Uzbekistan

Internet country code

.uz

Internet hosts

50,228 (2009) country comparison to the world: 83

Internet users

2.469 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 65

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 12, shortwave 3 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, is using loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to improve mainline services; completion of conversion to digital exchanges planned for 2010; mobile services are growing rapidly, with the subscriber base reaching 12.7 million in 2008 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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.85 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.734 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 49

Television broadcast stations

28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

revenues: $8.884 billion expenditures: $8.474 billion (2008 est.)

Current account balance

$6.257 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $4.267 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$4.022 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.8 (2003) country comparison to the world: 80 44.7 (1998)

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 and has come under increasing international criticism for the use of child labor in its annual cotton harvest. 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 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. 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. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets.

Electricity - consumption

41.94 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - exports

11.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

46.33 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,317 (2008 est.), 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004)

Exports

$10.37 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $8.026 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles

Exports - partners

Ukraine 27.3%, Russia 19.6%, Turkey 7.5%, Kazakhstan 5.9%, Bangladesh 5%, China 4.3%, Japan 4.1% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.92 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$71.84 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $65.91 billion (2007 est.) $60.19 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25.8% industry: 31.4% services: 42.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $2,400 (2007 est.) $2,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 9.5% (2007 est.) 7.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Imports

$7.07 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $5.73 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Imports - partners

Russia 24.7%, China 15.4%, South Korea 13.6%, Ukraine 7.2%, Germany 5.5%, Kazakhstan 4.9%, Turkey 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

12.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 12% (2007 est.) note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008

Labor force

15.37 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) $715.3 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

52.6 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - exports

15 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - production

67.6 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Oil - consumption

148,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Oil - exports

6,104 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - imports

35,810 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - production

83,820 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - proved reserves

594 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Population below poverty line

33% (2004 est.)

Public debt

10.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 41.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $7.413 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Unemployment rate

1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 0.8% (2007 est.) note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed

Area

total: 447,400 sq km country comparison to the world: 56 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%) per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Total renewable water resources

72.2 cu km (2003)

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]* (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

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 Richard B. NORLAND 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 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 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%

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 the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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)

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

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 and 16 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held in 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 TOSHMUHAMEDOVA]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) or MTP [Hurshid DOSMUHAMMEDOV]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party (Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurahim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protection of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] (was banned 9 December 1992); Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigora HIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization 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 16-49: 7,480,484 females age 16-49: 7,542,017 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,340,446 females age 16-49: 6,559,769 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 313,131 female: 310,442 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

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 (2007)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 3,970,386/female 3,787,371) 15-64 years: 67% (male 9,191,439/female 9,309,791) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 576,191/female 770,829) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

17.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Death rate

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Education expenditures

9.4% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 7

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% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 92 male: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.96 years country comparison to the world: 123 male: 68.95 years female: 75.15 years (2009 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: 24.7 years male: 24.2 years female: 25.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate

-2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Population

27,606,007 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Population growth rate

0.935% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2007)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Urbanization

urban population: 37% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

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); 1,060 (Afghanistan) IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and Asia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are also trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Airports

54 (2009) country comparison to the world: 87

Airports - with paved runways

total: 33 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 19 (2009)

Pipelines

gas 9,706 km; oil 868 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Railways

total: 3,645 km country comparison to the world: 47 broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 86,496 km country comparison to the world: 55 paved: 75,511 km unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Waterways

1,100 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 63