Uzbekistan
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 insurgency
by Islamic militants based in
Tajikistan and Afghanistan, a
nonconvertible currency, and the
curtailment of human rights and
democratization.
Geography Uzbekistan
--------------------
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 447,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
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
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked); note -
Uzbekistan includes the southern
portion of the Aral Sea with a 420
km shoreline
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot
summers, mild winters; semiarid
grassland in east
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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301
m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold,
uranium, silver, copper, lead and
zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 10.8%
permanent crops: 0.91%
other: 88.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 42,810 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
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 party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: 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
Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the
only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world
People Uzbekistan
-----------------
Population: 25,563,441 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.5% (male 4,617,110;
female 4,457,065)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 7,567,510;
female 7,726,753)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male
482,137; female 712,866) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 26.09 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 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: 0.68 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.9 years
female: 67.6 years (2002 est.)
male: 60.38 years
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 100 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani(s)
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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (yearend 1996)
Government Uzbekistan
---------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local short form: none
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist
Republic
local long form: Uzbekiston
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
Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December
1995)
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;
election last held 9 January 2000
(next to be held NA 2007);
(previously was a five-year term,
extended by national referendum on
27 January 2002) 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 - on 27 January 2002, a
referendum was held that will make
the Assembly bicameral on the 2004
elections
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];
People's Democratic Party or NDP
(formerly Communist Party)
[Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, 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 Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim
leaders: POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)
Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH,
chairman] was banned 9 December
1992; Human Rights Society of
Uzbekistan [Abdumannob POLAT,
chairman]; Independent Human Rights
Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail
ARDZINOV, chairman]
International organization AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
participation: ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Shavkat
HAMRAKULOV
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador John
US: Edward HERBST
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
700115
mailing address: use embassy street
address; US Embassy Tashkent,
Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-7110
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5444
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
Economy Uzbekistan
------------------
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. The state
continues to be a dominating
influence in the economy and has so
far failed to bring about much-
needed structural changes. The IMF
suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million
standby arrangement in late 1996
because of governmental steps that
made impossible fulfillment of Fund
conditions. Uzbekistan has 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. Economic
policies that have repelled foreign
investment are a major factor in the
economy's stagnation. A growing debt
burden, persistent inflation, and a
poor business climate led to
disappointing growth in 2001.
However, in December 2001 the
government voiced a renewed interest
in economic reform, seeking advice
from the IMF and other financial
institutions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $62
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33%
industry: 24%
services: 43% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 3.1%
percentage share: highest 10%: 25.2% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini 33.3 (1993)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 44%, industry 20%,
services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 10% plus another 20% underemployed
(1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1999 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine
building, metallurgy, natural gas,
chemicals
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 44.075 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 86.95%
hydro: 13.05%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 41.89 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 4.1 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 5 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain;
livestock
Exports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 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 16.7%, Switzerland 8.3%, UK
7.2%, Ukraine 4.7%, South Korea
3.3%, Kazakhstan 3.1% (2000)
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 49.8%,
foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals
(1998 est.)
Imports - partners: Russia 15.8%, South Korea 9.8%, US
8.7%, Germany 8.6%, Kazakhstan 7.3%,
Ukraine 6.1% (2002)
Debt - external: $5.1 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: approximately $150 million from the
US (2001)
Currency: Uzbekistani sum (UZS)
Currency code: UZS
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani sums per US dollar -
687.0 (January 2002), 325.0 (January
2001), 141.4 (January 2000), 111.9
(February 1999), 110.95 (December
1998), 75.8 (September 1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Uzbekistan
-------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.98 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 26,000 (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 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: 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, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik
programs) (1997)
Televisions: 6.4 million (1997)
Internet country code: .uz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 42 (2000)
Internet users: 7,500 (2000)
Transportation Uzbekistan
-------------------------
Railways: total: 3,656 km
broad gauge: 3,656 km 1.520-m gauge
(618 km electrified) (2000)
Highways: total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km (includes some all-
weather gravel-surfaced roads)
unpaved: 10,363 km (these roads are
made of unstabilized earth and are
difficult to negotiate in wet
weather) (1990)
Waterways: 1,100 km (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products
40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya)
Airports: 267 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 257
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 222 (2001)
Military Uzbekistan
-------------------
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces,
National Guard, Security Forces
(internal security and border
troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,747,221 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 5,478,766 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 274,602 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $200 million (FY97)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2% (FY97)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Uzbekistan
-------------------------------
Disputes - international: Uzbekistan border largely delimited
with Kazakhstan, but unresolved
dispute remains over sovereignty of
two border villages, Bagys and
Turkestan, and around the Arnasay
dam; dispute over access to Sokh and
other Uzbek enclaves in Kyrgyzstan
mars progress on international
boundary delimitation; Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan wrestle with sharing
limited water resources and the
regional environmental degradation
caused by the shrinking Aral Sea;
the undemarcated northern and
western border with Uzbekistan is
mined in many sections
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of
cannabis and very small amounts of
opium poppy, mostly for domestic
consumption, almost entirely
eradicated by an effective
government eradication program;
increasingly used as transshipment
point for illicit drugs from
Afghanistan to Russia and Western
Europe and for acetic anhydride
destined for Afghanistan
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