World Atlas · Tajikistan

Author: Liu Qihuai (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Tajikistan is the only landlocked mountainous country in southeastern Central Asia, bordering Xinjiang, China to the east. Over 90% of its territory is mountainous, with more than half of the country's land area consisting of high mountains above 3,000 meters in elevation. Agriculture plays a significant role in the economy, and long cotton fiber is world-famous. The country is rich in mineral resources, with uranium reserves ranking among the highest in the world. Mining and metallurgy, as well as the textile industry, are well-developed. This book provides a comprehensive analysis and description of Tajikistan's geography, politics, culture, and military.
Tajikistan is a multi-ethnic country with 86 ethnic groups. The Tajik ethnic group is the dominant majority, accounting for 70.5% of the total population. Tajiks practice Islam, with the majority being Sunni and a minority being Shia. Tajikistan has a long history and is a great and ancient country traversed by the legendary "Silk Road," often referred to as a "pearl on the Silk Road." The Great Silk Road gained worldwide fame due to the merchants of Bactria and Sogdiana (ancestral lands of the Tajiks), their swift horses, and two-humped camels. As early as the 5th and 8th centuries, Panjikent was highly prosperous, boasting magnificent palaces and temples, earning it the title of "treasure of Central Asia." Three major Silk Road routes—Sogdiana, Kanatgum, and Pamir—span the entire country, connecting ancient Persia, Greece, China, and Arab countries. These routes made significant contributions to economic development and cultural exchange. As President Rahmonov of Tajikistan said, "The Silk Road passed through the regions inhabited by Tajiks, bringing not only material wealth but also great cultural and spiritual prosperity."
Tajikistan has endured millennia of changes and finally established its own state—the Samanid Empire—in the 9th century. Ancient cities such as Istfanobon and Shastan are home to numerous mosques, well-preserved castles, and mausoleums. The country boasts unique wooden carvings from the 10th to 11th centuries and distinctive architectural styles. The famous religious city is Kurgan. Historically, many scientists, writers, historians, and poets have emerged, with representative historical figures including Jafar al-Rudaki, Firdausi, Ibn Sina, and Abu Nasr al-Farabi.
Tajikistan is relatively rich in natural resources, primarily including non-ferrous and rare metals. Among these, its uranium reserves rank first in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Tajikistan is the source of rivers in Central Asia and also home to the world's largest land-based glaciers. The country has abundant hydropower resources, with per capita hydropower reserves among the highest in the world. Hydropower generation is a significant export commodity.
However, Tajikistan's current economic foundation and strength are weak, with a single economic structure and high dependence on external resources, primarily serving as a raw material base. It is one of the least urbanized and poorest countries among the former Soviet republics. During the Soviet era, Tajikistan relied on 50% of its national budget from the union's central finances, and 54% of its population depended on consumer goods imported from other republics. After independence, due to civil war, the economy regressed by nearly half a century. Today, industry is mainly focused on electricity and the extraction of non-ferrous and rare metals, while agriculture is dominated by cotton cultivation, producing the "white gold" of cotton.