republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
federal republic
Independence date
1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Religions
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Exports
cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
External Debt
$8,570,000,000 $
$89,600,000,000 US
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)
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.147 (2008 est.), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.500%
1.200%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6
1
Location
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Area
447,400 km sq
912,050 km sq
Coastline
0 km
2,800 km
Climate
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
