2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)

note

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.9% (male 4,572,721/female 4,403,405) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 8,420,174/female 8,594,478) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 539,336/female 777,020) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Airports

61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5

total

34

under 914 m

5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

under 914 m

25 (2006)

Area

land

425,400 sq km

total

447,400 sq km

water

22,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

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 1924. 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 militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization. Geography Uzbekistan

Birth rate

26.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.108 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$3.145 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

41 20 N, 69 18 E

name

Tashkent (Toshkent)

time difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

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

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

Ozbekiston Respublikasi

local short form

Ozbekiston

Currency (code)

Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

Currency code

UZS

Current account balance

$1.41 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$4.713 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jon PURNELL

embassy

3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[998] (71) 120-5450

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV

telephone

[1] (202) 887-5300

Disputes - international

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates 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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.8 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$91.6 million from the US (2005)

Economy - overview

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted the obligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry would increase economic growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance" treaty, which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties.

Electricity - consumption

48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

11.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

46.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

88.2%

hydro

11.8%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

lowest point

Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m

Environment - current issues

shrinkage 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 buried nuclear processing and 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,219.58 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003), 423.832 (2002)

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 JALALOV 4.2%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003)

Exports

$5.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998)

Exports - partners

Russia 23.8%, China 11.9%, Kazakhstan 6.9%, Turkey 6.9%, Ukraine 5.4%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Poland 4.2%, Tajikistan 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 293-6804

[998] (71) 120-6335

consulate(s) general

New York

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Uzbekistan

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 Economy Uzbekistan

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

31.1%

industry

25.7%

services

43.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.78 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$54.81 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22% (2000)

lowest 10%

3.6%

IDPs

3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2006)

Illicit drugs

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$3.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals (1998)

Imports - partners

Russia 26.6%, South Korea 15.3%, Germany 8.8%, Kazakhstan 7.1%, China 7.1%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005)

Independence

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

7.7% (2005 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Infant mortality rate

female

65.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

74.14 deaths/1,000 live births

total

69.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.uz

Internet hosts

9,058 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

42 (2000)

Internet users

880,000 (2005) Transportation Uzbekistan

Irrigated land

42,810 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Labor force

14.44 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

44%

industry

20%

services

36% (1995)

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

10.51%

other

88.73% (2005)

permanent crops

0.76%

Languages

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

Legal system

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10

elections

last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009)

note

all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.14 years (2006 est.)

male

61.19 years

total population

64.58 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government Uzbekistan

male

99.6%

total population

99.3%

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

6,432,072 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

6,340,220

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

5,383,233 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

4,609,621

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

317,062 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

324,722

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (doubly landlocked)

Median age

female

23.3 years (2006 est.)

male

22 years

total

22.7 years

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY97) Transnational Issues Uzbekistan

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Nationality

adjective

Uzbekistani

noun

Uzbekistani

Natural gas - consumption

50.2 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports

9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

59.86 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

148,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

142,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2005)

Pipelines

gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TASHMUHAMMEDOVA, chief]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Hurshid DOSMUHAMMEDOV, chief]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party (Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV, chief]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protection of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigora KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition [Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]

Population

27,307,134 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

28% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.7% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Termiz (Amu Darya) Military Uzbekistan

Public debt

29.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Radios

10.8 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2005)

total

3,950 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

39,202 (Tajikistan)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.986 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

71,237 km

total

81,600 km

unpaved

10,363 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated; the state owned telecom company, Uzbektelecom, is using a US$110 million loan from the Japanese government to improve main line services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base doubling in 2005 to 1.1 million; there are six main cellular providers currently in operation

general assessment

antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization

international

country code - 998; 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

1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.1 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

8 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)

Televisions

6.4 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Uzbekistan is a source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women trafficked to Asia and the Middle East for the purpose of sexual exploitation; women from other Central Asian countries and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the construction and agricultural industries to Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; men and women are also trafficked within the country

tier rating

Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3 because it failed to fulfill commitments by the country to take additional steps during 2005, including the adoption of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, criminal code amendments to raise trafficking penalties, support to the country's first trafficking shelter, and approval of a national action plan

Unemployment rate

0.8% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2006 est.)

Waterways

1,100 km (2006)