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
31,360,836 (2023 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
1.61% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic; highly authoritarian
Capital
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 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); note - amendments to the constitution approved in April 2023 call for the reduction of Senate seats to 65 from 100
Legislative Chamber or Qonunchilik Palatasi (150 seats statutory, 140 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)
$270.062 billion (2021 est.)
$251.408 billion (2020 est.)
$246.753 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$7,700 (2021 est.)
$7,300 (2020 est.)
$7,300 (2019 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
Remittances
13.28% of GDP (2021 est.)
11.65% of GDP (2020 est.)
14.26% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$16.399 billion (2021 est.)
$14.532 billion (2020 est.)
$16.993 billion (2019 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
$27.774 billion (2021 est.)
$22.56 billion (2020 est.)
$26.551 billion (2019 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 -
Exchange rates:
10,609.464 (2021 est.)
10,054.261 (2020 est.)
8,836.788 (2019 est.)
8,069.606 (2018 est.)
5,113.879 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
