1998 Edition

Area

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

Area-comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

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

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

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

Environment-current issues

drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Environment-international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

40,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

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

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims

none (doubly landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 38% (male 4,591,140; female 4,451,246) 15-64 years: 57% (male 6,755,371; female 6,874,483) 65 years and over: 5% (male 435,036; female 677,045) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

23.69 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

7.68 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

71.04 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.11 years male: 60.49 years female: 67.91 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate

-2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

23,784,321 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.33% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

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: 0.64 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.87 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Country name

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

UZ

Executive branch

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); First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHZHEN (since NA 1994), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV (since NA 1992), Kayim HAKKULOV (since NA 1991), Dilbar GHOLOMOVA (since NA 1995), Alisher AZIZKHOJAYEV (since NA 1996), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA 1995), Rustam YUNUSOV (since NA 1994) 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 deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote-Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%

FAX

[1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL (since November 1997) embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110 telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86, 77-11-32, 77-12-62

[7] (3712) 40-63-35

Flag description

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

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

Independence

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300, 293-6801 through 6803

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or HDP (formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, first secretary]; Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Turgunpulat DAMINOV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Ibrahim GAFUROV, chairman] Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman]; Islamic Rebirth Party or IRP [Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman], note-is banned; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhamd SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992 note: all of the above groups are illegal; UTAYEV disappeared in 1992 and probably was detained by the government, but his whereabouts is unknown

Legal system

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members are 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-final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120 note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV

National capital

Tashkent (Toshkent)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

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

Currency

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

Debt-external

$2.3 billion (of which $510 million to Russia) (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $71 million (1993) note: commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements) (1992-95)

Economy-overview

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.

Electricity-capacity

11.822 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,916 kWh (1996 est.)

Electricity-production

45.42 billion kWh (1996 est.)

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1-75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)

Exports

total value: $3.8 billion (1996) commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$60.7 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,500 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.4% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $4.7 billion (1996) commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1996)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

55% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 8.6 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1995)

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note-there is at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type

Radios

NA

Telephone system

poorly developed domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent 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 and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations-NA Orbita and NA Intelsat

Telephones

1.458 million (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 national, over 30 local

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

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

Airports

3 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Highways

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

crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)

Railways

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

1,100 (1990)

Military branches

Ministry of Defense (Army, Air, and Air Defense), Security Forces (internal and border troops) note: National Guard is a component of the Army

Military expenditures-dollar figure

39.2 billion soms (1996); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

7% (1996)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 5,996,041 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,874,324 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 246,706 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none

Illicit drugs

limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited 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