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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 4,820,009 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14.4 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

the government controls media; 17 state-owned broadcasters - 13 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast to local markets; privately owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation; in 2019, the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information was reorganized into the Agency of Information and Mass Communications and became part of the Uzbek Presidential Administration with recent appointment of the Uzbek President's elder daughter as it deputy director (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.uz

Internet users [time series]

total: 18.6 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 52.31% (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: land-locked, authoritarian state with government grip on ICT technology and no integrated plan; government plans to develop infrastructure to improve geographical disparities in service; increased investment in infrastructure, with aims of expanding subscriber base and rising revenue; some villages have no connectivity, and 70% have 2G with development of 3G and 4G; free WiFi spots across country to boost tourism; Russian operator invested in joint venture on mobile services; government in discussion with Huawei on additional ventures; digital exchanges in large cities and some rural areas; fixed-line is underdeveloped due to preeminence of mobile market; introduction of prepaid Internet has contributed to home Internet usage; consumers largely reliant on terrestrial links and VSAT networks; media controlled by state; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line 11 per 100 person and mobile-cellular 101 per 100; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbek Telecom, owner of the fixed-line telecommunications system, has used loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital exchanges; mobile-cellular services are provided by 2 private and 3 state-owned operators with a total subscriber base of 22.8 million as of January 2018 (2019) international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; the country also has a link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; Uzbekistan has supported the national fiber-optic backbone project of Afghanistan since 2008 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 3,550,069 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10.61 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 33.387 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99.75 (2020 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products [time series]

milk, wheat, potatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, tomatoes, vegetables, grapes, onions, watermelons

Budget [time series]

revenues: 15.22 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 15.08 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings [time series]

Fitch rating: BB- (2018) Moody's rating: B1 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018)

Current account balance [time series]

$1.713 billion (2017 est.) $384 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$16.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $16.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in which 51% of the population lives in urban settlements; the agriculture-rich Fergana Valley, in which Uzbekistan’s eastern borders are situated, has been counted among the most densely populated parts of Central Asia. Since its independence in September 1991, the government has largely maintained its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production, prices, and access to foreign currency. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbek agriculture remains largely centered on cotton; Uzbekistan is the world's fifth-largest cotton exporter and seventh-largest producer. Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments, and export of natural gas, gold, and cotton provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Recently, lower global commodity prices and economic slowdowns in neighboring Russia and China have hurt Uzbekistan's trade and investment and worsened its foreign currency shortage. Aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government is taking incremental steps to reform the business sector and address impediments to foreign investment in the country. Since the death of first President Islam KARIMOV and election of President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, emphasis on such initiatives and government efforts to improve the private sector have increased. In the past, Uzbek authorities accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek laws and have frozen and seized their assets. As a part of its economic reform efforts, the Uzbek Government is looking to expand opportunities for small and medium enterprises and prioritizes increasing foreign direct investment. In September 2017, the government devalued the official currency rate by almost 50% and announced the loosening of currency restrictions to eliminate the currency black market, increase access to hard currency, and boost investment.

Exchange rates [time series]

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 3,906.1 (2017 est.) 2,966.6 (2016 est.) 2,966.6 (2015 est.) 2,569.6 (2014 est.) 2,311.4 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$14.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $16.99 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $14.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, natural gas, cotton fibers, copper, ethylene polymers (2019)

Exports - partners [time series]

Switzerland 19%, United Kingdom 17%, Russia 15%, China 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 8%, Kyrgyzstan 5% (2019)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$57.789 billion (2019 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 59.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 19% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -20% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 17.9% (2017 est.) industry: 33.7% (2017 est.) services: 48.5% (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]

36.8 (2003) 44.7 (1998)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$22.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $26.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $23.44 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, aircraft, construction vehicles (2019)

Imports - partners [time series]

China 23%, Russia 18%, South Korea 11%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.5% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.5% (2017 est.) 8% (2016 est.) note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 22% in 2012

Labor force [time series]

13.273 million (2018 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 25.9% industry: 13.2% services: 60.9% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

14.1% (2013 est.)

Public debt [time series]

24.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$239.42 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $235.54 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $222.63 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

5.3% (2017 est.) 7.8% (2016 est.) 7.9% (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$7,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $7,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $6,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$16 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

31.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5% (2017 est.) 5.1% (2016 est.) note: official data; another 20% are underemployed

Energy

Crude oil - exports [time series]

27,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

420 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

41,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

594 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

49.07 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

13 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

10.84 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

12.96 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

55.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

43.07 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

9.401 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

52.1 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

60,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

3,977 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

61,740 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Environment

Air pollutants [time series]

particulate matter emissions: 25.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 91.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 96.16 megatons (2020 est.)

Climate [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

shrinkage of the Aral Sea has resulted in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification and respiratory health problems; 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 buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT

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

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

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 62.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 51.7% (2018 est.) forest: 7.7% (2018 est.) other: 29.7% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]

Fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up

Major rivers (by length in km) [time series]

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 note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

Revenue from coal [time series]

coal revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources [time series]

forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources [time series]

48.87 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal [time series]

municipal: 2.41 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.13 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 54.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 50.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2016 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Elevation [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

42,150 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,893 km border countries (5): Afghanistan 144 km, Kazakhstan 2330 km, Kyrgyzstan 1314 km, Tajikistan 1312 km, Turkmenistan 1793 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 62.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 51.7% (2018 est.) forest: 7.7% (2018 est.) other: 29.7% (2018 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]

Fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up

Major rivers (by length in km) [time series]

Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (doubly landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Population distribution [time series]

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, while the central and western deserts are sparsely populated

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Tashkent Province], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital [time series]

name: Tashkent (Toshkent) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: "tash" means "stone" and "kent" means "city" in Turkic languages, so the name simply denotes "stone city"

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2017

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi local short form: O'zbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: a combination of the Turkic words "uz" (self) and "bek" (master) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) to give the meaning "Land of the Free"

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROSENBLUM (since 24 May 2019) embassy: 3 Moyqorghon, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093 Tashkent mailing address: 7110 Tashkent Place, Washington DC 20521-7110 telephone: [998] 78-120-5450 FAX: [998] 78-120-6335 email address and website: ACSTashkent@state.gov https://uz.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Javlon VAHOBOV (since 29 November 2017) chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 email address and website: info.washington@mfa.uz https://www.uzbekistan.org/ consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (interim president from 8 September 2016; formally elected president on 4 December 2016 to succeed longtime President Islom KARIMOV, who died on 2 September 2016; reelected president on 24 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term; previously a 5-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to 7 years, and reverted to 5 years in 2011); election last held on 24 October 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister nominated by majority party in legislature since 2011, but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president election results: 2021 : Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.1%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4% 2016: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 88.6%, Hotamjon KETMONOV (PDP) 3.7%, Narimon UMAROV (Adolat) 3.5%, Sarvar OTAMURODOV (National Revival Democratic Party) 2.4%, other 1.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a vertical, white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white, five-pointed stars shifted to the hoist on the top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky, white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth; the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar

Government type [time series]

presidential republic; highly authoritarian

Independence [time series]

1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 67 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and economic sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges of the highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for initial 5-year term and can be reappointed for subsequent 10-year and lifetime terms subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts

Legal system [time series]

civil law system; note - in early 2020, the president signed an amendment to the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 84 members indirectly elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) Legislative Chamber or Qonunchilik Palatasi (150 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 16-17 January 2020 (next to be held in 2025) Legislative Chamber - last held on 22 December 2019 and 5 January 2020 (next to be held in December 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 77, women 23, percent of women 23% Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 53, National Revival Democratic Party 36, Adolat 24, PDP 22, Ecological Movement 15; composition - men 83, women, 17, percent of women 17% note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan) lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV note: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but adopted new lyrics

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

National symbol(s) [time series]

khumo (mythical bird); national colors: blue, white, red, green

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

Ecological Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Ekologik Partivasi) [Narzullo OBLOMURODOV] Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV] Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU [Aktam HAITOV] National Revival Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Milliy Tiklanish Demokratik Partiyasi) [Alisher QODIROV] People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or PDP [Ulugbek Ilyosovich INOYATOV] (formerly Communist Party)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia. The country has 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 dissolution of the USSR 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 September 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 October 2021 with 80% of the vote.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

the Uzbek armed forces were established in January 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when the newly-established Ministry for Defense Affairs assumed jurisdiction over all former Soviet ground, air, and air defense units, formations, and installations then deployed on its soil; the building hosting the headquarters for the ex-Soviet Turkestan Military District became the headquarters for the Uzbek armed forces; all former Soviet troops departed Uzbekistan by 1995; as of 2021, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreement as of 2021, Uzbekistan was not part of the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that is comprised of former Soviet Republics; Uzbekistan joined in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012

Military and security forces [time series]

Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard; Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, Security Service (2021) note - the National Guard, also under the Ministry of Defense, ensures public order and security of diplomatic missions, radio and television broadcasting, and other state entities

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

information varies; approximately 50-60,000 total active troops (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Soviet-era equipment, although since 2010 they have received weapons and aircraft from a variety of sources, including China, France, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the US (2021)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript service obligation for males (conscripts 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 (2021)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.19% (male 3,631,693/female 3,456,750) 15-24 years: 16.63% (male 2,601,803/female 2,481,826) 25-54 years: 45.68% (male 6,955,260/female 7,006,172) 55-64 years: 8.63% (male 1,245,035/female 1,392,263) 65 years and over: 5.87% (male 768,769/female 1,025,840) (2020 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.85 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

2.9% (2017)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

5.3% (2018)

Death rate [time series]

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 43.4 elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 potential support ratio: 13.9 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 96.1% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 3.9% of population total: 2.2% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.1% of GDP (2020)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 4.4% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<1,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

58,000 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

4 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 19.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

Languages [time series]

Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% major-language sample(s): Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: in the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.03 years male: 71.98 years female: 78.25 years (2021 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2019)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

2.545 million TASHKENT (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio [time series]

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.1 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

23.7 years (2019 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

16.6% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.37 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population [time series]

30,842,796 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.86% (2021 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2019)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.73 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 50.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s) [time series]

Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan note: 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 Appendix-T

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit country for Afghan opium and heroin destined for Russia and the European Union; also transit country for hashish, cannabis products, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; cannabis and poppy are cultivated in small amounts for personal use and local sale

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 69,791 (2020)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; adults are victims of government-organized forced labor during Uzbekistan s annual cotton harvest; local officials in some instances force teachers, students (including children), private businesses employees, and others to work in construction and other forms of non-cotton agriculture and to clean parks, streets, and buildings; traffickers exploit Uzbek women and children in sex trafficking in the Middle East, Eurasia, and Asia, and internally in brothels, clubs, and private residences; traffickers subject Uzbek men, and to a lesser extent women, to forced labor in Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, Turkey, and in other Asian, Middle Eastern, and European countries in the construction, oil and gas, agricultural, retail, and food sectors tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List Uzbekistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included addressing the use of forced adult labor during the cotton harvest by increasing pay to laborers and improving working conditions for voluntary workers and ceasing the forced use of students, teachers, and health care workers; third-party monitors were allowed access to the harvest to view changes; the government created a National Commission on Trafficking chaired by the regional governor in every area of the country; however, reports continued of corrupt officials requiring public sector employees to pick cotton or pay for a replacement worker with extorted penalties paid to them; fewer cases of traffickers were investigated and prosecuted, fewer victims of trafficking were identified, and fewer convictions carried a prison sentence; authorities conducted no investigations against corrupt officials extorting money during the cotton harvest (2020)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 53 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 33 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 18 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,056,558 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 89.43 million mt-km (2018)

Pipelines [time series]

13,700 km gas, 944 km oil (2016)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

river port(s): Termiz (Amu Darya)

Railways [time series]

total: 4,642 km (2018) broad gauge: 4,642 km 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified) (2018)

Roadways [time series]

total: 86,496 km (2000) paved: 75,511 km (2000) unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Waterways [time series]

1,100 km (2012)