National and Regional Population Trends in Tajikistan: Results from the Recent Census

An American geographer and noted specialist on urbanization and population dynamics in the countries of the former Soviet Union reviews the major results of the first post-Soviet census in Tajikistan, conducted in 2000 and only recently released to the public. The author examines salient influences on population change, at both the national and regional level, over the period since the last Soviet census (1989). Presented and discussed in the paper are internal population redistribution resulting from the Tajik civil war (1992-1997), continuing high rates of natural increase among ethnic Tajiks, substantial emigration of non-titular populations (especially Russians and Uzbeks), shifts in the country's ethnic balance, and de-urbanization. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23. 3 figures, 4 tables, 29 references.