Air pollution, waste and climate performance push Tajikistan near bottom of global environmental ranking
Tajikistan ranked 165th out of 177 countries in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, scoring 26.75 points out of 100, according to results released on July 9.
The country performed best in several indicators related to forest conservation, grasslands and biodiversity. Its weakest results were recorded in air quality, lead exposure, waste management and climate policy.
The index was compiled by researchers from Yale and Columbia universities in the United States. Countries were assessed using 47 indicators grouped into 12 thematic categories, including air quality, drinking water, sanitation, climate change, forests, biodiversity, waste and agriculture.
Tajikistan’s overall score fell by 4.82 points over the 10-year period covered by the index.
Among former Soviet countries, Tajikistan ranked 12th. The group’s average score was 39.46 points.
Tajikistan ranks last in Central Asia
Kazakhstan recorded the best result in Central Asia, ranking 84th globally with 41.26 points.
Uzbekistan placed 121st with 34.79 points, followed by Turkmenistan in 123rd place with 34.64 points and Kyrgyzstan in 131st with 33.75 points. Tajikistan ranked last in the region.
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s score rose by 9.43 points, Kyrgyzstan’s by 11.78 points and Turkmenistan’s by 6.84 points. Uzbekistan’s score declined by 1.82 points, while Tajikistan’s fell by 4.82 points.
Strongest results in forests and biodiversity
Tajikistan achieved its highest position in the trend in fluorinated gas emissions, ranking first worldwide with a score of 100.
The country placed fourth in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List Index, scoring 95.97 points.
It also performed well in several forest-related indicators, ranking seventh in tree-cover loss, eighth in the overall forests category and 11th in tree-cover loss within key biodiversity areas.
Tajikistan ranked 21st in grassland and rangeland conversion, 24th in the impact of nitrogen dioxide on public health and 28th in the condition of grassland and rangeland ecosystems.
The country placed 42nd in grassland conversion within key biodiversity areas and 50th in protected-area connectivity.
Mid-ranking environmental indicators
Tajikistan ranked 53rd in the Species Habitat Index, 54th in sustainable nitrogen management and 58th in ecosystem climate resilience.
It placed 71st in the Habitat Biodiversity Index, 90th in exposure to volatile organic compounds and 91st in relative crop yield.
In the agriculture category, Tajikistan ranked 96th. It placed 97th in terrestrial biome protection, 101st in pesticide pollution risk and 106th in carbon monoxide exposure.
The country ranked 118th in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, scoring 40.49 points. This indicator improved by 7.23 points over the decade.
Tajikistan also ranked 119th in biodiversity and habitat condition and 115th in ecosystem vitality, with a score of 38.93 points.
Poor air quality and environmental health
Tajikistan ranked 171st in the Environmental Health category, scoring 17.48 points.
In air quality, it placed 168th with 13.97 points. The assessment considered exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, as well as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and the use of solid fuels in households.
The country ranked 148th in PM2.5 exposure, 157th in ozone exposure and 134th in household solid-fuel use.
Tajikistan placed 172nd in air pollution and 170th in the trend in sulfur dioxide emissions.
One of its weakest results was in the impact of lead exposure on public health, where it ranked 174th out of 177 countries with a score of 6.71 points.
Tajikistan received zero points for environmentally sound solid-waste management and ranked 165th among the countries assessed under this indicator.
In wastewater treatment, it ranked 154th with 5.17 points.
Climate performance declines sharply
Tajikistan ranked 159th in the climate change category, scoring 16.21 points. Its score in this area fell by 14.26 points over the 10-year period.
The assessment considered changes in emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases and black carbon.
It also examined greenhouse-gas emission trends relative to population and economic output, projected emissions through 2050 and changes in the carbon balance resulting from land use.
Tajikistan ranked 161st in the trend in greenhouse-gas emissions adjusted for the size of its economy.
Estonia topped the 2026 Environmental Performance Index with 74.79 points, followed by Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands.
Laos, India, Bangladesh, Mali and Vietnam occupied the bottom five positions.
The country performed best in several indicators related to forest conservation, grasslands and biodiversity. Its weakest results were recorded in air quality, lead exposure, waste management and climate policy.
The index was compiled by researchers from Yale and Columbia universities in the United States. Countries were assessed using 47 indicators grouped into 12 thematic categories, including air quality, drinking water, sanitation, climate change, forests, biodiversity, waste and agriculture.
Tajikistan’s overall score fell by 4.82 points over the 10-year period covered by the index.
Among former Soviet countries, Tajikistan ranked 12th. The group’s average score was 39.46 points.
Tajikistan ranks last in Central Asia
Kazakhstan recorded the best result in Central Asia, ranking 84th globally with 41.26 points.
Uzbekistan placed 121st with 34.79 points, followed by Turkmenistan in 123rd place with 34.64 points and Kyrgyzstan in 131st with 33.75 points. Tajikistan ranked last in the region.
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s score rose by 9.43 points, Kyrgyzstan’s by 11.78 points and Turkmenistan’s by 6.84 points. Uzbekistan’s score declined by 1.82 points, while Tajikistan’s fell by 4.82 points.
Strongest results in forests and biodiversity
Tajikistan achieved its highest position in the trend in fluorinated gas emissions, ranking first worldwide with a score of 100.
The country placed fourth in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List Index, scoring 95.97 points.
It also performed well in several forest-related indicators, ranking seventh in tree-cover loss, eighth in the overall forests category and 11th in tree-cover loss within key biodiversity areas.
Tajikistan ranked 21st in grassland and rangeland conversion, 24th in the impact of nitrogen dioxide on public health and 28th in the condition of grassland and rangeland ecosystems.
The country placed 42nd in grassland conversion within key biodiversity areas and 50th in protected-area connectivity.
Mid-ranking environmental indicators
Tajikistan ranked 53rd in the Species Habitat Index, 54th in sustainable nitrogen management and 58th in ecosystem climate resilience.
It placed 71st in the Habitat Biodiversity Index, 90th in exposure to volatile organic compounds and 91st in relative crop yield.
In the agriculture category, Tajikistan ranked 96th. It placed 97th in terrestrial biome protection, 101st in pesticide pollution risk and 106th in carbon monoxide exposure.
The country ranked 118th in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, scoring 40.49 points. This indicator improved by 7.23 points over the decade.
Tajikistan also ranked 119th in biodiversity and habitat condition and 115th in ecosystem vitality, with a score of 38.93 points.
Poor air quality and environmental health
Tajikistan ranked 171st in the Environmental Health category, scoring 17.48 points.
In air quality, it placed 168th with 13.97 points. The assessment considered exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, as well as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and the use of solid fuels in households.
The country ranked 148th in PM2.5 exposure, 157th in ozone exposure and 134th in household solid-fuel use.
Tajikistan placed 172nd in air pollution and 170th in the trend in sulfur dioxide emissions.
One of its weakest results was in the impact of lead exposure on public health, where it ranked 174th out of 177 countries with a score of 6.71 points.
Tajikistan received zero points for environmentally sound solid-waste management and ranked 165th among the countries assessed under this indicator.
In wastewater treatment, it ranked 154th with 5.17 points.
Climate performance declines sharply
Tajikistan ranked 159th in the climate change category, scoring 16.21 points. Its score in this area fell by 14.26 points over the 10-year period.
The assessment considered changes in emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases and black carbon.
It also examined greenhouse-gas emission trends relative to population and economic output, projected emissions through 2050 and changes in the carbon balance resulting from land use.
Tajikistan ranked 161st in the trend in greenhouse-gas emissions adjusted for the size of its economy.
Estonia topped the 2026 Environmental Performance Index with 74.79 points, followed by Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands.
Laos, India, Bangladesh, Mali and Vietnam occupied the bottom five positions.
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