republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Independence date
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
