Asian Development Bank: Poverty in Tajikistan Declining, But Inequality Rising

Tajikistan is experiencing mixed socioeconomic trends. While the country’s poverty rate has declined markedly in recent years, inequality and structural economic constraints remain significant challenges. This assessment is outlined in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) country partnership strategy for 2026-2030. According to the ADB, the share of the population living below the national poverty line fell from 30.9% in 2020 to 19.9% in 2024. However, the improvement has been driven largely by rising incomes linked to wage growth and remittances from labor migrants rather than by sustained job creation within the domestic economy. Analysts note that this development may contribute to widening inequality, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to economic opportunities remains limited. Most of Tajikistan’s population lives in southern and central regions, where economic activity is heavily dependent on agriculture. These areas face heightened social risks. Women remain among the most vulnerable groups due to restricted access to employment opportunities and higher levels of food insecurity. Despite overall progress in poverty reduction, food security challenges persist. Approximately 1.5 million people are considered vulnerable, while around 50,000 are experiencing acute food shortages. In the 2025 Global Hunger Index, Tajikistan ranked 63rd out of 123 countries, the lowest position among Central Asian states. The ADB identifies weak economic diversification as a key structural issue. Heavy reliance on agriculture leaves the country exposed to external shocks and climate-related risks. Private sector development has been slow, constrained by shortages of skilled labor, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a complex regulatory environment. Limited integration into regional and global markets further hampers growth. Infrastructure quality remains among the weakest in the region. Restricted access to transport networks and logistics services continues to hinder industrial development and trade expansion. The energy sector also faces structural challenges. Dependence on hydropower increases vulnerability to climate change, particularly through declining water availability and glacier melt. At the same time, gaps in education and vocational training contribute to persistent shortages of qualified workers. These pressures are intensified by high levels of labor migration, especially among young people. As a result, the domestic economy experiences workforce shortages in sectors that could otherwise drive long-term growth. Although agriculture remains central to livelihoods, it is increasingly exposed to climate risks and constrained by limited access to markets, financing, and modern technologies.

11-Year-Old Uzbek Girl Killed by School Bus in Brooklyn

An 11-year-old girl from Uzbekistan was fatally struck by a school bus on the afternoon of February 5 in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Daily News reported. The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the intersection of Bath Avenue and 23rd Avenue. According to police, the girl was crossing the street when a yellow school bus turned into the crosswalk and hit her. She was transported to Maimonides Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim, later identified as Amira Aminova, had just purchased chocolate at a nearby store moments before the collision. Wael Alghithi, a 22-year-old employee at Bath Healthy Deli and Grill, told the Daily News that Amira was a familiar face. “She came in every day. She bought chocolate and a soda,” Alghithi said. “She left here and then the accident happened. She didn’t usually cross that way, and she was alone.” Alghithi stated that Amira was crossing Bath Avenue heading north when the bus, traveling south on 23rd Avenue, turned right and struck her in the crosswalk. He added that it seemed the driver did not stop immediately. “Maybe she thought he was going to stop for her,” he said. “It all happened very fast.” Surveillance video obtained by the Daily News shows Amira beginning to cross the street at a walking pace before breaking into a run as the bus approached. She appeared to attempt to outrun the vehicle but was struck as it entered the crosswalk. Later that evening, two men affiliated with Consolidated Bus Service told the newspaper that one of their vehicles was involved in the incident. “We’re looking for the exact location of where the girl was struck,” one said at the scene. Police confirmed that officers stopped the driver shortly after the crash. The driver, identified as Wawa Aurelus, was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The investigation remains ongoing. Amira lived just a block from where the accident occurred. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Brooklyn resident Saykhuna Artikova, Amira and her mother, Zilola, had moved to the United States from Uzbekistan several years ago. The fundraiser, written in Russian, describes Zilola as a single mother who raised Amira on her own. “Amira was everything to her, the meaning of her life, her joy, and the most precious person in the world,” the page states. Zilola hopes to return her daughter’s body to Uzbekistan for burial. The campaign has raised over $33,000 to cover funeral costs, including repatriation expenses. Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in New York confirmed the child’s death in an official statement, extending condolences to the family and affirming its continued communication with Amira’s mother. The consulate also pledged full cooperation with relevant U.S. authorities and said Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions in the country stand ready to provide necessary support. A recent amendment to Uzbekistan’s law “On Burial and Funeral Services,” published on Lex.uz on February 5, allows for state financial support for transporting the remains of citizens...