- Geography and Population
- Tajikistan covers 143,100 km² with 93% mountainous terrain
- The country's largest water body is Karakul lake in the Pamir area
- As of 2024, the population is approximately 10.9 million
- Tajikistan is the smallest of five former Soviet republics
- Language and Culture
- Official language is Tajik, a variety of Persian
- Russian is widely spoken, especially in business
- Pamiri languages are spoken in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
- Practical Information
- Currency is the somoni (TJS), introduced in 2000
- Tap water is unsafe due to lack of purification systems
- Best time to visit is summer for markets and pleasant weather
- Internet access is limited, especially in rural areas
- Notable Features
- Nurek dam is the world's tallest at 304 meters
- Civil servants are prohibited from having gold teeth
- Only non-Turkic country in Central Asia