Tajikistan gets an impressive 93% of its electricity from low-carbon sources, all of it hydropower. Over the last 12 months, from April 2025 through March 2026, fossil fuels supplied the remaining 7%: roughly 6% from coal and 1% from gas. Tajikistan is also a significant net exporter of electricity, helping neighboring regions lower their emissions. Its next challenge is to extend this clean-electricity achievement to transport, heating and industry through electrification, which will require much more electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Tajikistan?

Despite this strong clean-electricity share, electricity consumption per person remains well below its historical peak. The latest 2026 figure is about 2,200 kWh per person, compared with almost 3,600 kWh in 1990—a decline of around 1,400 kWh, or 39%. Low-carbon electricity generation is about 2,045 kWh per person, roughly 1,000 kWh below its 1990 record of around 3,060 kWh, a drop of 33%. These comparisons do not establish the latest year-to-year trend, but they show a concerning long-term shortfall: Tajikistan needs sustained growth in clean electricity to support wider electrification and rising demand.

Suggestions

Tajikistan can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding and modernizing its hydropower fleet while building substantial solar capacity. Solar would diversify its clean-electricity supply and provide additional daytime generation, while stronger grids and electricity storage would help deliver more electricity where and when it is needed. Tajikistan should also assess nuclear power as a potential long-term source of dependable, low-carbon electricity, supported by appropriate planning, institutions and regional cooperation. Together, hydropower, solar and potentially nuclear could support growing domestic consumption and clean-electricity exports while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

The recorded history of Tajikistan’s low-carbon electricity is entirely hydropower, with repeated gains interrupted by disappointing declines. During the 1990s, generation rose by 1.2 TWh in 1993 and 1.3 TWh in 1999, but fell by 2.1 TWh in 1995 and 1.1 TWh in 1997. The 2000s began with a 1.4 TWh decline in 2000, followed by gains totaling 2.8 TWh across 2002, 2003 and 2005, before another 1.3 TWh drop in 2008. Growth became more frequent in the 2010s: increases in 2012, 2015 and 2017–2019 totaled 4.3 TWh, interrupted by a 1.1 TWh decline in 2014. After another 1.1 TWh fall in 2020, generation rebounded with gains of 0.6 TWh in 2021, 1.1 TWh in 2022 and 0.6 TWh in 2023. The substantial 2 TWh increase in 2025 is especially encouraging and provides a strong foundation for further clean-electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.