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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

1,458,000 telephones; 63 telephones/1,000 persons (1995); poorly developed local: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent intercity: NA international: linked by landline or microwave with CIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; new INTELSAT links to Tokyo and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; Orbita and INTELSAT earth stations

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP VANUATU

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 5,567,580; males fit for military service 4,537,455; males reach military age (18) annually 222,506 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain, livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som currency

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: the IMF has established a Systemic Transformation Facility of $74 million and the World Bank has made a rehabilitation loan of $160 million with other project loans pending; estimated annual external financing requirements for 1995-96 of $600 million to $700 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 11,690,000 kW production: 47.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,130 kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

soms per US$1 - 25 (yearend 1994)

Exports [time series]

$943.7 million to outside the FSU countries (1994) commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication programs; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$1.15 billion from outside the FSU countries (1994) commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods partners: principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 1% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14% per month (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,400 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-4% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It is one of the poorest states of the former USSR with 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural communities. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan is the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Since independence, the government has sought to prop up the Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on prices and production. Such policies have buffered the economy from the sharp declines in output and high inflation experienced by many other former Soviet republics. They had become increasingly unsustainable, however, as inflation moves along at 14% per month and as Russia has forced the Uzbek government to introduce its own currency. Faced with mounting economic problems, the government has begun to move on a reform agenda and cooperate with international financial institutions, announced an acceleration of privatization, and stepped up efforts to attract foreign investors. Nevertheless, the regime is likely to find it difficult to sustain its drive for economic reform.

Unemployment rate [time series]

0.3% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 447,400 sq km land area: 425,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than California

Climate [time series]

mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

Coastline [time series]

0 km note: Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

41,550 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 47% forest and woodland: 0% other: 42%

Location [time series]

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

landlocked

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital [time series]

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Constitution [time series]

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatikh TESHABAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 638-4266, 4267

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990); election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%; note - a 26 March 1995 referendum extended KARIMOV's term until 2000 (99.6% approval) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismail DJURABEKOV (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN, Bakhtiyar HAMIDOV, Kayim KHAKKULOV, Yuriy PAYGIN, Saidmukhtar SAIDKASYMOV, Utkur SULTANOV, Mirabror USMANOV, Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 638-4268 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[7] (3712) 77-69-53

Flag [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Independence [time series]

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi local short form: none former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Birlik (Unity) People's Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhim PULATOV, chairman (in exile); Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman; Adolat-94 (formed by former Vice President Shukhrat MIRSAIDOV and Ibragim BURIEV note: PULATOV (BPM) is in exile in the West; UTAYEV (IRP) is either in prison or in exile

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV, chairman; Fatherland Progress Party (FPP), Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman; Social Democratic Party, Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairman (in exile); note - EDP was banned 9 December 1992

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Legislative branch (Supreme Council) [time series]

elections last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (female 4,553,432; male 4,670,496) 15-64 years: 55% (female 6,400,578; male 6,384,862) 65 years and over: 5% (female 656,933; male 422,960) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.45 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakh 4.1%, Tatar 2.4%, Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

8.234 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35% (1992)

Languages [time series]

Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.79 years male: 65.5 years female: 72.24 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 97% male: 98% female: 96%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uzbek(s) adjective: Uzbek

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

23,089,261 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.08% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.67 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 261 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 5 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 216

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 78,400 km paved and graveled: 67,000 km unpaved: earth 11,400 km (1990)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)

Ports [time series]

Termiz

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 3,460 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 3,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)