2014 Edition

Background

Russia conquered the territory 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 overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country has lessened its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base. However, longserving septuagenarian President Islom KARIMOV, who rose through the ranks of the Soviet-era State Planning Committee (Gosplan), remains wedded to the concepts of a command economy, creating a challenging environment for foreign investment. Current concerns include post-KARIMOV succession, terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

Area

447,400 sq km 425,400 sq km 22,000 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 (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Elevation extremes

Sariqamish Kuli -12 m Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

highest point

Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

lowest point

Sariqamish Kuli -12 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

56 cu km/yr (7%/3%/90%) 2,113 cu m/yr (2005)

per capita

2,113 cu m/yr (2005)

total

56 cu km/yr (7%/3%/90%)

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

41,980 sq km (2005)

Land boundaries

6,221 km Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

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

9.61% 0.8% 89.58% (2011)

arable land

9.61%

other

89.58% (2011)

permanent crops

0.8%

Location

Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Map references

Asia

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

Total renewable water resources

48.87 cu km (2011)

Age structure

24.9% (male 3,693,838/female 3,514,734) 20.5% (male 3,008,779/female 2,934,534) 43% (male 6,178,921/female 6,255,715) 6.8% (male 926,129/female 1,036,576) 4.7% (male 588,881/female 791,609) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

24.9% (male 3,693,838/female 3,514,734)

15-24 years

20.5% (male 3,008,779/female 2,934,534)

25-54 years

43% (male 6,178,921/female 6,255,715)

55-64 years

6.8% (male 926,129/female 1,036,576)

65 years and over

4.7% (male 588,881/female 791,609) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

17.02 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.4% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

64.9% (2006)

Death rate

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

48.3 % 42 % 6.3 % 15.8 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.3 %

potential support ratio

15.8 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.3 %

youth dependency ratio

42 %

Drinking water source

urban: 98.5% of population rural: 80.9% of population total: 87.3% of population urban: 1.5% of population rural: 19.1% of population total: 12.7% of population (2012 est.)

rural

19.1% of population

total

12.7% of population (2012 est.)

urban

1.5% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,400 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

29,700 (2012 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

19.84 deaths/1,000 live births 23.54 deaths/1,000 live births 15.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

15.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

19.84 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Life expectancy at birth

73.29 years 70.25 years 76.52 years (2014 est.)

female

76.52 years (2014 est.)

total population

73.29 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99.4% 99.6% 99.2% (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.2% (2011 est.)

male

99.6%

total population

99.4%

Major urban areas - population

TASHKENT (capital) 2.227 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

28 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

27.1 years 26.6 years 27.7 years (2014 est.)

female

27.7 years (2014 est.)

male

26.6 years

total

27.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.8 (2006 est.)

Nationality

Uzbekistani Uzbekistani

adjective

Uzbekistani

noun

Uzbekistani

Net migration rate

-2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.1% (2008)

Physicians density

2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

28,929,716 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.93% (2014 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2012 est.)

urban

0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 11 years (2011)

female

11 years (2011)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.75 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Urbanization

36.2% of total population (2011) 1.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

36.2% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Tashkent (Toshkent) 41 19 N, 69 15 E UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

41 19 N, 69 15 E

name

Tashkent (Toshkent)

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)

Country name

Republic of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan O'zbekiston Respublikasi O'zbekiston Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

conventional long form

Republic of Uzbekistan

conventional short form

Uzbekistan

former

Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

O'zbekiston Respublikasi

local short form

O'zbekiston

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador George KROL (since 10 June 2011) 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093 use embassy street address [998] (71) 120-5450 [998] (71) 120-6335

chief of mission

Ambassador George KROL (since 10 June 2011)

embassy

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

FAX

[998] (71) 120-6335

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[998] (71) 120-5450

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Baxtiyor GULOMOV (since 18 July 2013) 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 887-5300 [1] (202) 293-6804 New York

chancery

1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Baxtiyor GULOMOV (since 18 July 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 293-6804

telephone

[1] (202) 887-5300

Executive branch

President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet; first elected president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991) Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008) Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of both chambers of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to seven years and changed back to five years in 2011); election last held on 23 December 2007 (next to be held first quarter 2015); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president; note - to present a facade of democracy, the president nominates a candidate for prime minister, who then must be approved by a majority vote in both chambers of parliament Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom TOSHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%, other 3.2%

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of both chambers of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)

chief of state

President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet; first elected president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)

election results

Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom TOSHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%, other 3.2%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to seven years and changed back to five years in 2011); election last held on 23 December 2007 (next to be held first quarter 2015); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president; note - to present a facade of democracy, the president nominates a candidate for prime minister, who then must be approved by a majority vote in both chambers of parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white 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

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

Independence

1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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

Supreme Court (consists of 34 judges organized in civil, criminal, and military sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); Higher Economic Court (consists of 19 judges) judges of the 3 highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for 5-year terms subject to reappointment regional, district, city, and town courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 34 judges organized in civil, criminal, and military sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); Higher Economic Court (consists of 19 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges of the 3 highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for 5-year terms subject to reappointment

subordinate courts

regional, district, city, and town courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (Qonunchilik Palatasi) (150 seats; 135 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, while 15 spots reserved for the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan) last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat 19 all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President Islom KARIMOV

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 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat 19

elections

last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014)

National anthem

"O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan) Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV 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

lyrics/music

Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV

name

"O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

National symbol(s)

khumo (mythical bird)

Political parties and leaders

Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Ekologik Harakati) [Boriy ALIXONOV] Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Narimon UMAROV] Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU [Sodiqjon TURDIYEV] National Rebirth Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Milliy Tiklanish) [Sarvar OTAMURATOV] People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or NDP [Hotamjon KETMONOV] (formerly Communist Party)

Political pressure groups and leaders

there are no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups operating in Uzbekistan

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

$17.84 billion $18.05 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$18.05 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$17.84 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Current account balance

$1.801 billion (2013 est.) $1.807 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$8.773 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.342 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.8 (2003) 44.7 (1998)

Economy - overview

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; 11% of the land is intensely cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export of hydrocarbons, primarily natural gas, provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Other major export earners include gold and cotton. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbekistani agriculture remains largely centered around cotton, although production has dropped by 35% since 1991. Uzbekistan is now the world's fifth largest cotton exporter and sixth largest producer. The country is addressing international criticism for the use of child labor in its cotton harvest. 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 Article VIII obligations under the 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. Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments and a favorable export environment. In the past Uzbekistani authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbekistani laws and have frozen and even seized their assets. At the same time, the Uzbekistani Government has actively courted several major US and international corporations, offering financing and tax advantages. A major US automaker opened a powertrain manufacturing facility in Tashkent in November 2011, but there have been no sizable US investments since then. Diminishing foreign investment and difficulties transporting goods across borders further challenge the economy of Uzbekistan.

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 2,082.3 (2013 est.) 1,890.1 (2012 est.) 1,587.2 (2010 est.) 1,466.7 (2009) 1,317 (2008)

Exports

$14.91 billion (2013 est.) $14.38 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and nonferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles

Exports - partners

China 21.2%, Kazakhstan 15.9%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 14.7%, Bangladesh 9.5%, Kyrgyzstan 4% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

55.7% 16.6% 23.5% 4.9% 28% -31.3% (2011 est.)

exports of goods and services

28%

government consumption

16.6%

household consumption

55.7%

imports of goods and services

-31.3%

investment in fixed capital

23.5%

investment in inventories

4.9%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

19.1% 32.2% 48.7% (2013 est.)

agriculture

19.1%

industry

32.2%

services

48.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2013 est.) $3,600 (2012 est.) $3,300 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2013 est.) 8.2% (2012 est.) 8.3% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$55.18 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$112.6 billion (2013 est.) $105.2 billion (2012 est.) $97.21 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.8% 29.6% (2003)

highest 10%

29.6% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$12.64 billion (2013 est.) $12.06 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Imports - partners

Russia 20.7%, China 16.6%, South Korea 16.4%, Kazakhstan 12.5%, Germany 4.6%, Turkey 4.2%, Ukraine 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2013 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.1% (2013 est.) 11.4% (2012 est.) official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 22% in 2012

Labor force

16.99 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

25.9% 13.2% 60.9% (2012 est.)

agriculture

25.9%

industry

13.2%

services

60.9% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2012) $715.3 million (31 December 2006)

Population below poverty line

17% (2011 est.)

Public debt

7.6% of GDP (2013 est.) 6.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $16 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.88 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $9.463 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$7.661 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.244 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.514 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $5.994 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2013 est.) 4.9% (2012 est.) official data, another 20% are underemployed

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

115.9 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

102,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

594 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

44.51 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

12.09 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

85.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

14.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

12 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

11.6 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

52.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

46.8 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

13.4 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

62.9 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

137,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

4,968 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

656 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

92,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government controls media; 14 state-owned broadcasters - 10 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 2013, the government closed TV and radio broadcasters affiliated with the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, a government-sponsored NGO for private broadcast media

Internet country code

.uz

Internet hosts

56,075 (2012)

Internet users

4.689 million (2009)

Telephone system

digital exchanges in large cities and in rural areas the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, 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 3 private and 1 state-owned operator with a total subscriber base of 19 million as of January 2014 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 (2009)

domestic

the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, 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 3 private and 1 state-owned operator with a total subscriber base of 19 million as of January 2014

general assessment

digital exchanges in large cities and in rural areas

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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.963 million (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

20.274 million (2012)

Airports

53 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

4 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

13

914 to 1,523 m

4

over 3,047 m

6

total

33

under 914 m

4 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

18 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

total

20

Pipelines

gas 10,401 km; oil 944 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Termiz (Amu Darya)

river port(s)

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Railways

4,230 km 4,200 km 1.520-m gauge (930 km electrified) (2012)

total

4,230 km

Roadways

86,496 km 75,511 km 10,985 km (2000)

total

86,496 km

unpaved

10,985 km (2000)

Waterways

1,100 km (2012)

Manpower available for military service

7,887,292 7,886,459 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

7,886,459 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,887,292

Manpower fit for military service

6,566,118 6,745,818 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

6,745,818 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,566,118

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

306,404 295,456 (2010 est.)

female

295,456 (2010 est.)

male

306,404

Military branches

Uzbek Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)

Uzbek Armed Forces

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-month or 1-year conscript service obligation for males; moving toward a professional military, but conscription in some form will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2013)

Disputes - international

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

undetermined (government forcibly relocated an estimated 3,400 people from villages near the Tajikistan border in 2000-2001; no new data is available) (2012)

IDPs

undetermined (government forcibly relocated an estimated 3,400 people from villages near the Tajikistan border in 2000-2001; no new data is available) (2012)

Trafficking in persons

Uzbekistan is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; adults and children are victims of government-organized forced labor during Uzbekistan's annual cotton harvest; some Uzbekistani adults are subjected to forced labor in Kazakhstan, Russia, and, to a much lesser extent, Ukraine in domestic service, agriculture, and the construction and oil industries; Uzbekistani women and children, lured with fraudulent job offers, are sex trafficked to countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia; small numbers of Tajikistani and Kyrgyzstani victims have been identified in Uzbekistan Tier 3 - Uzbekistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and because it is not deemed to be making significant efforts to do so, it was downgraded to Tier 3 after the maximum of two consecutive annual waivers; the government has identified an increased number of sex and transnational labor trafficking victims; for the first time a decree was implemented banning the forced labor of children under the age of 15 in the annual cotton harvest, but government-organized forced labor of adults and older children contines in the cotton and reportedly other sectors; Uzbekistan does not have a systematic process to proactively identify trafficking victims and refer them to protective services (2013)

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 and children are victims of government-organized forced labor during Uzbekistan's annual cotton harvest; some Uzbekistani adults are subjected to forced labor in Kazakhstan, Russia, and, to a much lesser extent, Ukraine in domestic service, agriculture, and the construction and oil industries; Uzbekistani women and children, lured with fraudulent job offers, are sex trafficked to countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia; small numbers of Tajikistani and Kyrgyzstani victims have been identified in Uzbekistan

tier rating

Tier 3 - Uzbekistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and because it is not deemed to be making significant efforts to do so, it was downgraded to Tier 3 after the maximum of two consecutive annual waivers; the government has identified an increased number of sex and transnational labor trafficking victims; for the first time a decree was implemented banning the forced labor of children under the age of 15 in the annual cotton harvest, but government-organized forced labor of adults and older children contines in the cotton and reportedly other sectors; Uzbekistan does not have a systematic process to proactively identify trafficking victims and refer them to protective services (2013)