The smallest sovereign state by area in Central Asia is Tajikistan. It covers about 143,100 square kilometres, making it smaller than Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
Tajikistan’s compact size is deceptive because much of the country is extremely mountainous. The Pamir and Alay ranges dominate its landscape, and large parts of the territory sit more than 3,000 metres above sea level. Ismoil Somoni Peak, at 7,495 metres, is the country’s highest point and one of the defining landmarks of the Pamirs.
The country is landlocked and borders Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Its capital, Dushanbe, lies in a lower valley in the west, while the Gorno-Badakhshan region occupies much of the rugged east. Tajikistan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.
A common mistake is choosing Kyrgyzstan because it is also famous for high mountains. Kyrgyzstan is mountainous, but its area is roughly 200,000 square kilometres. Tajikistan is smaller overall, even though its dramatic relief gives it a much larger geographic presence than its map area suggests.