from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Uzbekistan
Introduction
Background: 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
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic 41 00 N, 64 00 E
coordinates:
Map Asia
references:
Area: total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area - slightly larger than California
comparative:
Land total: 6,221 km
boundaries: border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203
km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km,
Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes
the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km
shoreline
Maritime none (doubly landlocked)
claims:
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild
winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: 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
Elevation lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
extremes: highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver,
resources: copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 88.73% (2005)
Irrigated 42,810 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing
current concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural
issues: 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
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
note: landlocked countries in the world
People
Population: 27,307,134 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 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)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 22.7 years
male: 22 years
female: 23.3 years (2006 est.)
Population 1.7% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 26.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 69.99 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 74.14 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 65.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 64.58 years
expectancy at male: 61.19 years
birth: female: 68.14 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 11,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 500 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,
Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other
3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Government republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little
type: power outside the executive branch
Capital: name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1
divisions: autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city**
(shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona
Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy
Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),
Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand
Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo
Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent
Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as
their administrative centers (exceptions have the
administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
holiday:
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March
branch: 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme
Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV
(since 11 December 2003)
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 (eligible for a second term; previously
was a five-year term, extended by constitutional
amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000
(next to be held in 2007); prime minister, ministers,
and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president;
percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz
JALALOV 4.2%
Legislative bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of
branch: 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)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January
2005 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP
32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support
President KARIMOV
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president
branch: and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)
Political Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom
parties and TOSHMUHAMMADOVA, chairman]; Democratic National Rebirth
leaders: Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Xurshid DOSTMUHAMMADOV,
chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU
[Adham SHODMONOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party
or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV,
first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar
National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; note
- Fatherland Progress Party merged with
Self-Sacrificers Party
Political Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV];
pressure Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman];
groups and Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH,
leaders: chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik Human
Rights Society [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party
or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights
Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman];
Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail
ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition [Sanjar
UMAROV, chairman]
International AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
organization (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
representation chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL
representation embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District,
from the US: Tashkent 100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335
Flag three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and
description: green separated by red fimbriations with a white
crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper
hoist-side quadrant
Economy
Economy - Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%
overview: 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 the obligations of Article VIII
under the International Monetary Fund (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 would increase
economic growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian
President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President
KARIMOV signed an "alliance" treaty, 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 December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade
House" to support and develop Russian-Uzbek business
and economic ties.
GDP $50.31 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $9.86 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 7% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $1,900 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 34.2%
composition by industry: 22.9%
sector: services: 43% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 14.26 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 44%
by occupation: industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)
Unemployment 0.7% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2005
rate: est.)
Population 28% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 3.6%
income or highest 10%: 22% (2000)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 26.8 (2000)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 6.9% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $2.815 billion
expenditures: $2.917 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 36.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
products:
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building,
metallurgy, gold petroleum, natural gas, chemicals
Industrial 7.7% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 46.52 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 88.2%
production by hydro: 11.8%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 48.45 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 5.36 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 10.55 billion kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 152,000 bbl/day (2004)
production:
Oil - 120,000 bbl/day (2004)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 600 million bbl (1 January 2005)
reserves:
Natural gas - 55.8 billion cu m (2004)
production:
Natural gas - 49.3 billion cu m (2004)
consumption:
Natural gas - 6.5 billion cu m (2004)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2004)
imports:
Natural gas - 1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $1.082 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral
commodities: fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products,
automobiles (1998)
Exports - Russia 24.6%, China 12.3%, Turkey 7.1%, Ukraine 5.6%,
partners: Bangladesh 4.9%, Poland 4.3%, Tajikistan 4.2% (2005)
Imports: $3.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%,
commodities: chemicals, metals (1998)
Imports - Russia 26.7%, South Korea 15.3%, Germany 8.9%, China
partners: 7.2%, Kazakhstan 6.4%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of $2.681 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $5.032 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $91.6 million from the US (2005)
recipient:
Currency Uzbekistani soum (UZS)
(code):
Currency code: UZS
Exchange Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,020 (2005), 971.265
rates: (2004), 771.029 (2002), 423.832 (2002), 236.61 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 1,717,100 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 720,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in
system: serious need of modernization
domestic: the domestic telephone system is being
expanded and technologically improved, particularly in
Tashkent (Toshkent) and Samarqand, under contracts with
prominent companies in industrialized countries;
moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks had been
placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global
System for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type
(Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System), and one AMPS
type (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
international: country code - 998; linked by landline
or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to
other countries by leased connection via the Moscow
international gateway switch; after the completion of
the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of
Russian facilities for international communications;
Inmarsat also provides an international connection,
albeit an expensive one; satellite earth stations - NA
(1998)
Radio AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 10.8 million (1997)
Television 4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1
broadcast cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20
stations: stations in regional capitals (2003)
Televisions: 6.4 million (1997)
Internet .uz
country code:
Internet 9,058 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 42 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 880,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 61 (2006)
Airports - total: 34
with paved over 3,047 m: 6
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - total: 27
with unpaved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
runways: under 914 m: 25 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,950 km
broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km
unpaved: 10,363 km (1999)
Waterways: 1,100 km (2006)
Ports and Termiz (Amu Darya)
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard
branches:
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service;
service age conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 6,340,220
available for females age 18-49: 6,432,072 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 4,609,621
for military females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 324,722
reaching females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $200 million (FY97)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2% (FY97)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan
international: and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan
complete with demarcation underway; border delimitation
of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by
serious disputes around enclaves and other areas
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan) 5,238
internally (Afghanistan)
displaced IDPs: 3,000 (forced population transfers by government
persons: from villages near Tajikistan border) (2005)
Trafficking in current situation: Uzbekistan is a source and, to a
persons: lesser extent, a transit country for women trafficked
to Asia and the Middle East for the purpose of sexual
exploitation; women from other Central Asian countries
and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are
trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the
construction and agricultural industries to Ukraine,
Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; men and women are
also trafficked within the country
tier rating: Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3
because it failed to fulfill commitments by the country
to take additional steps during 2005, including the
adoption of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation,
criminal code amendments to raise trafficking
penalties, support to the country's first trafficking
shelter, and approval of a national action plan
Illicit drugs: transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian
and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets;
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small
amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy
cultivation almost wiped out by government crop
eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor
chemicals bound for Afghanistan