DUSHANBE, July 2, 2009, Asia-Plus — Key findings of the Tajikistan Living Standards Measurement Survey (TLSS) 2007 were presented during a press conference organized jointly by the State Committee for Statistics (SCS) and UNICEF CO Tajikistan in Dushanbe on July 2.
Speaking to reporters, the SCS head Mirgand Shabozov said that the key objective of TLSS 2007 was to monitor the progress of national strategies such as the National Development Strategy, Poverty Reduction Strategy, as well as progress toward achieving the global Millennium Development Goals. According to him, the survey also updates Tajikistan living standards results with regard to poverty, dwelling and social assistance, as well as expenditures on labor, agriculture, health and education, migration, food security and consumption, and water and sanitation.
“The survey fills the gaps in important data on living standards needed for effective design and implementation of social programs, including programs for children and women,” added Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Country Representative in Tajikistan.
The survey findings indicate that despite improvements in the living standards over the last few years, poverty in Tajikistan remains widespread. Almost 54 per cent of the population was poor at the end of 2007, with more than 17 per cent being extremely poor. Poverty and extreme poverty are higher among households with children.
The survey also provides evidence that infant and child mortality rates in Tajikistan have declined between 1990 and 2007. However, both infant and under-5 mortality rates in Tajikistan remain more than twice as high as average rates for the Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) region. Infant mortality rate at the end of 2007 stood at 46 deaths per 1,000 life births, while under-5 mortality rate stood at 53 deaths per 1,000 life births.
In addition, the survey indicates an alarming trend when it comes to girls’ education. Only 70 per cent of girls in Tajikistan attended basic and secondary school, compared to more than 82 per cent of boys at the end of 2007.
Finally, the survey flags disturbing trends in access to safe water and improved sanitation. Only 62 per cent of households across the country have access to improved drinking water sources, and only 21 per cent of households have access to improved sanitation. There are wide disparities in this connection between rural and urban households.
Hongwei Gao added: “The global economic crisis has worsened the social situation in the country, threatening to undermine the achievements of the last several years. I hope that this survey will draw the attention of both the Government of Tajikistan and international development partners to most pressing issues confronting people across the country, and will inform their policies and program design.”
The TLSS 2007 was implemented by the State Committee on Statistics (SCS), with technical and financial support from World Bank, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
