Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Tajikistan instead of Kentucky, you would:

Health

live 4.1 years less

In Kentucky, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Tajikistan, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 90.8% less money

Kentucky has a GDP per capita of $50,135 as of 2024, while in Tajikistan, the GDP per capita is $4,600 as of 2023.

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be 99.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Kentucky, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Tajikistan, that number is 7.0% as of 2023.

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be 46.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Kentucky, 15.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Tajikistan, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 65.2% less likely to have internet access

In Kentucky, approximately 87.4% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Tajikistan, about 30.4% do as of 2022.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Kentucky vs. Tajikistan

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Tajikistan is 53.8% cheaper than Kentucky
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Size Comparison · See true size
Kentucky is about 1.4 times smaller than Tajikistan.
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Tajikistan: At a glance

Tajikistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 141,510 sq km. The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bands of indigenous guerrillas (called "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic in 1929 and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992 to 1997. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistanis working in Russia, pervasive corruption, and the major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.
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How big is Tajikistan compared to Kentucky? See an in-depth size comparison.

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