World Facts Index
 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 of Uzbekistan
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Location:
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Central Asia, north of
Afghanistan |
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Coordinates:
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41 00 N, 64 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 447,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly larger than
California |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (doubly landlocked);
note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a
420 km shoreline |
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Climate:
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mostly midlatitude desert,
long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m |
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Natural resources:
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natural gas, petroleum,
coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum |
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Environment current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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along with Liechtenstein,
one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world
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Population of Uzbekistan
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Population:
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27,345,026 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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22.7 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.7% |
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Infant mortality:
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69.99 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.58 years
male: 61.19 years
female: 68.14 years |
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Fertility rate:
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2.91 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh
3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern
Orthodox 9%, other 3% |
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Languages:
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Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%,
other 7.1% |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Uzbekistan
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi |
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Government type:
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republic; authoritarian presidential rule,
with little power outside the executive branch |
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Capital:
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Tashkent (Toshkent) |
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Administrative divisions:
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12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular -
viloyat), 1 autonomous republic (respublika), and 1 city |
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Independence:
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1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 September (1991) |
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Constitution:
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new constitution adopted 8 December 1992 |
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Legal system:
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evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks
independent judicial system |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the
Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prime minister,
ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president |
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Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and
confirmed by the Supreme Assembly) |
Economy
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 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. Potential
investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost
growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and
Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," 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 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), both
organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other
foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have
frozen their assets.
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GDP:
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$64.4 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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7.2% |
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GDP per capita:
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$1,800 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 34.2%
industry: 22.9%
services: 43% |
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Inflation rate:
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6.9% |
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Labor force:
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14.26 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% |
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Unemployment:
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0.7% officially, plus another 20% underemployed |
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.815 billion
expenditures: $2.917 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 88.2%
hydro: 11.8% |
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Industries:
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textiles, food processing, machine
building, metallurgy, natural gas, chemicals |
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Agriculture:
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cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain;
livestock |
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Exports:
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cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products
9.6%, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles |
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Export partners:
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Russia 23.8%, China 12.7%, Turkey 6.9%, Tajikistan 5.7%,
Bangladesh 4.9%, Poland 4.4% |
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Imports:
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machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs
16.4%, chemicals, metals |
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Import partners:
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Russia 28.3%, South Korea 13.3%, Germany 8.9%, China 7.2%,
Kazakhstan 6.7%, Turkey 5%, Ukraine 4.8% |
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Currency:
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Uzbekistani sum (UZS) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |