Uzbekistan

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total : 447,400 sq km

land: 425,400 sq km

water: 22,000 sq km

comparison ranking: total 59

Area – comparative

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

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 6,893 km

border countries (5): 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 – 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% (2022 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 47.9% (2022 est.)

forest: 8.5% (2022 est.)

other: 33.5% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

37,305 sq km (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

People and Society

Population

total: 36,520,593 (2024 est.)

male: 18,324,813

female: 18,195,780

comparison rankings: total 42; female 41; male 41

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.)

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: 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)

2024 population pyramid:

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.)

Median age

total: 28.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 28.1 years

female: 29.8 years

comparison ranking: total 148

Population growth rate

1.43% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 69

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 64

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 190

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 149

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (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.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

23.7 years (2019 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 110

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 85

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 73.6 years

female: 79 years

comparison ranking: total population 114

Total fertility rate

2.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 57

Gross reproduction rate

1.33 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 96.1% of population

total: 97.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 3.9% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

7.7% of GDP (2021)

7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

16.6% (2016)

comparison ranking: 123

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.)

comparison ranking: total 124

Tobacco use

total: 15.4% (2025 est.)

male: 30.2% (2025 est.)

female: 1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 102

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2021)

comparison ranking: 99

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.6% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.2% (2022)

women married by age 18: 3.4% (2022)

Education expenditure

5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

21.6% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 41

Literacy

total population: 100% (2022 est.)

male: 100% (2022 est.)

female: 100% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2021)

Environment

Environment – current 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

Environment – international 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

Urbanization

urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 40.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 91.81 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 96.16 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2016 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.41 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 2.13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 54.36 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

48.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

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”

Government type

presidential republic; highly authoritarian

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: administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

Legal system

civil law system

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

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

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

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: 10/27/2024

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

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: 11/7/2024 to 11/12/2024

percentage of women in chamber: 24.6%

expected date of next election: November 2029

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 (O’zbekiston Ekologik Partivasi)
Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O’zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU
National Revival Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O’zbekiston Milliy Tiklanish Demokratik Partiyasi)
People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or PDP (formerly Communist Party)

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:
[email protected]

https://www.uzbekistan.org/

consulate(s) general: New York

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:
[email protected]

https://uz.usembassy.gov/

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (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 shifted to the hoist on the top band; 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 represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar

National symbol(s)

khumo (mythical bird)

National color(s)

blue, white, red, green

National anthem

name: “O’zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi” (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV

note: 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

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)

Economy

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)

$356.797 billion (2023 est.)
$335.678 billion (2022 est.)
$316.674 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 56

Real GDP growth rate

6.29% (2023 est.)
6% (2022 est.)
7.4% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 28

Real GDP per capita

$10,000 (2023 est.)
$9,600 (2022 est.)
$9,200 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 147

GDP (official exchange rate)

$101.592 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.6% (2024 est.)
10% (2023 est.)
11.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 185

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.6% (2023 est.)

industry: 30.6% (2023 est.)

services: 43.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 180; industry 61; agriculture 36

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 68.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 14.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 32.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 2.2% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 23.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -40.7% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, cotton, potatoes, carrots/turnips, tomatoes, grapes, watermelons, vegetables, apples (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.18% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 35

Labor force

13.974 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 44

Unemployment rate

4.5% (2024 est.)
4.5% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 82

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.9% (2024 est.)

male: 7.2% (2024 est.)

female: 18.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 121

Population below poverty line

11% (2023 est.)

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

31.2 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: 119

Average household expenditures

on food: 46.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 23.2% (2022 est.)

Remittances

13.95% of GDP (2023 est.)
17.22% of GDP (2022 est.)
11.99% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $20.578 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $20.79 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

24.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 177

Taxes and other revenues

11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 165

Current account balance

-$7.8 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.847 billion (2022 est.)
-$4.898 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 187

Exports

$25.05 billion (2023 est.)
$20.966 billion (2022 est.)
$16.442 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 88

Exports – partners

Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$42.646 billion (2023 est.)
$35.643 billion (2022 est.)
$27.936 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 71

Imports – partners

China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.145 billion (2024 est.)
$34.558 billion (2023 est.)
$35.774 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 83

Debt – external

$25.714 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 30

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
12,652.287 (2024 est.)
11,734.833 (2023 est.)
11,050.145 (2022 est.)
10,609.464 (2021 est.)
10,054.261 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

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.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 148; imports 46; exports 57; consumption 42; installed generating capacity 53

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Carbon dioxide 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.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 40

Energy consumption per capita

55.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 89

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 26

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 37.5 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 43

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)

Internet country code

.uz

Internet users

percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 10.8 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 24

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

74 (2025)

comparison ranking: 69

Heliports

3 (2025)

comparison ranking: 121

Railways

total: 4,642 km (2018)

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

Military and 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 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

Military expenditures

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

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 (2024)

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: Uzbek citizens who have completed their service terms in the armed forces have privileges in employment and admission to higher educational institutions

Military – note

the military’s primary concerns and responsibilities are border security, ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, instability in neighboring countries, and terrorism; the military is equipped largely with Soviet-era arms, and its units are based on Soviet Army formations that were in the territory of Uzbekistan when the USSR collapsed in 1991; the armed forces were established in January 1992 when Uzbekistan assumed jurisdiction over all former Soviet ground, air, and air defense units, formations, and installations then deployed on its soil; the building hosting the headquarters for the ex-Soviet Turkestan Military District became the headquarters for the Uzbek armed forces; all former Soviet troops departed Uzbekistan by 1995

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 it is 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 India, Pakistan, and Turkey; it is part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and participates in SCO training exercises (2023)

Space

Space agency/agencies

Agency for Space Research and Technology (Uzbekcosmos; established 2019) (2024)

Space program overview

has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the country’s space industry; Uzbekcosmos largely sets state policy and shapes the strategic direction, development, and use of the country’s space-related industries and technologies in key sectors, including cartography, environmental and disaster monitoring, land use, resource management, and telecommunications; also has an astronomy program; cooperates with foreign space agencies or commercial companies from a variety of countries, including those of Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Spain (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Khorasan (ISIS-K)

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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 13,031 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2022)

stateless persons: 31,829 (2022)

Illicit drugs

a transit country for Afghan heroin, opium, and hashish destined to Kazakhstan, Russia, and Europe; cannabis and opium poppy are grown domestically for personal use and sale