Uzbekistan Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Uzbekistan, Central Asia State; 447,400 km², 33 million residents (2019).Uzbekistan borders on Kazakhstan in the north and northwest, in the east to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, in the south to Afghanistan and in the west to Turkmenistan. Administratively, Uzbekistan is divided into 12 counties as well as the capital and the Karakal package. The capital is Tashkent (2.4 million residents, 2014).

Country facts

Özbegiston Respublikasy / Uzbekistan
Country abbreviation: UZ
Area: 447 400 km²
Population (2019): 33 million residents
Capital: Tashkent
Main language: Uzbek
State: Republic
Head of State: Shavkat Mirziyoyev (President)
Head of Government: Abdulla Aripov (Prime Minister)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,532
GNI per capita (2018): USD 2,020
Coin unit: 1 sum = 100 teen
Currency code: UZS
Country number (telephony): 998
Internet domain name: uz
Time difference compared to Sweden: +4
National Day: September 1 (Independence Day, 1991)

Nature

Land use: forest (3%), agricultural land (10%), other (87%)
Highest mountain: Bajsuntaubergen (4,424 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 74 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 1.7%; birthrate 22 ‰, death count 5 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (28%), 15-64 (68%), 65- (4%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 71 years, women 76 years
Infant mortality (2019): 11 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 46 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.710 (place 105 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 51%
Most populous cities (2014): Tashkent (2.4 million residents), Samarkand (509,000), Namangan (475,700)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (18%), industry (34%), service (48%)
Exports (2017): USD 11,480 million
Main export products: natural gas, cotton, gold
Main exporting countries: Switzerland, China, Russian Federation
Imports (2017): US $ 11,420 million
Main import products: machinery, food, chemicals
Main importing countries: China, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan
Railway network (2018): 4,600 km

The western part of Uzbekistan is a very flat lowland, while the eastern part consists of mountain scenery. Around the Aral Sea in the northwest stretch parts of the Turan plain, which in the east turns into the desert Kyzylkum. The fertile Fergana Valley and several oases have a network of irrigation channels. The country has a desert climate in the west and a steppe climate in the east.

The Constitution gives the President very great powers of power, and in practice the country is ruled by the President as well as the reformed Communist Party, which completely dominates political life. According to the constitution, the president is to be elected in general elections every seven years. Formally, the legislative power lies with Parliament, which has a five-year term. The country became independent in 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded.

Uzbekistan has had major economic problems since independence. Prior to independence, large parts of the business community were built around cotton production. The country’s economy is still closely linked to the cotton industry, but the gas and mining industry (gold and uranium mining) is also of great importance.