Country Summary
Introduction
Background
Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia. The country has a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Independent since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base.
Geography
Area
total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Climate
mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Natural resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
People and Society
Population
31,104,937 (2022 est.)
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%
Religions
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Population growth rate
0.83% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic; highly authoritarian
Capital
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (interim president from 8 September 2016; formally elected president on 4 December 2016 to succeed longtime President Islom KARIMOV, who died on 2 September 2016
head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016)
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of:
Senate or Senat (100 seats; 84 members indirectly elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
Legislative Chamber or Qonunchilik Palatasi (150 seats statutory, 144 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income Central Asian economy; CIS Free Trade Area member but no intention of EAEU membership; key natural gas, cotton, and gold exporter; landlocked and environmentally fragile; positive growth through COVID-19, but poverty increasing
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$239.42 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$7,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, potatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, tomatoes, vegetables, grapes, onions, watermelons
Industries
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals
Exports
$14.52 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 19%, United Kingdom 17%, Russia 15%, China 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 8%, Kyrgyzstan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
gold, natural gas, cotton fibers, copper, ethylene polymers (2019)
Imports
$22.56 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 23%, Russia 18%, South Korea 11%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, aircraft, construction vehicles (2019)
Exchange rates
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2022
