A recent Tajik government report on living standards suggests that many households in the country are living close to the poverty line, reaffirming Tajikistan’s status as the poorest country in Central Asia, according to Eurasianet.
The findings come from a report titled Key Indicators of the Household Budget Survey, which is based on data collected from 3,000 households across the country. The survey analyzes income and spending patterns. Although the report was published in February, the data primarily covers 2024 and includes comparative figures dating back to 2017.
One of the key findings is that household sizes in Tajikistan continue to decline. In 2024, the average household consisted of 5.7 members, compared with 6.4 in 2017. The report also notes that nearly one in seven household members was living and working abroad at some point during 2024.
The data further shows that only one in seven members of the average Tajik household holds a paid job within the country, a ratio that has remained largely unchanged since 2017. Average monthly income per household member was estimated at 1,082 somoni—about $99 at the 2024 exchange rate, or roughly $3.30 per day. For an average household, this amounted to about 5,842 somoni per month, or approximately $535.
Tajikistan’s economy remains heavily reliant on remittances from migrant workers. According to the survey, remittances accounted for 36 percent of average monthly household income in 2024, compared with about 40 percent in 2017.
The report also indicates that average monthly spending per person reached 1,110 somoni in 2024 (around $102), slightly exceeding the average monthly income. More than half of household expenditures were spent on food, highlighting the financial pressures faced by many families across the country.
