One in four people in Tajikistan experiences moderate or severe food insecurity, UN report says

Although the prevalence of undernourishment has fallen nearly fivefold over the past two decades, the report points to other growing nutrition challenges. Obesity among adults and anemia among women are increasing, while fewer than one-third of young children receive a sufficiently diverse diet.
The report draws on data from different years. Figures on hunger and food insecurity are presented as averages for 2023–2025, while other nutrition indicators are based on the latest available data.
Undernourishment rate falls nearly fivefold
In 2023–2025, 8% of Tajikistan’s population, or approximately 800,000 people, were undernourished.
In 2004–2006, the figure stood at 38%, or about 2.6 million people. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of undernourishment has therefore fallen nearly fivefold, while the number of people affected has declined by more than three times.
For comparison, the average prevalence of undernourishment in 2025 was 2,8% in Central Asia and 7,8% worldwide.
However, the proportion of people in Tajikistan experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity rose from 19,1%, or 1.6 million people, in 2014–2016 to 24%, or approximately 2.5 million, in 2023–2025.
The prevalence of severe food insecurity remained unchanged at 4,9%. Because of population growth, however, the number of people affected increased from about 400,000 to 500,000.
Undernourishment and food insecurity are measured differently. Undernourishment refers to a chronic lack of sufficient dietary energy, while food insecurity is based on people’s experiences of being forced to reduce the quantity or quality of food because of limited resources. One indicator may therefore improve while the other worsens.
Childhood stunting cut almost in half
One of the most significant improvements recorded in Tajikistan was a decline in stunting among children under five.
In 2012, stunting affected 25,7% of children in this age group, or approximately 300,000. By 2024, the figure had fallen to 13,1%, or about 200,000 children.
The prevalence of wasting among children under five stood at 6,4% in 2024, affecting approximately 100,000 children.
The proportion of children under five who were overweight also declined slightly, from 5,2% in 2012 to 4,6% in 2024. The report rounds the number affected in both years to approximately 100,000.
Fewer than one-third of young children have a diverse diet
Only 27,8% of children aged six to 23 months in Tajikistan receive a minimum acceptable level of dietary diversity, equivalent to approximately 100,000 children.
This means that more than seven in ten children in this age group do not receive a sufficiently varied diet.
The situation is considerably better among women aged 15 to 49. About 86,9%, or approximately 2.4 million women, meet the minimum dietary diversity standard.
Exclusive breastfeeding increases
The proportion of infants under six months who are exclusively breastfed increased from 32,6% in 2012 to 40,8% in 2024.
In absolute terms, approximately 100,000 infants were exclusively breastfed in 2024.
The prevalence of low birth weight declined only slightly, from 9,3% in 2012 to 8,7% in 2020. The report estimates that fewer than 100,000 newborns were affected.
Across Central Asia, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding increased from 29,1% in 2012 to 33,1% in 2024. Globally, it rose from 37% to 47,4%.
The prevalence of low birth weight in Central Asia declined from 6,3% in 2012 to 6% in 2020, compared with a global decrease from 15% to 14,7%.
Adult obesity rises sharply
While indicators of childhood undernutrition have improved, obesity among adults in Tajikistan has increased significantly.
In 2012, 16,2% of adults, or approximately 700,000 people, were obese. By 2024, the proportion had risen to 23,1%, equivalent to about 1.4 million people.
Over 12 years, the prevalence of adult obesity increased by 6.9 percentage points, while the number of people affected doubled.
Across Central Asia, the obesity rate among adults rose from 18,1% in 2012 to 26% in 2024. The global average increased from 12,1% to 16,2%.
More than one-third of women have anemia
Anemia remains one of the most serious nutrition-related problems affecting women in Tajikistan.
In 2023, it affected 37,3% of women aged 15 to 49, or approximately 1 million people.
In 2012, the figure stood at 36,1%, or about 800,000 women, indicating that little progress has been made.
The prevalence of anemia among women in Tajikistan remains higher than both the regional and global averages.
In Central Asia, the rate declined slightly from 32,3% in 2012 to 32% in 2023. Globally, it rose from 27,6% to 30,7%.
How much does a healthy diet cost?
The report does not provide separate figures on the cost of a healthy diet in Tajikistan, so comparisons can only be made using data for Central Asia as a whole.
The minimum cost of a healthy diet in the region rose from 3.37 $ per person per day in 2017 to 4.15 $ in 2025.
The figures are expressed in purchasing power parity dollars, which account for differences in prices between countries.
Despite the increase in cost, healthy diets became more affordable across Central Asia. The proportion of people unable to afford one fell from 25,8% in 2017 to 11,3% in 2025, while the number affected declined from 18.6 million to 9.4 million.
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