Statistical information Uzbekistan 1997

Uzbekistan in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 1925. 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 militant groups from Tajikistan and Afghanistan a non-convertible currency and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
top of pageLocation: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map reference:
Commonwealth of Independent StatesAreaTotal: 447,400 km²
Land: 425,400 km²
Water: 22,000 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundariesTotal: 6,221 km
Border countries: (5) Afghanistan 137 km;
, Kazakstan 2,203 km;
, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km;
, Tajikistan 1,161 km;
, Turkmenistan 1,621 kmCoastline: 0 km
Note: Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
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 and Syr Darya; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
Extremes highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land useArable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 46%
Forests and woodland: 3%
Other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world
top of pagePopulation: 23,467,724 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 1.35% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Uzbekistani(s)
Adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazak 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 39% (male 4,609,766; female 4,474,481)
15-64 years: 57% (male 6,593,525; female 6,703,482)
65 years and over: 4% (male 421,609; female 664,861) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.35% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 24.02 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.63 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: drying up 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 salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 70.5 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.31 years
Male: 60.69 years
Female: 68.11 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.92 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97%
Male: 98%
Female: 96% (1989 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
Conventional short form: Uzbekistan
Local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
Local short form: none
Former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Dependent areasIndependence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
Head of government: Prime Minister Utkur SULTONOV (since December 1995); First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA); First Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture Qobiljon OBIDOV (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN (since NA), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV (since NA), Kayim HAQQULOV (since NA), Dilbar GHOLOMOVA (since NA), Alisher AZIZKHOJAYEV (since NA), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA), Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA), Rustam YUNUSOV (since NA)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000; note - extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional four years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
Election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows:People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
Note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Sodyk SAFAYEV
In the us chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 887-5,300
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 293-6,804
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
From the us embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [7] (3,712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86
From the us FAX: [7] (3,712) 40-63-35
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government stepped up the pace of reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,430 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 29%
Industry: 24%
Services: 47% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 8.2 million
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 44%
By occupation industry and construction: 20%
By occupation other: 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 0.3% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1996)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $N/A, including capital expenditures of $N/A
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsTotal value: $3.2 billion (1996)
Commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos
Partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
ImportsTotal value: $3.2 billion (1996)
Commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods
Partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.285 billion (of which $510 million to Russia)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1 - 51.1 (January 1997), 35.8 (end December 1995), 25 (yearend 1994)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 11.82 million kW (1994)
Production: 45.15 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 1,970 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 1.458 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed
Domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
International: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: 164 million soms (1993; note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Percent of gdp: 3.7% (1993)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 261 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 35
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 14
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 8
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 226
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 216 (1994 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
RailwaysTotal: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
Broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
RoadwaysWaterways: 1,100 (1990)
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe