EDB Projects 8.4% GDP Growth for Tajikistan in 2025

Tajikistan's real GDP is expected to grow by 8.4% in 2025, fueled by positive trade and investment trends, higher gold export prices, and lower energy import costs, according to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). This forecast exceeds the Tajik government's minimum growth expectation of 8.0%, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

The EDB predicts that inflation will rise to 5.9% in 2025, returning to the National Bank of Tajikistan’s (NBT) target range of 6.0% (+/- 2 percentage points) by the end of the year. Analysts attribute this inflationary uptick to strong domestic demand.

In 2024, Tajikistan recorded a historic low inflation rate of 3.6% - the lowest since the country’s independence. However, a slight increase in the refinancing rate, by 1 percentage point, is expected as inflation adjusts back to the target range. The refinancing rate has remained at 9.0% since August 5, 2024.

The EDB also forecasts a slight devaluation of the somoni, Tajikistan’s national currency, with the exchange rate expected to reach 11 somoni per US dollar by the end of 2025. This adjustment is attributed to higher imports and a decline in remittance volumes.

Currently, the somoni trades at 10.9450 per dollar, reflecting a 0.2% appreciation against the dollar in 2024, according to data from the National Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The Times of Central Asia previously highlighted the main short-term risks for Tajikistan’s economy from 2024 to 2026, but the EDB’s projections signal a positive outlook for 2025. Key growth drivers, such as trade, investment, and favorable market conditions, are expected to bolster economic performance despite currency pressures.