Uzbekistan

§1. Uzbekistan Introduction

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 1925. 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 non-convertible
  currency, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

§2. Uzbekistan Geography

Location:
  Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Geographic coordinates:
  41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references:
  Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
  total: 447,400 kmē
  land: 425,400 kmē
  water: 22,000 kmē

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; 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, Sirdaryo (Syr Darya),
  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: 9%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  40,000 kmē (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  drying up 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 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
  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

§3. Uzbekistan People

Population:
  25,155,064 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36.32% (male 4,646,341; female 4,489,265)
  15-64 years: 59.06% (male 7,351,908; female 7,504,626)
  65 years and over: 4.62% (male 466,029; female 696,895) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.6% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  26.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  71.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 63.81 years male: 60.24 years
  female: 67.56 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.06 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  less than 100 (1999 est.)

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)

§4. Uzbekistan Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
  conventional short form: Uzbekistan
  local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
  local short form: none
  former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
  republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power
  outside the executive branch

Capital:
  Tashkent (Toshkent)

Administrative divisions:
  12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi),
  and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona
  Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati,
  Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus),
  Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
  (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
  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
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election
    last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA January 2005); note -
    extension of President KARIMOV's original term for an additional five
    years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by
    national referendum held 27 March 1995; prime minister and deputy
    ministers appointed by the president
  election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote -
    Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by
  popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 5 December and 19 December 1999 (next to be held NA
    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

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]; Fatherland Progress Party [Anwar Z. YOLDASHEV];
  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]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim PULAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)
  Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992;
  Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abdumanob PULAT, chairman]; Independent
  Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]

International organization participation:
  AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, 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 chancery: 1746
    Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
  FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John 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

§5. Uzbekistan Economy

Economy - overview:
  Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% 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 third
  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. Faced
  with high rates of inflation, however, the government began to reform in
  mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding
  privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and
  improving the environment for foreign investors. 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 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 stagnant
  growth in 2000, with little improvement predicted for 2001.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $60 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  2.1% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 28% industry: 21%
  services: 51% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.2% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  40% (2000 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:
  6.4% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
  42.876 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 86.4% hydro: 13.6%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  43.455 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  3.92 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  7.5 billion kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Exports:
  $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles,
  food products, automobiles

Exports - partners:
  Russia 13%, Switzerland 10%, UK 10%, Belgium 3%, Kazakhstan 4%, Tajikistan
  4% (1999)

Imports:
  $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
  Russia 14%, South Korea 14%, Germany 11%, US 8%, Turkey 4%, Kazakhstan 4%
  (1999)

Debt - external:
  $3.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $276.6 million (1995)

Currency:
  Uzbekistani sum (UZS)

Currency code:
  UZS

Exchange rates:
  Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 325.0 (January 2001), 141.4 (January
  2000), 111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September
  1997), 41.1 (1996)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Uzbekistan Communications

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 Tadzhik
  programs) (1997)

Televisions:
  6.4 million (1997)

Internet country code:
  .uz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  42 (2000)

Internet users:
  7,500 (2000)

§7. Uzbekistan Transportation

Railways:
  total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
    lines
  broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
  total: 81,600 km
  paved: 71,237 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in
    addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with
    gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)
  unpaved: 10,363 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are
    difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1996)

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 river)

Airports:
  267 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

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

§8. Uzbekistan Military

Military branches:
  Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops), National Guard

Military manpower - military age:
  18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 6,550,587 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 5,318,418 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  males: 274,602 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  2% (FY97)

§9. Uzbekistan Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  occasional target of Islamic insurgents based in Tajikistan and Afghanistan

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
