Contents
Country Overview
Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked Central Asian republic connecting the historic Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva with the densely populated Fergana Valley and the Aral Sea basin. The country has undertaken market-oriented reforms while managing water scarcity, migration, energy-system changes, and rapid population growth. Its 2026 census-related population figures are presented separately from the World Bank’s 2025 model.
Population39.54 millionOfficial permanent residents; October 1, 2026 [3]
GDPUS$147.04 billionWorld Bank, current US$, 2025 [2]
PresidentShavkat MirziyoyevCurrent head of state [7]
ExportsUS$33.8 billionPreliminary national total, 2025 [5]
World Heritage8 propertiesUNESCO, 2026 [14]
Data and status note: The National Statistics Committee reports a permanent population of 39,535,225 on October 1, 2026, with recent census adjustments; the World Bank reports 37,053,428 for 2025. The national statistical office’s preliminary 2025 merchandise-and-services trade announcement is US$33.8 billion exports and US$47.4 billion imports, while later data revisions can differ. Uzbekistan has eight UNESCO World Heritage properties, including a Tashkent modernist architecture inscription from 2026.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Republic of Uzbekistan. [9]
- Capital
- Tashkent, the national political and administrative center. [9]
- State form
- Unitary republic with a presidential executive and bicameral legislature. [9]
- Constitutional framework
- A substantially revised constitution was approved in April 2023. [9]
- Executive branch
- The president is head of state and the Cabinet of Ministers administers government policy. [9]
- Legislature
- The Oliy Majlis has a Legislative Chamber and Senate. [9]
- Sovereignty
- Independence from the Soviet Union was declared in 1991. [9]
- Independence Day
- September 1 is marked as Independence Day. [9]
- Autonomous republic
- Karakalpakstan has constitutionally defined autonomous status within Uzbekistan. [9]
- Official language
- Uzbek is the state language. [9]
- Language family
- Uzbek belongs to the Turkic language family. [9]
- Writing conventions
- Latin-based Uzbek script is official; Cyrillic remains in use in some contexts. [9]
- Currency
- Uzbek sum (UZS). [9]
- Time zone
- Uzbekistan Time, UTC+5. [9]
- Country calling code
- +998. [9]
- State institutions
- The constitution separates presidential, parliamentary and judicial functions. [9]
- National flag
- Blue, white and green horizontal bands with crescent and stars. [9]
- National emblem
- Features the mythical Humo bird, sun and agricultural imagery. [9]
- Regional category
- Central Asia in the United Nations M49 geographical classification. [9]
- Karakalpakstan legislature
- The Jokargy Kenes is the representative body of the autonomous republic. [9]
- Parliamentary term
- The Constitution provides five-year terms for the Oliy Majlis chambers. [9]
- State religion
- The constitution provides for a secular state, without an official state religion. [9]
- Judicial organization
- A Constitutional Court forms part of the constitutional framework. [9]
- Local administration
- Regional, district and city government operates alongside local representative bodies. [9]
- Citizenship
- Uzbek citizenship is regulated by national law and constitutional provisions. [9]
- United Nations membership
- Uzbekistan joined the United Nations in 1992. [17]
- Modern history
- The Republic succeeded the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. [17]
- Silk Road legacy
- Historic Central Asian trade and scholarship shaped state formation. [17]
Geography & Population
- Double landlocked
- Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the world’s two doubly landlocked sovereign states. [21]
- Five land neighbors
- It borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. [21]
- Kazakhstan boundary
- The long northern and western border connects desert and steppe zones. [21]
- Kyrgyzstan boundary
- An eastern border crosses the Fergana basin and surrounding highlands. [21]
- Tajikistan boundary
- The eastern and southeastern boundary crosses mountain and valley terrain. [21]
- Turkmenistan boundary
- The southwestern frontier runs through desert and Amu Darya regions. [21]
- Afghanistan boundary
- The short southern frontier follows the Amu Darya area. [21]
- Surface area
- Approximately 449,000 square kilometers; definitions of area vary slightly by statistical source. [21]
- Caspian Sea
- The country does not itself have a Caspian coastline. [21]
- Principal river systems
- The Amu Darya and Syr Darya are central to water management. [21]
- Aral Sea
- The former inland sea shrank dramatically due to water withdrawals, especially for irrigation. [21]
- Fergana Valley
- A densely populated agricultural and industrial basin shared with neighboring states. [21]
- Kyzylkum Desert
- Desert region spreads across north-central Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. [21]
- Tashkent
- Largest city and hub for government, commerce and transport. [21]
- Samarkand
- Historic Silk Road center in the Zeravshan valley. [21]
- Bukhara
- Major historic city of Islamic scholarship and commerce. [21]
- Khiva
- Historic oasis city in Khorezm near the Amu Darya region. [21]
- Nukus
- Capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. [21]
- Regional transport
- Road and rail links connect Central Asia through Tashkent and Samarkand. [21]
- Mountain regions
- Higher eastern terrain forms part of the western Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay systems. [21]
- Agricultural corridor
- Irrigated basins support cotton, fruits, vegetables and grain production. [21]
- Water diplomacy
- Cross-border river flows link national water supply to regional decisions. [21]
- Natural resources
- Gold, copper, uranium and natural gas are important economic resources. [21]
- Administrative divisions
- Twelve regions, Tashkent city and the Republic of Karakalpakstan form the main first-level units. [21]
- Climate
- Predominantly continental and arid, with hot summers and cold winters. [16]
- Rainfall pattern
- Precipitation generally increases toward mountain foothills and higher terrain. [16]
- Water scarcity
- Irrigation and warming temperatures intensify competition for water. [16]
- Dust exposure
- Former Aral Sea bed is a source of dust and salt storms. [16]
- Glacier exposure
- Regional mountain ice and snow affect downstream seasonal water flows. [16]
- Drought
- Recurring dry spells affect pasture and agricultural output. [16]
- Desertification
- Land degradation is a significant environmental challenge. [16]
- Climate adaptation
- Water efficiency is a priority in agricultural and urban policy. [16]
- Official permanent population
- 39,535,225 as of October 1, 2026 according to the National Statistics Committee. [3]
- Population growth
- The October 2026 figure incorporates recent census-based adjustment. [3]
- Population comparison
- The headline national permanent-population series is not identical to World Bank modeled population. [3]
- Preliminary census
- Initial 2026 census findings counted 39,047,321 people. [4]
- Census revision context
- The preliminary census identified more than 810,000 people not captured in previous statistical estimates. [4]
- Ethnic composition
- The preliminary census reports ethnic Uzbeks as about 89.4 percent. [4]
- Tajik community
- The preliminary census reports ethnic Tajiks at about 3.3 percent. [4]
- Karakalpak community
- The preliminary census reports ethnic Karakalpaks at about 2.2 percent. [4]
- Native Uzbek
- About 91.3 percent gave Uzbek as their native language in preliminary census findings. [4]
- World Bank population
- 37,053,428 for 2025 in the World Development Indicators series. [2]
- World Bank population growth
- About 1.9 percent in 2025. [2]
- Life expectancy
- The World Bank lists approximately 73 years for 2024. [2]
Population series and census context
Different population statistics reflect different dates and measurement methodologies. [2] [3] [4]
| Indicator | Population | Reference year |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank population | 37,053,428 | 2025 |
| Earlier national permanent-population estimate | 38,236,704 | 1 January 2026 |
| Preliminary census count | 39,047,321 | 2026 preliminary release |
| Official revised permanent population | 39,535,225 | 1 October 2026 |
Selected geographical regions
Geographic regions do not correspond exactly to administrative units. [12] [16]
| Place or region | Type | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Fergana Valley | Basin | Dense population and irrigated agriculture |
| Kyzylkum | Desert | Arid central and northern terrain |
| Amu Darya | River | Irrigation and boundary region |
| Syr Darya | River | Fergana and Aral basin drainage |
| Karakalpakstan | Autonomous republic | Northwestern Uzbekistan |
Economy & International Trade
- GDP in current dollars
- US$147.04 billion in 2025. [2]
- Real GDP growth
- 7.7 percent in 2025. [2]
- GDP per capita
- US$3,968.3 in current dollars for 2025. [2]
- Inflation
- 8.8 percent in the World Bank’s 2025 consumer-price series. [2]
- Modeled unemployment
- Approximately 4.6 percent in 2025 under ILO-modeled World Bank data. [2]
- Remittances
- The World Bank’s 2025 personal-remittances indicator is about 14.4 percent of GDP. [2]
- Income category
- The World Bank describes Uzbekistan as a lower-middle-income economy. [2]
- Economic series caveat
- GDP level and GDP growth are different measures; current-dollar output is affected by exchange rates. [2]
- National exports 2025
- Preliminary exports of US$33.8 billion across the national foreign-trade statistics. [5]
- National imports 2025
- Preliminary imports of US$47.4 billion. [5]
- Foreign-trade turnover 2025
- Preliminary total US$81.2 billion. [5]
- Trade deficit 2025
- Imports exceeded exports by approximately US$13.6 billion using preliminary rounded totals. [5]
- China trade
- China accounted for about 21.2 percent of Uzbekistan’s 2025 foreign-trade turnover. [5]
- Russia trade
- Russia accounted for about 16.0 percent of turnover in 2025. [5]
- Kazakhstan trade
- Kazakhstan accounted for about 6.1 percent of 2025 turnover. [5]
- Türkiye trade
- Türkiye accounted for about 3.7 percent of 2025 turnover. [5]
- South Korea trade
- The Republic of Korea accounted for about 2.1 percent of 2025 turnover. [5]
- Trading relationships
- National statistics reported trade with about 210 countries in 2025. [5]
- Import profile
- Industrial machinery, equipment and transport-related inputs are important imports. [5]
- Exports profile
- Gold, industrial metals, textiles, agriculture and services are key sources of receipts. [5]
- January–September 2026 trade
- Reported foreign-trade turnover of US$65.4 billion. [6]
- Nine-month exports
- US$25.8 billion in January–September 2026. [6]
- Nine-month imports
- US$39.6 billion in January–September 2026. [6]
- Nine-month deficit
- Approximately US$13.7 billion, as reported in official figures. [6]
- Exports excluding gold
- Goods exports excluding gold were reported at US$13.3 billion over January–September 2026. [6]
- Gold distinction
- Excluding gold can change apparent export trends substantially. [6]
- Trade years
- Nine-month 2026 data must not be compared directly with full-year 2025 totals. [6]
- Economic liberalization
- Market and enterprise reforms have accelerated since 2017. [12]
- Economic diversification
- Services, manufacturing, agriculture, minerals and energy contribute to output. [12]
- Gold mining
- Gold production and exports are economically significant. [12]
- Copper industry
- Copper and related metallurgy support industrial exports. [12]
- Uranium production
- Uranium mining is part of the mineral economy. [12]
- Cotton production
- Cotton remains important, with policy attention to higher-value processing. [12]
- Horticulture
- Fruit and vegetable exports link farmers to regional markets. [12]
- Textile industry
- Garment and yarn processing seek greater domestic value addition. [12]
- Natural gas
- Gas production supports domestic energy and industry, amid supply constraints. [12]
- Hydropower
- Irrigation and water flows affect hydroelectric production. [12]
- Renewable energy
- Solar and wind investment is expanding in a traditionally gas-focused power sector. [12]
- Remittance channels
- Migrant earnings from abroad, especially Russia, affect household income. [12]
- Urban employment
- Rapid population growth raises job-creation needs. [12]
- Economic risk
- Water stress and external commodity prices create vulnerabilities. [12]
- Poverty trend
- World Bank overview reports national poverty falling from 17.0% in 2021 to 5.8% in 2025. [12]
- Aral recovery
- Environmental rehabilitation is part of regional development priorities. [12]
- WTO status
- Uzbekistan is negotiating accession; it is not yet a WTO member at the editorial cutoff. [13]
- Accession rationale
- Trade-law alignment and market access form part of accession negotiations. [13]
National accounts and macroeconomy
World Bank estimates for 2025 and a separate national year-to-date series. [2]
| Indicator | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| GDP | US$147.04 billion | World Bank 2025 |
| GDP per person | US$3,968.3 | World Bank 2025 |
| Real GDP growth | 7.7% | World Bank 2025 |
| Inflation | 8.8% | World Bank 2025 |
| Personal remittances | 14.4% of GDP | World Bank 2025 |
Foreign trade — preliminary 2025
Preliminary national foreign-trade totals; statistical revisions can change figures. [5]
| Item | 2025 value | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | US$33.8 billion | Preliminary national trade |
| Imports | US$47.4 billion | Preliminary national trade |
| Turnover | US$81.2 billion | Preliminary national trade |
| China share | 21.2% | Turnover share |
| Russia share | 16.0% | Turnover share |
January–September 2026 trade
Partial-year values should not be compared as annual totals. [6]
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | US$25.8 billion | Jan–Sep 2026 |
| Imports | US$39.6 billion | Jan–Sep 2026 |
| Trade turnover | US$65.4 billion | Jan–Sep 2026 |
| Goods exports excluding gold | US$13.3 billion | Jan–Sep 2026 |
People & Society
- Population diversity
- The 2026 preliminary census includes Uzbek, Tajik, Karakalpak, Kazakh, Russian and other communities. [4]
- Language reporting
- Ethnicity and native language are distinct census variables. [4]
- Karakalpak language
- Karakalpak is a Turkic language with special significance in Karakalpakstan. [4]
- Tajik language
- Tajik, a Persian language, is spoken in parts of the country. [4]
- Russian language
- Russian is commonly used in some urban, technical and commercial settings. [4]
- Regional traditions
- Oasis, mountain and steppe communities have distinctive cultural practices. [4]
- Palov
- Traditional communal rice dish recognized as intangible cultural heritage. [15]
- Shashmaqom
- Classical music tradition associated with Central Asian urban culture. [15]
- Bakhshi
- Epic storytelling and performing art associated with oral traditions. [15]
- Lazgi
- Khorezm dance tradition inscribed by UNESCO. [15]
- Nowruz
- Spring new-year celebration shared across several countries. [15]
- Atlas and adras
- Traditional patterned textiles and weaving knowledge form part of craft heritage. [15]
- Ceramics
- Regional pottery traditions include UNESCO-recognized ceramic arts. [15]
- Intangible versus physical
- UNESCO intangible cultural elements are not World Heritage properties. [15]
- Traditional architecture
- Courtyards, domes, madrasas and caravanserais shape historic cityscapes. [15]
- Education priorities
- Workforce skills and school-to-work transitions are policy concerns. [12]
- Urbanization
- Cities are growing as the labor market and service economy expand. [12]
- Household income
- Wages and remittances help shape living standards. [12]
- Women’s participation
- Access to employment and representation remains a development topic. [12]
- Agricultural communities
- Irrigated rural livelihoods remain important outside major cities. [12]
- Health financing
- Healthcare access and service quality are development priorities. [12]
- Migration
- Labor mobility links the country with other Eurasian economies. [12]
- Digital services
- State and private-sector digitalization is an economic-policy priority. [12]
- Civic participation
- Independent observers monitor freedom of expression and civil society conditions. [20]
- Political competition
- Human rights assessments distinguish formal rights from their exercise. [20]
Government & Institutions
- President
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev. [7]
- Presidential election
- Mirziyoyev was reelected under the revised constitutional framework in 2023. [7]
- Reform period
- His presidency has pursued liberalization and public-service changes since 2016. [7]
- Foreign policy
- Regional cooperation and economic diplomacy are prominent presidential priorities. [7]
- National development
- Uzbekistan 2030 sets broad social and economic goals. [7]
- Prime minister
- Abdulla Aripov according to the official Cabinet listing. [8]
- Cabinet
- The Cabinet of Ministers heads central executive administration. [8]
- Ministries
- Economic, investment, education and social policy are managed through ministries and committees. [8]
- Legislative Chamber
- Constitutional size of 150 deputies. [9]
- Senate
- Constitutional size of 65 senators under post-2023 reforms. [9]
- Upper chamber selection
- Four senators per Karakalpakstan, each region and Tashkent city are chosen indirectly. [9]
- Appointed senators
- Nine senators are appointed by the president under the revised constitutional structure. [9]
- Legislative elections
- A five-year electoral cycle applies to the Legislative Chamber. [9]
- Electoral design
- The 2024 system combined constituency and proportional-list seats. [9]
- Local councils
- Local representative bodies participate in selecting senators. [9]
- Constitutional rights
- The revised constitution states social and legal protections; practice is a separate issue. [9]
- Judicial review
- Constitutional Court has authority over constitutionality questions. [9]
- Public administration
- National executive agencies and local governors operate across administrative levels. [9]
- Karakalpakstan provisions
- The constitution recognizes the Republic of Karakalpakstan and its institutions. [9]
- Last lower-house election
- October 27, 2024. [10]
- Largest party
- UzLiDeP won 64 seats in the 2024 Legislative Chamber election. [10]
- Second-largest party
- Milliy Tiklanish obtained 29 seats in the 2024 election. [10]
- 2024 turnout
- IPU reports approximately 75.3 percent registered-voter turnout. [10]
- Electoral competition
- The IPU records that no opposition parties contested the 2024 election. [10]
- Lower chamber threshold
- Half of the 150 seats were filled through proportional lists and half through districts. [10]
- Senate selection
- The new 65-seat composition followed the 2024 election cycle. [11]
- Senate previous size
- Before the constitutional revision the upper chamber had 100 seats. [11]
- Senate territorial basis
- Karakalpakstan, twelve regions and Tashkent are represented. [11]
- Statutory versus occupied
- IPU tables distinguish the authorized number of seats from seats currently filled. [11]
National institutional structure
Seat figures are statutory under the revised constitutional framework. [9] [8] [10] [11]
| Institution | Composition | Context |
|---|---|---|
| President | Executive head of state | Shavkat Mirziyoyev |
| Prime minister | Head of Cabinet | Abdulla Aripov |
| Legislative Chamber | 150 seats | Elected 2024 |
| Senate | 65 seats | 56 indirect; 9 appointed |
| Karakalpakstan | Autonomous republic | Jokargy Kenes |
International Profile
- UN membership
- Joined the United Nations in 1992. [17]
- UN cooperation
- Participates in UN development and specialized-agency programs. [17]
- WTO accession
- Negotiations were still in progress in 2026. [13]
- Trade alignment
- Market-access commitments and regulatory changes accompany negotiations. [13]
- Regional diplomacy
- Borders all four other Central Asian republics and Afghanistan. [12]
- Central Asia transport
- Road and rail routes support east–west freight connectivity. [12]
- Afghanistan ties
- Transit, energy and trade links matter to southern policy. [12]
- China ties
- China is a major trade and investment counterpart. [12]
- Russia ties
- Trade and labor migration are significant bilateral channels. [12]
- Kazakhstan ties
- Shared land routes and northern trade corridor. [12]
- Kyrgyzstan ties
- Cross-border Fergana Valley movement and trade. [12]
- Tajikistan ties
- Water and transport cooperation accompany shared borders. [12]
- Turkmenistan ties
- Transport routes and the Amu Darya region connect the states. [12]
- Aral basin cooperation
- Regional environmental and river-basin efforts are transnational. [12]
- Water-energy coordination
- Upstream and downstream needs inform Central Asian diplomacy. [12]
- International financial institutions
- The World Bank works on jobs, services, water and infrastructure. [12]
- Transport isolation
- Double landlocked geography increases dependence on neighboring transit policy. [12]
- World Heritage total
- Eight properties on UNESCO’s list as of 2026. [14]
- Cultural properties
- Six of the eight are cultural inscriptions. [14]
- Natural properties
- Two of the eight are natural inscriptions. [14]
- Itchan Kala
- Walled inner city of Khiva; inscribed 1990. [14]
- Historic Bukhara
- Historic Centre of Bukhara; inscribed 1993. [14]
- Historic Shakhrisyabz
- Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz; inscribed 2000. [14]
- Samarkand
- Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures; inscribed 2001. [14]
- Western Tien-Shan
- Transnational natural property; inscribed 2016. [14]
- Silk Roads corridor
- Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor; inscribed 2023. [14]
- Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
- Transnational natural property; inscribed 2023. [14]
- Tashkent modernism
- Tashkent Modernist Architecture: Modernity and Tradition in Central Asia; inscribed 2026. [14]
- Tentative List
- Candidate sites are not automatically World Heritage inscriptions. [14]
- Serial heritage
- Some UNESCO inscriptions span multiple sites and countries. [14]
- Heritage conservation
- Urban development must be managed alongside architectural protection. [14]
- Intangible heritage
- UNESCO separately records musical, culinary and craft practices. [15]
- Palov tradition
- The UNESCO inscription concerns shared practices, not a single monument. [15]
- Navruz
- Multinational inscription reflects a shared spring celebration. [15]
UNESCO World Heritage inventory
All eight properties inscribed as of the November 2026 cutoff. [14]
| Property | Type | Inscription |
|---|---|---|
| Itchan Kala | Cultural | 1990 |
| Historic Centre of Bukhara | Cultural | 1993 |
| Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz | Cultural | 2000 |
| Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures | Cultural | 2001 |
| Western Tien-Shan | Natural | 2016 |
| Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor | Cultural | 2023 |
| Cold Winter Deserts of Turan | Natural | 2023 |
| Tashkent Modernist Architecture | Cultural | 2026 |
Sources & Methodology
The permanent-population count updated after the 2026 census, the initial 2026 census count and the World Bank 2025 model are not interchangeable. The 2025 national foreign-trade figures are a preliminary mixed goods-and-services measure; comparing them directly with WTO merchandise-only data can mislead. Constitutional seat counts refer to statutory sizes; currently occupied seats can be fewer. UNESCO inscriptions and tentative nominations are separate categories.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). This is a dated reference edition; official statistical and political updates after the cutoff require review.
- UN Statistics Division — M49 classification — Central Asia geographic designation.
- World Bank — Uzbekistan indicators — 2025 population, GDP, per-capita output and growth.
- National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan — October 2026 permanent population and official releases.
- Uzbekistan Statistics Committee — 2026 preliminary census — Census counts, ethnic and linguistic findings.
- Uzbekistan Statistics Committee — 2025 preliminary foreign trade — Preliminary 2025 imports and exports and trading partners.
- Uzbekistan Statistics Committee — January–September 2026 trade — 2026 year-to-date trade figures and gold exclusion.
- President of Uzbekistan — official website — Presidency, policy priorities and executive activity.
- Government of Uzbekistan — Cabinet of Ministers — Prime minister and cabinet leadership.
- Government of Uzbekistan — Constitution — 2023 constitutional institutions, rights and parliamentary design.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union — Uzbekistan 2024 election — Legislative Chamber vote and seat allocation.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union — Uzbekistan Senate — 65-member upper chamber, composition and selection.
- World Bank — Uzbekistan country overview — Economic reforms, remittances and water/poverty issues.
- WTO — Uzbekistan accession status — Accession negotiations and distinction from WTO membership.
- UNESCO World Heritage — Uzbekistan — Eight listed properties as of November 2026.
- UNESCO Intangible Heritage — Uzbekistan — Palov, music, oral traditions and crafts.
- World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal — Uzbekistan — Water stress, desert climate and drought risk.
- United Nations — Member States — International membership history.
- United Nations — Uzbekistan — Country development agenda.
- World Health Organization — Uzbekistan — Public health indicator series and methodology.
- Human Rights Watch — Uzbekistan — Independent human-rights and civic-space monitoring.
- Uzbekistan Consulate — Territory and Climate — Borders, rivers, surface area, terrain and geographical context.