a republic in central Asia: under Uzbek rule from the 15th century until taken over by Russia in the 1860s, it became an autonomous Soviet republic in 1929 and gained full independence from the Soviet Union in 1991; it is mainly mountainous. Official language: Tajik or Tajiki. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: somoni. Capital: Dushanbe. Pop: 8 921 343 (2017 est). Area: 143 100 sq km (55 240 sq miles)