Uzbekistan

Internet country code

.uz

Internet hosts

1,040 (2003)

Internet users

492,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

320,800 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)

Agriculture - products

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Budget

revenues: $2.176 billion expenditures: $2.207 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Currency

Uzbekistani sum (UZS)

Currency code

UZS

Current account balance

$462 million (2003)

Debt - external

$4.384 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.7 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$87.4 million from the US (2003)

Economy - overview

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a large producer of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistan responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy. The government, while aware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, the government's control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted the obligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also lead to some shortages which have further stifled economic activity.

Electricity - consumption

47.07 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

3.998 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

9.7 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

44.49 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 115.9 (2003), 125.3 (2002), NA (2001), 236.608 (2000), 124.625 (1999)

Exports

$2.83 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998 est.)

Exports - partners

Russia 22.4%, China 9.3%, Ukraine 7.5%, Tajikistan 6.2%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Turkey 4.6%, Japan 4.3%, Kazakhstan 4.2%, US 4.1% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $43.99 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 38% industry: 26.3% services: 35.7% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)

Imports

$2.31 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals (1998 est.)

Imports - partners

Russia 22.3%, US 11.4%, South Korea 11%, Germany 9.5%, China 6.5%, Kazakhstan 6.1%, Turkey 6.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

6.2% (2003 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas, chemicals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force

14.2 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)

Natural gas - consumption

45.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

17.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

63.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

937.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

142,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

142,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

297 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

NA (2004 est.)

Public debt

42.3% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$1.286 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

0.5% plus another 20% underemployed (2003)

Area

total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Environment - current issues

shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; 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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

42,810 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Land use

arable land: 10.83% permanent crops: 0.83% other: 88.34% (2001)

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (doubly landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

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)

Capital

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Constitution

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi local short form: Ozbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-6803 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York

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 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 election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%

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

Government type

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

Independence

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

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, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Legal system

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Legislative branch

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10 note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TOSHMUHAMMADOVA, chairman]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Xurshid DOSTMUHAMMADOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHODMONOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; 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 Human Rights Society [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum [leader NA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY97)

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 - military age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 321,886 (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.)

Birth rate

26.12 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 71.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 75.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.09 years male: 60.67 years female: 67.69 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.3% male: 99.6% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 22.1 years male: 21.4 years female: 22.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

Net migration rate

-1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

26,410,416 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.65% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

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.)

Total fertility rate

2.97 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 3,000 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2004)

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.)

Highways

total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines

gas 9,149 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Railways

total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2003)

Waterways

1,100 km (2004)