Compared to 2020, remittances from Tajik citizens sent through money transfer system to the country from Russia last year rose 3.1 percent, or 5.4 million U.S. dollars (USD).
The Central Bank of Russia says 1.795 billion USD were sent by physical entities through money transfer system to Tajikistan from Russia in 2021
Last year, an average amount of one money transfer sent from Russia to local banks in Tajikistan was 160.00, which was US$9.00 more than in 2020.
Remittances sent from Russia to local banks in Tajikistan last year were reportedly equal to 20.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
In 2021, Uzbekistan topped CIS nations in terms of remittance flows sent through money transfer systems from Russia. 3.2 billion USD were reportedly remitted to banks in Uzbekistan from the Russian Federation last year.
Remittances sent from Russia to local banks in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova amounted to 1.1 billion USD, 531 million USD, 301 million USD and 137 million USD, respectively.
In 2020, physical entities reportedly sent 1.741 billion USD through money transfer systems to Tajikistan from Russia, which was 32.4 percent or 835 million U.S. dollars fewer than in 2019.
In 2019, physical entities reportedly sent 2.576 million USD from Russia to Tajikistan through money transfer system.
In 2018, US$2.553 billion were sent through money transfer system to Tajikistan from Russia, which was 17 million U.S. dollars more than in 2017. In 2018, remittances from Tajik citizens sent through money transfer system to the country from Russia were reportedly equivalent to 36 percent of all economic output (as measured by GDP).
The Russian Federation is the major destination country for Tajik migrants (97.6% in 2019). Longstanding ties from the Soviet era, language commonalities, migrant networks, significant wage differentials, as well as visa-free and on-arrival visa options make the Russian Federation a popular choice.
According to figures provided by the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation, more than 3 million Tajik citizens were officially registered in Russia last year. In 2021, 2,439,198 Tajik nationals reportedly stated “work” as their reason for entering Russia; that is about one-quarter of Tajikistan’s entire population.
The remittances to Tajikistan help the migrants’ families pay for their daily expenses and immediate needs. Migrant families use an overwhelming portion of remittances (94%) for private consumption, which is the most important component of GDP. However, remittances are rarely used for investments or to save for future contingencies.
