Russia conquered the territory 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 overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country has lessened its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base. However, long-serving septuagenarian President Islom KARIMOV, who rose through the ranks of the Soviet-era State Planning Committee (Gosplan), remains wedded to the concepts of a command economy, creating a challenging environment for foreign investment. Current concerns include post-KARIMOV succession, terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Asia

about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California

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

none (doubly landlocked)

mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

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

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

arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 51.7%

41,980 sq km (2005)

48.87 cu km (2011)

NA

shrinkage of the Aral Sea has resulted in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification and respiratory health problems; 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

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

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

Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

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

29,199,942 (July 2015 est.)

0.93% (2015 est.)

17 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

TASHKENT (capital) 2.251 million (2015)

1.79 children born/woman (2015 est.)

64.9% (2006)

6.1% of GDP (2013)

2.53 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 98.5% of population

rural: 80.9% of population

total: 87.3% of population

urban: 1.5% of population

rural: 19.1% of population

total: 12.7% of population (2012 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

0.15% (2014 est.)

32,300 (2014 est.)

2,200 (2014 est.)

14.3% (2014)

4.4% (2006)

NA

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

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), 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)

1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992; amended several times, last in 2014 (2014)

civil law system

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Ekologik Harakati) [Boriy ALIXONOV]

Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Narimon UMAROV]

Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU [Sodiqjon TURDIYEV]

National Rebirth Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Milliy Tiklanish) [Sarvar OTAMURODOV]

People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or NDP [Hotamjon KETMONOV] (formerly Communist Party)

no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups in Uzbekistan

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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

khumo (mythical bird); national colors: blue, white, red, green

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; more than 60% of the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export of natural gas, gold and cotton provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbekistani agriculture remains largely centered around cotton; Uzbekistan is now the world's fifth largest cotton exporter and sixth largest producer.

The country is beginning to enforce a ban on the use of child labor in its cotton harvest and is trying to address international criticism for its previous use of this practice. 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. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government continues to intervene in the business sector and has not addressed the impediments to foreign investment in the country. 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.

Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments and a favorable export environment. In the past Uzbekistani authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbekistani laws and have frozen and even seized their assets. At the same time, the Uzbekistani Government has actively courted several major US and international corporations, offering financing and tax advantages. Diminishing foreign investment and difficulties transporting goods across borders further challenge Uzbekistan’s economy, though it recently has intensified economic ties to Beijing. Tashkent began exporting natural gas to China and Chinese investments in the country have substantially increased.

$171.7 billion (2014 est.)

$158.8 billion (2013 est.)

$147 billion (2012 est.)

$62.62 billion (2014 est.)

8.1% (2014 est.)

8% (2013 est.)

8.2% (2012 est.)

$5,600 (2014 est.)

$5,200 (2013 est.)

$4,800 (2012 est.)

31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

29.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

32% of GDP (2012 est.)

(2014 est.)

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

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

6.2% (2014 est.)

17.24 million (2014 est.)

4.9% (2014 est.)

4.9% (2013 est.)

17% (2011 est.)

36.8 (2003)

44.7 (1998)

29.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

-1% of GDP (2014 est.)

7.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

6.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

calendar year

8.4% (2014 est.)

12% (2013 est.)

12.44% (31 December 2013 est.)

11.2% (31 December 2012 est.)

$7.605 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.154 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$15.58 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$13.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$12.76 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$NA (31 December 2012)

$715.3 million (31 December 2006)

$73 million (2014 est.)

$1.339 billion (2013 est.)

$13.32 billion (2014 est.)

$12.83 billion (2013 est.)

energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and nonferrous metals, textiles, foodstuffs, machinery, automobiles

China 26.8%, Russia 14.7%, Kazakhstan 14.6%, Turkey 13.1%, Bangladesh 10.2% (2014)

$12.5 billion (2014 est.)

$11.43 billion (2013 est.)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Russia 22.8%, China 19.6%, South Korea 14.9%, Kazakhstan 10.2%, Germany 4.8%, Turkey 4.4% (2014)

$18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$8.751 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.517 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$NA

$NA

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -

2,313.6 (2014 est.)

2,095.6 (2013 est.)

1,890.1 (2012 est.)

1,715.8 (2011 est.)

1,587.2 (2010 est.)

52.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)

45.07 billion kWh (2011 est.)

12.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)

12.16 billion kWh (2011 est.)

12.35 million kW (2011 est.)

86% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

14% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

100,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

594 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

92,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)

105,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

4,968 bbl/day (2010 est.)

655.9 bbl/day (2010 est.)

62.9 billion cu m (2012 est.)

52.7 billion cu m (2012 est.)

10.2 billion cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

123.2 million Mt (2012 est.)

government controls media; 14 state-owned broadcasters - 10 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; in 2013, the government closed TV and radio broadcasters affiliated with the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, a government-sponsored NGO for private broadcast media

AM 20, FM 24, shortwave 3 (2008)

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

.uz

53 (2013)

18 (2013)

gas 10,401 km; oil 944 km (2013)

1,100 km (2012)

Uzbek Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-month or 1-year conscript service obligation for males; moving toward a professional military, but conscription in some form 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 (2013)

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created 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

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