Background: Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories 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 the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan’s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan’s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote.

Area
Total: 447,400 km²
Land: 425,400 km²
Water: 22,000 km²
Comparative: about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 6,893 km
Border countries (5): (5) Afghanistan 144 km; Kazakhstan 2,330 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km; Tajikistan 1,312 km; Turkmenistan 1,793 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 mid-latitude 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 Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Elevation
Highest point: Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m
Lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 31.8% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 37,305 km² (2022)

Major rivers: Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts

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

Population
Total: 36,520,593 (2024 est.)
Male: 18,324,813
Female: 18,195,780
Distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated
Growth rate: 1.43% (2024 est.)

Languages: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Major-language sample(s): ; Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: in the semi-autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status

Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

Age structure
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 5,597,947/female 5,213,403)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 11,649,017/female 11,617,411)
65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,077,849/female 1,364,966)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 57 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 46.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 28.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.1 years
Female: 29.8 years

Population growth rate: 1.43% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 20.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated

Urbanization
Urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 79 years

Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 4.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.5% (2023 est.); 4.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E
Time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the current name of the ancient city was first used in the 11th century and comes from the Sogdian (Turkic) words tash (stone) and kent (town); the city was first recorded in the 5th or 4th century B.C. with the name of Chach or Shash

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 3 cities** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Shahri, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Shahri [Samarkand City], Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Nurafshon], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
Note: administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

Legal system: civil law system
Note: in 2020, the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility were reformed; a constitutional referendum in 2023 included additional criminal code reforms

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016)
Head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by majority party in the Supreme Assembly but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president
Most recent election date: 9 July 2023
2023: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in snap election; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 87.7%, Robaxon Maxmudova (Adolat) 4.5%, Ulugbek Inoyatov (PDP) 4%, Abdushukur Xamzayev (Ecological Party) 3.8%
2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.3%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4%
Expected date of next election: 2,030

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by narrow red stripes with a vertical white crescent moon and 12 five-pointed white stars in the left corner of the top band

National anthem
Title: 'O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi' (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
History: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 6.5% (2024 est.); 6.3% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 6.5% (2024 est.); 6.3% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 37.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -3.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -38% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 18.3% (2024 est.)
Industry: 31.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 45.2% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 13.974 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.5% (2023 est.); 4.5% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.5% (2023 est.); 4.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $21.565 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $26.173 billion (2024 est.); $25.05 billion (2023 est.); $20.966 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $43.624 billion (2024 est.); $42.646 billion (2023 est.); $35.643 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 17.901 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 75.753 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 2.043 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.977 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 3.433 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 90.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 6.379 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.521 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 43.249 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 44.455 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.514 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.841 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 110.992 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 12.845 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 13.437 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 84.71 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 55.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 37.5 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 10.8 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.); 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.); 2.7% of GDP (2017 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2016 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Airports: 74 (2025)

Heliports: 3 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,642 km (2018)
Broad gauge: 4,642 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified)