Uzbekistan

Internet country code

.uz

Internet hosts

9,058 (2006)

Internet users

880,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) and Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System) international: country code - 998; linked by landline 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 will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications; Inmarsat also provides an international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth stations - NA (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

720,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

revenues: $2.815 billion expenditures: $2.917 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

Current account balance

$1.082 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$5.032 billion (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.8 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$91.6 million from the US (2005)

Economy - overview

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. 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 the obligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund (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 would increase economic growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance" treaty, 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 December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties.

Electricity - consumption

48.45 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

5.36 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

10.55 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

46.52 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2002), 423.832 (2002), 236.61 (2001)

Exports

$5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998)

Exports - partners

Russia 24.6%, China 12.3%, Turkey 7.1%, Ukraine 5.6%, Bangladesh 4.9%, Poland 4.3%, Tajikistan 4.2% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.86 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$50.31 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 34.2% industry: 22.9% services: 43% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 22% (2000)

Imports

$3.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals (1998)

Imports - partners

Russia 26.7%, South Korea 15.3%, Germany 8.9%, China 7.2%, Kazakhstan 6.4%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

7.7% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.9% (2005 est.)

Labor force

14.26 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Natural gas - consumption

49.3 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports

6.5 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - production

55.8 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005)

Oil - consumption

120,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

152,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2005)

Population below poverty line

28% (2004 est.)

Public debt

36.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.681 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.7% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2005 est.)

Area

total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

Coastline

0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Elevation extremes

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

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

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

42,810 sq km (2003)

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

Land use

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

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (doubly landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

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

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* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

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)

Constitution

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003) 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 9 January 2000 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Government type

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Independence

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009) 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 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10 note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TOSHMUHAMMADOVA, chairman]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Xurshid DOSTMUHAMMADOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHODMONOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; note - Fatherland Progress Party merged with Self-Sacrificers Party

Political pressure groups and leaders

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition [Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 6,340,220 females age 18-49: 6,432,072 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 4,609,621 females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 324,722 females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY97)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.9% (male 4,572,721/female 4,403,405) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 8,420,174/female 8,594,478) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 539,336/female 777,020) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

26.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups

Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 69.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 74.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.58 years male: 61.19 years female: 68.14 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 22.7 years male: 22 years female: 23.3 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

27,307,134 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.7% (2006 est.)

Religions

Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete with demarcation underway; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan) 5,238 (Afghanistan) IDPs: 3,000 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2005)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Uzbekistan is a source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women trafficked to Asia and the Middle East for the purpose of sexual exploitation; women from other Central Asian countries and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the construction and agricultural industries to Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; men and women are also trafficked within the country tier rating: Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3 because it failed to fulfill commitments by the country to take additional steps during 2005, including the adoption of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, criminal code amendments to raise trafficking penalties, support to the country's first trafficking shelter, and approval of a national action plan

Airports

61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 34 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 25 (2006)

Pipelines

gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Railways

total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways

total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999)

Waterways

1,100 km (2006)