, 1989.

Rakowska-Harmstone, Teresa. Russia and Nationalism in Central Asia: The Case of Tadzhikstan. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1970.

Also read article about Tajikistan from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
mary-jane
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