Uzbekistan

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Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan’s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan’s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote.

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Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

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41 00 N, 64 00 E

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Asia

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about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California

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0 km (doubly landlocked)

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<strong>note:</strong> Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

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none (doubly landlocked)

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mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

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mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

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natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

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37,305 sq km (2022)

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Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated

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earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts

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along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

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Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.9% (2017 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> in the semi-autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status

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Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

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1.26% (2025 est.)

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18.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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5 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated

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2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (2023)

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23.7 years (2019 est.)

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26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.25 (2025 est.)

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2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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4.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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16.6% (2016)

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1.8% (2021 est.)

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74.7% (2022 est.)

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growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts in the shrinking Aral Sea; desertification; water pollution and soil salination from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals

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mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

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46.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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48.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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presidential republic; highly authoritarian

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12 provinces (<em>viloyatlar</em>, singular - <em>viloyat</em>), 1 autonomous republic* (<em>avtonom respublikasi</em>), and 3 cities** (<em>shahar</em>); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Shahri, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Shahri [Samarkand City], Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Nurafshon], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)  

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<strong>note:</strong> administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

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civil law system

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<strong>note:</strong> in 2020, the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility were reformed; a constitutional referendum in 2023 included additional criminal code reforms  

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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18 years of age; universal

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Ecological Party of Uzbekistan or EPU<br>Justice Social Democratic Party or ASDP<br>People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or PDP<br>Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party or UzLiDep<br>Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party or UzMTDP

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ADB, CICA, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EEU (observer), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

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Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by narrow red stripes with a vertical white crescent moon and 12 five-pointed white stars in the left corner of the top band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue stands for the Turkic peoples and the sky, white for peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, and green for nature and Islam; the red stripes represent the vital force of all living organisms; the crescent stands for Islam, and the 12 stars for the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar

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khumo (mythical bird)

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blue, white, red, green

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<p>lower-middle income Central Asian economy; key exporter of natural gas, cotton, and gold; ongoing reform efforts to reduce state-owned sector dominance, attract foreign investment, and improve sustainability of cotton production</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$114.965 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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milk, wheat, cotton, potatoes, carrots/turnips, tomatoes, grapes, watermelons, vegetables, apples (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals

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7.2% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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13.974 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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11% (2023 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<strong>note:</strong> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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state-controlled media; 17 state-owned broadcasters, including 13 TV and 4 radio, with national service; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast locally; privately owned TV stations required to lease transmitters from state-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation (2019)

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.uz

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UK

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74 (2025)

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3 (2025)

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Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard <br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, police (2024)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the National Guard is under the Defense Ministry, but is independent of the other military services; it is responsible for ensuring public order and the security of diplomatic missions, radio and television broadcasting, and other state entities<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the State Security Service, whose chairperson reports directly to the president, is responsible for national security and intelligence matters, including terrorism, corruption, organized crime, border control, and narcotics

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limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Russian or Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities of items from suppliers such as China, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; Uzbekistan has a small defense industry, which is involved in repairing and maintaining aircraft and armored vehicles, as well as producing light armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, and other military items (2025)

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18-30 for voluntary/contract service for men and women; 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men with a 12-month service obligation (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> those conscripted have the option of paying for a shorter service of one month while remaining in the reserves until the age of 27; Uzbek citizens who have completed their service terms in the armed forces have privileges in employment and admission to higher educational institutions

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the military&rsquo;s responsibilities include ensuring the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing its borders, and assisting with internal security; regional security and international terrorism are areas of concern; Uzbekistan joined the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012; although not part of CSTO, Uzbekistan continues to maintain defense ties with Russia, including joint military exercises and defense industrial cooperation; it also has defense ties with other regional countries, including Azerbaijan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Turkey; it is part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and participates in SCO training exercises (2025)

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Space Research and Technology Agency (UzCosmos or UzSpace; established 2019) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> Uzcosmos operates under the Ministry of Digital Technologies

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has a small but growing space effort focused on acquiring satellites and developing the country&rsquo;s space industries and technologies in key sectors, including cartography, data processing, environmental and disaster monitoring, land use, resource management, and telecommunications; recognized for its astronomy program; member of international space organizations; cooperates with foreign space agencies or commercial companies from a variety of countries, including those of Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the UAE (2025)

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2018 - signed space cooperation agreements with France and India<br><br>2022 - signed space cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan <br><br>2025 - Uzbek engineers began two-year satellite development training program in Japan with goal of building country's first satellite; signed space cooperation agreement with South Korea; announced development of 10-year national space program

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Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> these groups have typically been active in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods <strong><br><br>note 2:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide