Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Uzbekistan

O‘zbekiston Respublikasi

UZ / UZBasia

CapitalTashkent

Population37,053,428

GDP$147.0bn

Area448,978 km²

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

Official nameO‘zbekiston Respublikasi

CapitalTashkent

Area448,978 km²

CurrencyUzbek som (UZS)

Official language(s)Uzbek

Calling code+998

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Income levelLower middle income

Form of governmentpresidential system

Time zoneUTC+05:00, Asia/Samarkand, Asia/Tashkent

Overview

Population37,053,4282025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate37,724,2232026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$147,038,081,1292025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$3,9682025 · Verified

GDP growth7.7%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices8.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment4.6%2025 · Verified

Background

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.

Reference: 2023, 2021, 2016, 1991

Geography

Latitude41.3052°current · Verified

Longitude69.2690°current · Verified

Location

Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Map references

Asia

Area

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

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 6,893 km
border countries: Afghanistan 144 km; Kazakhstan 2,330 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km; Tajikistan 1,312 km; Turkmenistan 1,793 km

Coastline

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

Maritime claims

none (doubly landlocked)

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point: Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m
lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.)
forest: 8.7% (2023 est.)
other: 31.8% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

37,305 sq km (2022)

Reference: 2022

Major lakes (area sq km)

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

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)

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

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts

Geography - note

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

Population & Society

Population37,053,4282025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate37,724,2232026 · Estimated

Fertility rate3.52024 · Verified

Urban population51.0%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani

Ethnic groups

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

Reference: 2017

Languages

Languages: 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: note: in the semi-autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 5,597,947/female 5,213,403)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 11,649,017/female 11,617,411)
65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,077,849/female 1,364,966)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 57 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 46.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 28.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 28.1 years
female: 29.8 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

1.43% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

20.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

Major urban areas - population

2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (2023)

Reference: 2023

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.7 years (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

1.33 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 95.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 4.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Reference: 2021

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2021

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.6% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 15.4% (2025 est.)
male: 30.2% (2025 est.)
female: 1% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.6% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.2% (2022)
women married by age 18: 3.4% (2022)

Reference: 2022

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2024 est.)
male: 13 years (2024 est.)
female: 13 years (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)1,154,9632024 · Verified

International migrant stock3.2%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock2,114,4802024 · Estimated

Net migration-6,9872025 · Verified

Refugees hosted1782012 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted02012 · Verified

Refugees from this country5,1642025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country17,4042025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 8,505 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 20,000 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentpresidential systemcurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of government	Abdulla Aripov	—	2016-12-14	Current	Reported
Head of state	Shavkat Mirziyoyev	—	2016-09-08	Current	Reported

Country name

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: the name comes from the local people, the Uzbeks, whose name is said to have originated with Mongol leader Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad UZBEK; the Persian suffix -stan means "country"

Capital

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: the current name of the ancient city was first used in the 11th century and comes from the Sogdian (Turkic) words tash (stone) and kent (town); the city was first recorded in the 5th or 4th century B.C. with the name of Chach or Shash

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 3 cities** (shahar); 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)
note: note: administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

Legal system

civil law system
note: note: 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

Reference: 2023, 2020

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992
amendment process: 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

Reference: 1992

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016)
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)
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by majority party in the Supreme Assembly but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president
most recent election date: 9 July 2023
election results: 2023: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in snap election; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 87.7%, Robaxon Maxmudova (Adolat) 4.5%, Ulugbek Inoyatov (PDP) 4%, Abdushukur Xamzayev (Ecological Party) 3.8%
2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.3%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4%
expected date of next election: 2030

Reference: 2030, 2023, 2021, 2016

Legislative branch

legislature name: Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: Legislative Chamber (Qonunchilik palatasi)
number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/7/2024 to 11/12/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) (64); Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party (O'zMTDP) (29); Social Democratic Party ("Adolat" SDP) (21); People's Democratic Party (XDP) (20); Ecological Party (O'EP) (16)
percentage of women in chamber: 38%
expected date of next election: October 2029

Reference: 2029, 2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Senat)
number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 9 appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 24.6%
expected date of next election: November 2029

Reference: 2029, 2024

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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 a single 10-year term; the court chairman and deputies appointed for 10-year terms without the right to reelection. (Article 132 of the constitution)
subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Furqat SIDIKOV (since 19 April 2023)
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

Reference: 2023

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan HENICK (since 14 October 2022)
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/

Reference: 2022

International organization participation

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)

Independence

1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Reference: 1991

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Reference: 1991

Flag

description: 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
meaning: 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

National symbol(s)

khumo (mythical bird)

National color(s)

blue, white, red, green

National anthem(s)

title: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
history: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics

Reference: 1992

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c); Historic Bukhara (c); Historic Shakhrisyabz (c); Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c); Western Tien Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Uzbekistan official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Oliy Majlis	—	150	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$147,038,081,1292025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$3,9682025 · Verified

GDP growth7.7%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices8.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment4.6%2025 · Verified

Income levelLower middle incomecurrent · Verified

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $379.989 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $356.797 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $335.678 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $9,600 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 18.3% (2024 est.)
industry: 31.8% (2024 est.)
services: 45.2% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 68% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 13.9% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 37.1% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -3.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -38% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, cotton, potatoes, carrots/turnips, tomatoes, grapes, watermelons, vegetables, apples (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

7.2% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

13.974 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.9% (2024 est.)
male: 7.2% (2024 est.)
female: 18.1% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

11% (2023 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2023

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 34.5 (2023 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2023

Average household expenditures

on food: 46.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 25.3% (2023 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2023

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 14.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 13.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $21.565 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2023

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 10.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reference: 2016

Taxes and other revenues

11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$5.738 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$7.799 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$2.847 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $26.173 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $25.05 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $20.966 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $43.624 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $42.646 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $35.643 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $41.237 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $34.558 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $35.774 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $25.714 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Reference: 2023

Exchange rates

Currency: Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 12,652.287 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 11,734.833 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 11,050.145 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 10,609.464 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 10,054.261 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services22.0%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services35.4%2025 · Verified

Trade57.4%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption2,059 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption1.0%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 17.901 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 75.753 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2.043 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 4.977 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.433 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 90.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

production: 6.379 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 3.521 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Natural gas

production: 43.249 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 44.455 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 1.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.514 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.841 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 55.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions34.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions110.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth72.5 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure6.7%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate12.8 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Reference: 2021

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2021

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.6% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 15.4% (2025 est.)
male: 30.2% (2025 est.)
female: 1% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate100.0%2022 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross98.1%2025 · Verified

Government education expenditure5.5%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2024 est.)
male: 13 years (2024 est.)
female: 13 years (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.2342025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media-0.9142025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists-0.9952025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government-1.0552025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media-0.7212025 · Estimated

Media bias-1.2772025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship-1.1742025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityNo No Male illegal since 1926; Penalty: up to 3 years imprisonment.; Yes Yes Female always legalReported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsNo NoReported

Same-sex marriageNo No Constitutional ban since 2023.Reported

Same-sex adoptionNo NoReported

Open military serviceNo NoReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawNo NoReported

Gender identity / expression lawNo NoReported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

Reference: 2023, 2020

Judicial branch

Military & Security

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, police (2024)
note: note 1: 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
note 2: 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

Reference: 2024

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019: 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military Expenditures 2018: 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military Expenditures 2017: 2.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military Expenditures 2016: 2.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military Expenditures 2015: 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reference: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Russian or Soviet-era weapons and equipment with smaller quantities of items from suppliers such as China, Turkey, 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)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 12-month service obligation (those conscripted have the option of paying for a shorter service of one month while remaining in the reserves until the age of 27) (2024)
note: note: Uzbek citizens who have completed their service terms in the armed forces have privileges in employment and admission to higher educational institutions

Reference: 2024

Military - note

the military’s responsibilities include ensuring the country’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)

Reference: 2025, 2012, 2006, 1999

International Relations

International law organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2023

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2022

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	1992-01-30
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)	member	—
United Nations (UN)	member	1992-03-02

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 8,505 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 20,000 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K)
note: note 1: 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
note 2: 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

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

74 (2025)

Heliports

3 (2025)

Railways

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

Reference: 2018

Environment

Forest area8.5%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption1.0%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

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

Climate

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

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 110.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.845 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 13.437 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 84.71 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

46.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 848.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 868.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 261.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.6% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.3 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1.2 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 41 billion cubic meters (2022)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

48.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet89.5%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions110.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions34.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers967 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Broadcast media

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)

Reference: 2019