Background: Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Boshevik 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.

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N 64 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 447,400 km²
Rank: 56
Land: 425,400 km²
Water: 22,000 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 6,221 km
Border countries: (5) Afghanistan 137 km; Kazakhstan 2,203 km; Kyrgyzstan 1099 km; Tajikistan 1161 km; Turkmenistan 1621 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
Extremes 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: 42,810 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 72.2 km³ (2003)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: along with Liechtenstein one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

Population: 27,865,738 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 44
Growth rate: 0.938% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 125
Below poverty line: 26% (2008 est.)

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 Sunnis) Eastern Orthodox 9% other 3%

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.1%
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,191,439/female 9,309,791)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 576,191/female 770,829) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.2 years
Male: 24.7 years
Female: 25.8 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.938% (2010 est.)
Rank: 125

Birth rate: 17.51 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 117

Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 178

Net migration rate: -2.84 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 183

Urbanization
Urban population: 37% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 22.66 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 91
Male: 26.81 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 18.25 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.24 years
Rank: 124
Male: 69.22 years
Female: 75.44 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 141

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 134
People living with hivaids: 16,000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 84
Deaths: fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 88

Education expenditures: 9.4% of GDP (1991)
Rank: 7

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 (2008)

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
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: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV
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
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%

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]

International organization participation: ADB CICA CIS EAPC EBRD ECO FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IDB 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
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 consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND
From the us embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on 5th Block Yunusobod District Tashkent 100,093
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [998] (71) 120-5,450
From the us fax: [998] (71) 120-6,335

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 anthem
Name: 'O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi'
Lyricsmusic: 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 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 75
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 10

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 166
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.2%
Industry: 32.3%
Services: 46.4% (2010 est.)

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.)
Rank: 28

Labor force: 16 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 37
By occupation agriculture: 44%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 36% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2009 est.)
Rank: 6
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: 44.7 (1998)
Rank: 80

Public debt: 9.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 124

Inflation rate consumer prices: 14.1% (2009 est.)
Rank: 220
Note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices inflation reached 38% in 2008

Stock of narrow money: $3.829 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Rank: 90

Stock of broad money: $5.648 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 112

Stock of domestic credit: $5.484 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 107

Market value of publicly traded shares:

Current account balance: $3.595 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 31

Exports: $10.74 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 77
Commodities: energy products cotton gold mineral fertilizers ferrous and non-ferrous metals textiles food products machinery automobiles
Partners: Ukraine 29.91% Russia 13.94% Turkey 7.53% Kazakhstan 7.26% Bangladesh 6.83% China 5.69% South Korea 4.19% (2009)

Imports: $9.023 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 90
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs chemicals ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Partners: Russia 23.72% China 20.36% South Korea 13.03% Germany 6.09% Ukraine 5.39% Kazakhstan 4.68% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 54

Debt external: $4.053 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 114

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1588.1 (2010) 1466.7 (2009) 1317 (2008) 1263.8 (2007) 1219.8 (2006)

Electricity
Production: 44.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 52
Consumption: 40.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 51
Exports: 11.52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 11.44 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 67.6 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 13
Consumption: 52.6 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 14
Exports: 15 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 14
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 118
Proven reserves: 1.841 trillion m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 19

Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.857 million (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 60
Mobile cellular: 16.418 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 45

Telephone system
General assessment: digital exchanges in large cities but still antiquated and inadequate in rural areas
Domestic: the state-owned telecommunications company Uzbektelecom owner of the fixed line telecommunications system has used loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital exchanges; mobile-cellular services are growing rapidly with the subscriber base exceeding 16 million in 2009
International: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable 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 plans to establish a fiber-optic connection to Afghanistan (2009)

Broadcast media: government controls media; 8 state-owned broadcasters - 4 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately-owned TV stations overseen by local officials broadcast to local markets; privately-owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation and are prohibited from broadcasting live; about 15 privately-owned radio broadcasters; programming content includes news updates music call-in talk shows and other entertainment in a half-Russian half-Uzbek format mandated for private radio (2007)

Internet
Country code: .uz
Hosts: 47,718 (2010)
Hosts rank: 89
Users: 4.689 million (2009)
Users rank: 50

Military expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 33

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)

Airports: 54 (2010)
Rank: 87
With paved runways total: 33
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 13
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 21
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 19 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 9,706 km; oil 868 km (2009)

Railways
Total: 3,645 km
Rank: 47
Broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways
Total: 86,496 km
Rank: 56
Paved: 75,511 km
Unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Waterways: 1100 km (2009)
Rank: 63

Ports and terminals: Termiz (Amu Darya)

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: 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1060 (Afghanistan)
Idps: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2007)

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