Tajikistan Ranks Lowest in CIS for Per-Capita Meat Consumption

Tajikistan has taken the last place among CIS countries in per-capita meat consumption.

The average resident consumes just 35.9 kg of meat per year, far behind neighboring states, The Caspian Post informs via Tajik media.

For comparison, meat consumption reaches 70.2 kg in Kazakhstan, 81.7 kg in Russia, and 94.5 kg in Belarus, which leads the CIS. Across Central Asia, Tajikistan also lags behind: Kyrgyzstan consumes 38.2 kg, Uzbekistan 42.4 kg, and Turkmenistan 59 kg per capita.

Meanwhile, global leaders such as Tonga and Mongolia consume over 130-140 kg annually - several times higher than the world average.

At the same time, meat prices in Tajikistan have been steadily climbing for years. According to official data, beef prices rose by 12.6 per cent over the past year, while lamb increased by 14.3 per cent. In Dushanbe, a kilogram of local bone-in beef costs about 100 somonis, while boneless cuts reach 145 somonis.

Experts estimate the country’s annual demand at 380,000-385,000 tons of meat. Even with rising production, Tajikistan currently provides only 235,000-240,000 tons of “clean” meat - roughly 24 kg per person, far below the recommended 40.8 kg. This means the nation meets only 58 per cent of the optimal consumption level.