Effective September 1, Tajikistan has implemented a nationwide increase in salaries, pensions, and scholarships, ranging from 10% to 30% across various sectors.
The country’s minimum wage is now officially set at 1,000 Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per month, approximately $110. This marks a 25% increase from the previous rate of 800 TJS ($88).
“This means that from September 1, 2025, the monthly salary of employees of all institutions, organizations, and enterprises, regardless of ownership, must not be less than 1,000 TJS,” the official decree states.
The salary hikes apply broadly. Employees of kindergartens and general education schools will see a 30% increase. Teachers at universities and research institutions will receive a 20% raise, matching the increase granted to doctors, chief physicians, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.
The same 20% boost also extends to social workers, including staff at elderly care homes and facilities for people with disabilities, as well as to cultural sector employees, such as those working in theaters, libraries, museums, media, and public broadcasting.
Civil servants at all levels of government have also received a 20% salary increase.
In parallel, insurance, labor, and social pensions have been increased by 10%. Scholarships, including presidential scholarships and other academic grants, have also been raised, with the exception of stipends for cadets in military universities and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The 2025 state budget includes provisions to finance these increases. Funding sources include surplus revenue collections, local taxes, free budget balances, the Social Insurance and Pension Fund, and reallocation of reserve and discretionary funds.
Total budget revenues are projected at TJS 49.6 billion (approximately $5.45 billion), with around 65% expected to come from tax revenues. The government forecasts a 20.8% increase in tax collections compared to 2024.
Spending on public sector wages, pensions, and scholarships now accounts for more than 35% of the national budget. In 2025, the total wage fund has reached nearly TJS 13 billion ($1.43 billion), marking a 35.7% rise year-on-year. Pension allocations total TJS 5.1 billion ($561 million), while benefits and scholarships are funded at TJS 350 million ($38.5 million) and TJS 280 million ($30.8 million), respectively, each reflecting a 25% to 26% increase over last year.
Despite the official wage growth, low salaries remain a persistent issue for many Tajik citizens. As consumer prices continue to rise, the increases are widely viewed as a form of income indexation rather than a substantial improvement in living standards.
