Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Introduction

Background

Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established 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 Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 447,400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 57 land:425,400 sq km
water:22,000 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries

total: 6,221 km
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 claims

none (doubly landlocked)

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 extremes

lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m
highest point:Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Land use

arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops:0.76%
other:88.73% (2005)

Irrigated land

42,230 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

72.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 58.34cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%)
per capita:2,194cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural 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 – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

People and Society

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.)

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

28,128,600 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.5% (male 3,817,755/female 3,635,142)
15-64 years:68.8% (male 9,620,356/female 9,742,818)
65 years and over:4.7% (male 560,574/female 751,955) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 25.7 years
male:25.2 years
female:26.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Birth rate

17.43 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Death rate

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Net migration rate

-2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Urbanization

urban population: 36% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

TASHKENT (capital) 2.201 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 113

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.92 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 92 male:25.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female:17.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.51 years
country comparison to the world: 125 male:69.48 years
female:75.71 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134

Physicians density

2.617 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51

Hospital bed density

4.83 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 42

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 81% of population
total: 87% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 19% of population
total: 13% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

28,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 88

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.3%
male:99.6%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:12 years
female:11 years (2009)

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 type

republic

authoritarian presidential rule, with little 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 divisions

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular – viloyat), 1 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 [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Tashkent province], 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 the Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Constitution

adopted 8 December 1992

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet

elected president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)
head of government:Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003)

First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014)

prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results:Islom KARIMOV reelected president

percent of vote – Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%, other 3.2%

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats

84 members elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president

members to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (150 seats

135 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, while 15 spots reserved for the new Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan)
elections:last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014)
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 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat 19
note:all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Political parties and leaders

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Ismoil SAIFNAZAROV]

Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan [Boriy ALIXONOV, chairman]

Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Muhammadjon AHMADJONOV]

National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]

People’s Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Latif GULOMOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

there are no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups operating in Uzbekistan

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ilxamdjan NEMATOV
chancery:1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 887-5300
FAX:[1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general:New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador George KROL
embassy:3 Moyqo’rq’on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[998] (71) 120-5450
FAX:[998] (71) 120-6335

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white stars shifted to the hoist on the top band

blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky, white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam

the red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth

the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar

National symbol(s)

khumo (mythical bird)

National anthem

name: “O’zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi” (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
lyrics/music:Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
note:adopted 1992

after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but adopted new lyrics

Economy

Economy – overview

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country

11% of the land is intensely cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export of hydrocarbons, including natural gas and petroleum, provided about 40% of foreign exchange earnings in 2009. Other major export earners include gold and cotton. Uzbekistan is now the world’s second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer

it has come under increasing international criticism for the use of child labor in its annual cotton harvest. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan enjoyed a bumper cotton crop in 2010 amidst record high prices. 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 Article VIII obligations under the 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, as well as increased cooperation with South Korea in the realm of civil aviation, may boost growth prospects. However, decreased demand for natural gas in Europe and Russia in the wake of the global financial crisis could reduce energy-related revenues in the near term. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an “alliance,” 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 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both organizations dominated by Russia. In the past Uzbek authorities had accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets, but no new expropriations occurred in 2008-09. Instead, the Uzbek Government has actively courted several major U.S. and international corporations, offering attractive financing and tax advantages, and has landed a significant US investment in the automotive industry. Although growth slowed in 2009-10, Uzbekistan has seen few other effects from the global economic downturn, primarily due to its relative isolation from the global financial markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$85.85 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 $79.12 billion (2009 est.)
$73.19 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.99 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

8.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 8.1% (2009 est.)
9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$3,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167 $2,900 (2009 est.)
$2,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 22.3%
industry:38.4%
services:39.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

16 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 44%
industry:20%
services:36% (1995)

Unemployment rate

1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 1.1% (2009 est.)
note:officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed

Population below poverty line

26% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%:29.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

36.8 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 82 44.7 (1998)

Budget

revenues: $12.7 billion
expenditures:$12.57 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Public debt

8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125 9.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216 14.1% (2009 est.)
note:official data

based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008

Stock of narrow money

$4.448 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95 $3.651 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$7.197 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113 $5.648 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$5.995 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 $5.256 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 107 $715.3 million (#REF!)

Agriculture – products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain

livestock

Industries

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity – production

47.42 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity – consumption

40.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity – exports

11.52 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

11.44 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

58,650 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Oil – consumption

144,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Oil – exports

2,078 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Oil – imports

9,013 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Oil – proved reserves

594 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas – production

61.41 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas – consumption

46.21 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas – exports

15.2 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Current account balance

$5.843 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 $3.58 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$12.01 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80 $10.74 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and nonferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles

Exports – partners

China 21.8%, Russia 18.1%, Turkey 14.5%, Kazakhstan 8.5%, Bangladesh 8.5% (2010)

Imports

$8.06 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 $9.023 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Imports – partners

Russia 25.4%, South Korea 17.3%, China 13.9%, Germany 8.3%, Kazakhstan 5.3%, Ukraine 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 $9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.221 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121 $4.109 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -
1,588.1 (2010)
1,466.7 (2009)
1,317 (2008)
1,263.8 (2007)
1,219.8 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

54 (2010)
country comparison to the world:87

Airports – with paved runways

total: 33
over 3,047 m:6
2,438 to 3,047 m:13
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
under 914 m:19 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 10,253 km

oil 868 km (2010)

Railways

total: 3,645 km
country comparison to the world: 47 broad gauge:3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 86,496 km
country comparison to the world: 55 paved:75,511 km
unpaved:10,985 km (2000)

Waterways

1,100 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63

Ports and terminals

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Military

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service

1-year conscript service obligation

moving toward a professional military, but conscription will continue

the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 7,887,292
females age 16-49:7,886,459 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,566,118
females age 16-49:6,745,818 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 306,404
female:295,456 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states

field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004

border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan)

1,060 (Afghanistan)
IDPs:3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation

men are trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the construction, cotton, and tobacco industries

men and women are also trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its negligible progress in ending forced labor, including forced child labor, in the annual cotton harvest, and did not make efforts to investigate or prosecute government officials suspected to be complicit in forced labor

the government did not conduct any awareness campaigns regarding forced labor in the annual cotton harvest or other internal trafficking, but did continue its previous awareness campaigns about the dangers of transnational trafficking (2011)

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