TojikInfo News

21.10.2009

Living Standards and Human Development in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, 21 October 2009 – Presenting key findings of the Tajikistan Poverty Assessment 2009 and discussing policy issues in the area of poverty are the main goals of the national conference on Living Standards and Human Development in Tajikistan that began in Dushanbe today. The conference organized by the Tajikistan State Committee on Statistics in co-operation with UNICEF and the World Bank has brought together more than 80 representatives from Government, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media.

“Reduction in poverty levels in the country is one of major priorities for the state,” said Mirgand Shabozov, Chairman of the State Committee on Statistics. “It is important to study the problem of poverty in order to develop expedient state policies and take measures to protect the population, especially families living below the poverty line.”

“The Poverty Assessment 2009 report is based on the analysis of the Tajikistan Living Standards Measurement Survey 2007. This report fills the gaps in important data on living standards needed for effective design and implementation of social programmes and policies of the Government.”

Poverty Assessment findings indicate a decline in poverty levels in Tajikistan between 2003 and 2007. The proportion of people living on less than US$2.15 a day declined from 64 per cent in 2003 to 41 per cent in 2007. Over the same period, the proportion of people in absolute poverty declined from 72 per cent to 53.5 per cent. The report also indicates a 26.5 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

In addition, the report notes a sharp increase in the possession of consumer durable goods such as, for example, television sets by the population. This also indicates that living standards in Tajikistan risen since 2003. This is also reflected in the opinion by more than 55 per cent of the population that their financial situation improved in the years 2003 to 2007. The report attributes the decline in poverty to remittances and economic growth.

The Poverty Assessment 2009 findings indicate that despite improvements in the living standards over several years leading to 2007, poverty in Tajikistan remained widespread. Almost 54 per cent of the population was poor at the end of 2007, with more than 17 per cent being extremely poor. The global economic crisis has worsened the social situation in the country, threatening to undermine the achievements of the last several years. Simulations presented in the report indicate that poverty in Tajikistan may be on the rise again due to the reduction in remittances brought about by the global financial crisis. Thus, the poverty and food security situation in the country requires continuous monitoring and potential policy interventions.

For more information, please contact:

State Committee on Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan:

Bakhtiya Mukhammadieva, First Deputy Chairman

Tel.: +992 (37) 223 18 90

UNICEF in Tajikistan:

Alexander Sodiqov, Communication Officer

Tel.: +992 (48) 701 14 89, 701 14 90

Email: asodiqov@unicef.org

World Bank in Tajikistan:

Mukaddas Kurbanova, Communication Officer

Tel.: +992 (37) 221 15 18, 221 03 81