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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there are 12 radio broadcast stations including one state-owned broadcast station of NA type and four independent stations

Radios [time series]

29,016,870

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in telecommunications modernization domestic: in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo (Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations--NA Orbita and NA Intelsat; Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.475 million (1998 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (in addition, there are two repeater stations that relay Russian ORT programs and Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

24,497,850

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $4.4 billion expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Uzbekistani som (UKS)

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$2.6 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$276.6 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions. Uzbekistan has responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

43.885 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

5.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

6.5 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

47.9 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 84.18% hydro: 15.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1--111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)

Exports [time series]

$3.8 billion (1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$59.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26% industry: 27% services: 47% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

1% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$4.1 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (1998)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

40% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

11.9 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture and forestry 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

5% plus another 10% underemployed (December 1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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 includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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 salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

40,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,221 km border countries: 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: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims [time series]

none (doubly landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; 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, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital [time series]

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Constitution [time series]

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December 1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January 2000; note--extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional four years overwhelmingly approved--99.6% of total vote in favor--by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and all other ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote--Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive power concentrated in the presidency

Independence [time series]

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly

Legal system [time series]

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note--seating following the final runoff elections were held 22 January 1995: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120 note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

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

People's Democratic Party or NDP YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party secretary]

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

Birlik (Unity) Movement

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$200 million (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1997)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,172,436 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,012,944 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 254,114 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37% (male 4,556,973; female 4,413,617) 15-64 years: 58% (male 6,938,090; female 7,068,839) 65 years and over: 5% (male 443,604; female 681,350) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

71.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.91 years male: 60.29 years female: 67.71 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (yearend 1996)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

24,102,473 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.32% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and very small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption, almost entirely eradicated by an effective government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km (note--these roads are said to be hard surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced) unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Termiz (Amu Darya river)

Railways [time series]

total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)

Waterways [time series]

1,100 (1990)