republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
republic
Independence date
1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Exports
cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
External Debt
$8,570,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,317 (2008 est.), 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6
0
Location
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Area
447,400 km sq
342,000 km sq
Coastline
0 km
169 km
Climate
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
