In a remarkable sign of progress, Tajikistan has seen a significant reduction in poverty, according to recent statements by government officials.
The Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, Zavqi Zavqizoda, announced during the High Level Forum on Sustainable Development in New York that the poverty rate has commendably decreased from 31% in 2015 to 22.5% in 2022. This reduction in poverty was further confirmed by President Emomali Rahmon who, in his last address on December 23, 2022, stated that the poverty rate had fallen from 27.4% in 2018 to the current 22.5%.
In comparison, other countries in the region are facing different poverty issues. According to the Eurasian Development Bank, the poverty rate in Armenia reached 26.5% by the beginning of 2022, while the poverty rate in Kyrgyzstan was 33.3%. Before the pandemic, this figure in Armenia was 23.5%, and in Kyrgyzstan – 20.1%. The improvement in the economic situation in Tajikistan is even more evident due to the significant growth in the income of the population. The Minister of Economy in New York stressed that in five years the income of the population of Tajikistan has doubled, which is a notable achievement in the fight against poverty.
It is important to note that in Russia, a key source of employment for Tajik migrants, the poverty rate was 11% at the beginning of 2022, while Uzbekistan recorded a figure of 17% over the same period (according to the EDB).
In addition, the Ministry of Labor of Tajikistan shared statistics during a press conference in Dushanbe, saying that the average salary in the country at the beginning of the year was 1,730.12 somoni ($166.62), indicating a significant increase of 13.4% or 204.7 somoni compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
This data highlights the commendable efforts made by Tajikistan in achieving the sustainable development goals and points to a positive trajectory towards a more prosperous future for the country and its citizens. The Tajik authorities intend to bypass Uzbekistan and further reduce poverty in the country.
Source: UPL
