DUSHANBE, March 29, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- The official poverty statistics show a noticeable decline in the poverty rate in Tajikistan.

According to Tajikistan’s Livelihood Improvement Strategy (LIS) for 2013-2015, the Tajik poverty rate is expected to decrease to 31.5 percent by 2015.   

A long-term socioeconomic program - the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period to 2015 (NDS) was developed to improve the living standards of the population.  The mid-term poverty reduction strategies for 2007-2009 and 2010-2012 were developed and implemented to ensure successful implementation of this strategy.

To ensure consistent implementation of the National Development Strategy, the Tajik Government in cooperation with development partners drafted another mid-term “Livelihood Improvement Strategy (LIS) for 2013-2015”, which is the final stage of the NDS implementation.

According to data of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), the poverty rate is on a sustainable downward trend in Tajikistan.  The Tajik poverty rate reportedly decreased from 50 percent in 2008 to 46.7 percent in 2009, 45 percent in 2010, 41 percent in 2011 and 38.3 percent in 2012.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Umed Davlatzod, notes that in Tajikistan, the poverty line is defined as below US$2.15 per day.