Uzbekistan

1 (1999)

AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)

10.2 million (1997)

antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent and Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System) 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; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications; Inmarsat also provides an international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth stations - NA (1998)

1.976 million (1999)

26,000 (1998)

4 (plus two repeater stations that relay Russian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)

6.4 million (1997)

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

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

Uzbekistani som (UKS)

$3.2 billion (1998 est.)

$276.6 million (1995)

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. 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. Economic policies that have repelled foreign investment are a major factor in the economy's stagnation. A growing debt burden, persistent inflation, and a poor business climate cloud growth prospects in 2000.

41.327 billion kWh (1998)

5.1 billion kWh (1998)

6 billion kWh (1998)

43.47 billion kWh (1998)

fossil fuel: 85.2% hydro: 14.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1 - 141.4 (January 2000), 111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995)

$2.9 billion (1999 est.)

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

Russia 15%, Switzerland 10%, UK 10%, Belgium 4%, Kazakhstan 4%, Tajikistan 4% (1998)

calendar year

purchasing power parity - $59.3 billion (1999 est.)

agriculture: 27% industry: 27% services: 46% (1997 est.)

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)

-1% (1999 est.)

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

$3.1 billion (1999 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; foodstuffs

Russia 16%, South Korea 11%, Germany 8%, US 7%, Turkey 6%, Kazakhstan 5% (1998)

6% (1999 est.)

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

29% (1999 est.)

11.9 million (1998 est.)

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

NA%

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

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

slightly larger than California

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

0 km note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

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

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

41 00 N, 64 00 E

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

40,000 sq km (1993 est.)

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

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Commonwealth of Independent States

none (doubly landlocked)

NA

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

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

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)

Tashkent (Toshkent)

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

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

UZ

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 telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450 FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York

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 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA January 2005); note - extension of President KARIMOV's original term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%

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

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

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

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

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

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 32, Fidokorlar 19, Fatherland Progress Party 9, Adolat Social Democratic Party 9, MTP 6, local government 98, initiative groups 11, other 66 note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Turgunpulat DAMINOV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Ibrahim GAFUROV, chairman]; Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anvar YULDASHEV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar [Erkin NORBOTAEV, general secretary]

Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhamd SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abdumanob PULATOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail AROZINOV, chairman]

18 years of age; universal

Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1925. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militant groups from Tajikistan and Afghanistan, a non-convertible currency, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

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

$200 million (FY97)

2% (FY97)

males age 15-49: 6,357,625 (2000 est.)

males age 15-49: 5,161,926 (2000 est.)

18 years of age

males: 262,289 (2000 est.)

0-14 years: 37% (male 4,673,501; female 4,520,471) 15-64 years: 58% (male 7,140,215; female 7,283,143) 65 years and over: 5% (male 452,480; female 685,709) (2000 est.)

26.18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

8.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

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

72.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

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

total population: 63.71 years male: 60.09 years female: 67.52 years (2000 est.)

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

noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani

-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

24,755,519 (July 2000 est.)

1.6% (2000 est.)

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

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: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

3.09 children born/woman (2000 est.)

none

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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

3 (1997 est.)

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

total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km (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.)

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

Termiz (Amu Darya river)

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)

1,100 (1990)