Tajikistan’s Agency for Social Insurance and Pensions says the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s proposal to raise the retirement age is advisory and does not change the country’s current legislation.
In a statement published on Facebook on October 22, the agency said pension eligibility and the conditions for receiving benefits are governed by national law.
“Any changes to the retirement age, insurance record and other conditions for the granting of pensions must be considered and adopted in the manner established by the legislation of Tajikistan,” the agency said, adding that changes would take effect only after the relevant legal acts enter into force.
The current retirement age in Tajikistan is 58 for women and 63 for men.
In a recent report, the ADB recommended that the country consider two options: gradually raising the retirement age for women from 58 to 63, or setting it at 65 for both women and men.
The bank cited rising life expectancy as one reason for the proposal. Average life expectancy in Tajikistan increased from 68.4 years in 2010 to 76.6 years in 2024.
The country’s national development strategy aims to raise life expectancy to 80 years by 2030 — 78 years for men and 82 years for women.
The ADB also suggested considering an increase in the minimum pension contribution period from 25 to 30 years for men and from 20 to 30 years for women.
The report notes that women retire five years earlier than men and, on average, live longer, meaning they receive pensions for a longer period despite contributing for fewer years.