Uzbekistan

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Independent since the USSR dissolved 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
total: 36,520,593 (2024 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
1.43% (2024 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Furqat SIDIKOV (since 19 April 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan HENICK (since 14 October 2022)

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)
$379.989 billion (2024 est.)
$356.797 billion (2023 est.)
$335.678 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$10,500 (2024 est.)
$10,000 (2023 est.)
$9,600 (2022 est.)

Exports
$26.173 billion (2024 est.)
$25.05 billion (2023 est.)
$20.966 billion (2022 est.)

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

Exports - commodities
gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)

Imports
$43.624 billion (2024 est.)
$42.646 billion (2023 est.)
$35.643 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.740, ranking it 107th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 75th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.816. (more information)