2000 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

425,400 sq km

total

447,400 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 includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Elevation extremes

highest point

Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

lowest point

Sariqarnish Kuli -12 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 salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Environment - international agreements

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

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

border countries

Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

total

6,221 km

Land use

arable land

9%

forests and woodland

3%

other

41% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

46%

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 (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

8.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 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

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.52 years (2000 est.)

male

60.09 years

total population

63.71 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (yearend 1996)

male

99%

total population

99%

Nationality

adjective

Uzbekistani

noun

Uzbekistani(s)

Net migration rate

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

Population

24,755,519 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.6% (2000 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: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.09 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati

note

administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Constitution

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Uzbekistan

conventional short form

Uzbekistan

former

Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Uzbekiston Respublikasi

local short form

none

Data code

UZ

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

(71) 120-5450

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV

telephone

(202) 887-5300

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly

chief of state

President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)

election results

Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December 1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers

FAX

(202) 293-6804

(71) 120-6335

consulate(s) general

New York

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; 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, 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)

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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

elections

last held 5 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004)

note

not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party ; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP ; Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anvar YULDASHEV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) ; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$4.4 billion

Currency

Uzbekistani som (UKS)

Debt - external

$3.2 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$276.6 million (1995)

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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

41.327 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

5.1 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

43.47 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

85.2%

hydro

14.8%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

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)

Exports

$2.9 billion (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

27%

industry

27%

services

46% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

-1% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.1 billion (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

29% (1999 est.)

Labor force

11.9 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

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

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)

Radios

10.2 million (1997)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.976 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

26,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

6.4 million (1997)

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

paved

71,237 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel-surfaced)

total

81,600 km

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

broad gauge

3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)

total

3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

Waterways

1,100 (1990)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY97)

Military manpower - availability

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

Military manpower - fit for military service

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

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

262,289 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

VANUATU