Background and political system
With a population just almost 10 million people, Tajikistan is located in Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. After a five-year civil war from 1992 to 1997, following the country’s transition from the Soviet Union in 1991, Tajikistan held its first multiparty elections in 2000.
The Constitution of Tajikistan, adopted in 1994 and subsequently amended, provides the framework for the country’s political institutions and governance. Tajikistan is a unitary presidential republic, divided into three provinces (oblast/viloyatho): one province with autonomous status (viloyati mukhtor, the autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan), one capital, and an area referred to as the Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS), and governs via central, intermediate (provincial level), and local government structures.
Tajikistan’s government consists of the Executive and Legislative branches, complemented by the Judicial branch. The central government is led by the President of the Republic who is elected by the public for a maximum of two seven-year terms and acts as Head of State and Head of the Government. The President of Tajikistan can also hold the title of the Leader of the Nation, whose status is regulated by the special constitutional law of the Republic of Tajikistan. In accordance with this law, the Leader of the Nation can be nominated for election to the position of President without any restrictions. The Government of Tajikistan consists of the Prime Minister, four Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers and Chairpersons of State Committees, and is led by the President. The Prime Minister and other members of the Government are appointed by the President and the decree on their appointment is considered at the Parliament of Tajikistan (by the upper and the lower chambers in joint session). The legislative branch, called the Supreme Assembly or Majlsi Oli, is a bicameral system and formed by members elected by the public, local representative assemblies, appointed by the President, while one seat is reserved for each living former President. The judicial branch hosts the Tajik Supreme Court, consisting of a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and 34 judges, the Constitutional Court consisting of a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and five judges, and the High Economic Court of 16 judges, in addition to subordinate courts.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment
Women’s right to vote and to stand for election was first ensured in the country in 1924 under the Soviet administration and confirmed upon independence in 1991. The first women in Parliament after Tajikistan’s independence were elected in 1995.
Traditional patriarchal values and gender stereotypes have persisted in the Tajik society, both beneath the surface of the communist era despite formal gender equality specifically in certain rural areas of the country, and particularly aggravated following the country’s transition and the civil war, creating barriers to practical socio-economic and political equality and participation.
Some progress has been made, with the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Index reporting that Tajikistan has slightly improved its ranking from 114th in 2022 to 112th in 2024, with a slight decrease from its ranking of 111th in 2023. Relevant gender barriers still exist, preventing Tajikistan from achieving gender equality. According to UN Women, women face barriers especially with regards to access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, while studies estimate that the prevalence of domestic violence ranges from one-third to one-half of women in Tajikistan. Following a formal response by the State, entailing the adoption of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, legal protection for survivors has been expanded: however, barriers persist with regards to its implementation and to adequate access to psychological and legal support for survivors of violence. There are still challenges in areas of social and economic powers, as traditional norms still place the majority of care burdens on women, presenting challenges to sharing domestic work equally and pursuing meaningful, equally compensated employment outside the home.
Structure of parliament
The Parliament is composed of the upper chamber, the National Assembly (Majlisi Mili), consisting of 33 deputies elected and appointed to five-year terms, and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives (Majlsi Namoyandagon), consisting of 63 deputies elected to five-year terms, through a mixed representation system. The Parliament is responsible for adopting and introducing changes to laws and resolutions, interpreting the Constitution and calling for a presidential election.
There are no legislated gender quotas for a minimum gender representation enacted in Tajikistan.
Women's representation in parliament
As of July 2024, the lower house has 12 women members, representing 19.1 percent, while the upper house has eight women, representing 24.2 percent. The next elections will be held in 2025.
Forecast based on past trends
If changes continue at the current pace, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the average rate of improvement from 1995 to 2023 and projecting it into the future.
Forecast based on recent trends
If changes registered in the past five years continue, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the average rate of change in the past five years and projecting it into the future.
Best case forecast
If the situation improves similarly to the country performing best in the region, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the rate of improvement from the country performing best in the region and accelerating the change with this amount over five years and then keeping it constant.
Worst case forecast
If the situation deteriorates similarly to the country registering the worst drop in the region, this is how women's representation in parliament will look like by 2030.
We calculated this forecast by taking the drop rate in the country performing worst in the region and deteriorating the situation with this amount over five years and then keeping it constant.
Women Chairpersons of Parliament Committees
The lower chamber, Majlisi Namoyandagon, of the Tajikistan parliament has nine specialized Committees on the topics of Economics and Finance; Law and Human Rights; Law Enforcement, Defense and Security; Agrarian Issues, Land and Water Resources; International Affairs, Public Associations and Information; Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy; Social Affairs, Family and Health; State Building and Local Self-Government; Energy, Industry, Construction and Communications.
The upper chamber, Majlisi Mili, of the Tajikistan parliament has six specialized Committees on Ensuring Constitutional Fundamentals, Human, Citizen and Legal Rights and Freedoms; Agricultural Issues, Employment and Ecology; Social Issues, Health Protection, Science, Education, Culture and Policy of Youth and Women; Coordination of the Activities of the National Assembly with the Assembly of Representatives, Executive Authority, Public Associations, Media and Interparliamentary Relations; Economy and Communication; Instructions Control.
As of July 2024, Konunzoda Shodigul Khudobakhsh is the only woman chairperson of a parliamentary committee, the Committee on Instructions Control of the Majlisi Mili.
Structure of government
Central government
The Tajikistan President is the guarantor of the Constitution and laws, rights and freedoms, and responsible for unity and territorial integrity, continuity and durability of the country, coordinated functioning and cooperation of the State bodies, and observance of international treaties to which Tajikistan is party.
The Government is composed of 22 members, who take on the positions of Ministers and Chairpersons of the State Committees within the Tajikistan Government. Within the executive branch, the Government, led by the President, is responsible for the management of government activities in accordance with laws and decrees of the Supreme Assembly and decrees of the President. The Government is held accountable by the President and approved by the Supreme Assembly.
The current Prime Minister of Tajikistan is Qohir Rasulzoda, who has been in power since 2013, while the current President is Emomali Rahmon, who has been elected as Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan in 1992 and later elected as President in 1994. Tajikistan has not yet had a woman serve as Prime Minister or President.
As of July 2024, there are three women members of the Government: Dilrabo Mansuri (Deputy Prime Minister), Matlubakhon Sattoriyon (Minister of Culture), Gulnora Hasanzoda (Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment).
In Tajikistan, it is mandated that each State Agency, including Ministries, Committees, City Offices, and District Offices, must have at least one woman serving as a deputy, with the exception of military and law-enforcement bodies.
Ministers or Cabinet Members
Dilrabo Mansuri
Deputy Prime Minister
Matlubakhon Sattoriyon
Minister of Culture
Gulnora Hasanzoda
Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO)
Within Tajikistan, the autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan is led by the Chairperson of the Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast who is the Head of the Executive branch and appointed by the President of Tajikistan, with approval of the appropriate Majlis. The legislative body, called the People’s Assembly of Deputies of the Gorno-Basakhshan Autonomous Oblast, is a unicameral system and members are directly elected by voters.
Local government
At the local level the system of administration comprises two province (the Sughd and the Khatlon Oblast), Dushanbe city (capital city), in addition to the Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast, 62 districts (including 13 districts of direct republican subordination), 17 cities, 55 villages and around 403 rural jamoats. Local governments are comprised of deliberative bodies and executive bodies. Local deliberative bodies are made up of elected officials, the number of which is proportional to the population they represent. The head of the deliberative body at provincial and district level is appointed, but the head of the deliberative body at settlement and village level is elected by the council itself. At the local level of government there is no gender quota requiring a minimum gender representation. Local executive bodies consist of the assembly chairperson at the provincial and district level, and of the jamoat council at the settlement and village level.
For more information on gender quotas adopted at the national level, visit the women in parliament section.
Structure of public administration
The central government is responsible for managing the internal policy of Tajikistan; managing and executing the foreign policy; enforcing laws and other regulations; establishing and overseeing the work of all government bodies, including approving regulations on their structures and appointing/dismissing their leaders; contracting international agreements; managing the budget and defense and security policies.
Local government bodies are largely responsible for Tajikistan’s public administration when it comes to local matters of politics, administration, and finance. Within each local jurisdiction, local government bodies are responsible for creating commissions for preliminary consideration of issues of the administrative-territorial structure of the relevant territory and maintaining a register.
Women’s representation as employees and decision-makers in public administration
This visualization was developed based on data provided by GIRL@University of Pittsburgh.
Data across countries and territories is not comparable. For more information about the methodology and sources used, read here.
In the context of Tajikistan’s public administration, women’s representation has seen a rather stable path at the employee level, with only a small shift from 32.9 percent in 2008 to 32.2 percent in 2020. Notably, women’s representation at the employee level reached a high point of 35.2 percent in 2013 before returning to the current measure. Women’s representation at the decision-making level measured 20 percent in 2014, but there is a lack in earlier data for comparison. Challenges remain in advancing gender equality in Tajikistan’s public administration.