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| Introduction | Uzbekistan |
| 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. |
| People | Uzbekistan |
| Population: | 26,410,416 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 34.1% (male 4,583,228; female 4,418,003) 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 7,990,233; female 8,157,136) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 513,434; female 748,382) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 22.1 years male: 21.4 years female: 22.7 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.65% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 26.12 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 71.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 75.03 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 64.09 years male: 60.67 years female: 67.69 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.97 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 740 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 100 (2001 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani |
| Ethnic groups: | Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.) |
| Religions: | Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% |
| Languages: | Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.3% male: 99.6% female: 99% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Uzbekistan |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local short form: Ozbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi |
| Government type: | republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch |
| Capital: | Tashkent (Toshkent) |
| 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), Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (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) |
| Independence: | 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 1 September (1991) |
| Constitution: | new constitution adopted 8 December 1992 |
| Legal system: | evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| 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 MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2% elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - 2002 amendment to the constitution creates a second chamber to be established via elections in December 2004 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 48, Self-Sacrificers Party 34, Fatherland Progress Party 20, Adolat Social Democratic Party 11, MTP 10, citizens' groups 16, local government 110, vacant 1 note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV elections: last held 5 December and 19 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Anwar JURABAYEV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Aziz KAYUMOV, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Kobijon TOSHMATOV]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, first secretary]; note - Fatherland Progress Party merged with Self-Sacrificers Party |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abduhoshim GHAFUROV, chairman]; Mazlum [Oygul MAMATOVA] |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York telephone: [1] (202) 293-6803 chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450 FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335 |
| 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 |
| Communications | Uzbekistan |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,717,100 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 320,800 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) and Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System) international: country code - 998; linked by landline 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 will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications; Inmarsat also provides an international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth stations - NA (1998) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998) |
| Radios: | 10.8 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003) |
| Televisions: | 6.4 million (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .uz |
| Internet hosts: | 1,040 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 42 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 492,000 (2003) |
| Transportation | Uzbekistan |
| Railways: | total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.) |
| Waterways: | 1,100 km (2004) |
| Pipelines: | gas 9,149 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | Termiz (Amu Darya) |
| Airports: | 247 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 33 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 214 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 200 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Uzbekistan |
| Military branches: | Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 7,126,325 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 5,783,740 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 321,886 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $200 million (FY97) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2% (FY97) |
| Transnational Issues | Uzbekistan |
| Disputes - international: | prolonged drought and cotton monoculture creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete with demarcation underway; delimitation is underway with Kyrgyzstan but serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for some 130 km of border; talks continue with Tajikistan to determine and delimit border |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | IDPs: 3,000 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2004) |
| 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 |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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