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Central Asia :: Uzbekistan

- ## Introduction :: UZBEKISTAN

- Background:
  Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established 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 degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country has lessened its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base. However, long-serving septuagenarian President Islom KARIMOV, who rose through the ranks of the Soviet-era State Planning Committee (Gosplan), remains wedded to the concepts of a command economy, creating a challenging environment for foreign investment. Current concerns include post-KARIMOV succession, terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

- ## Geography :: UZBEKISTAN

- Location:
  Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan
  Geographic coordinates:
  41 00 N, 64 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 447,400 sq km
  land: 425,400 sq km
  water: 22,000 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Area - comparative:
  about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 6,893 km
  border countries (5): Afghanistan 144 km, Kazakhstan 2,330 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km, Tajikistan 1,312 km, Turkmenistan 1,793 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 mid-latitude 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: Sariqamish 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:
  agricultural land: 62.6%
  arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 51.7%
  forest: 7.7%
  other: 29.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  41,980 sq km (2005)
  Total renewable water resources:
  48.87 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 56 cu km/yr (7%/3%/90%)
  per capita: 2,113 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  NA
  Environment - current issues:
  shrinkage of the Aral Sea has resulted in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification and respiratory health problems; 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
  Geography - note:
  along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

- ## People and Society :: UZBEKISTAN

- 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.)
  Languages:
  Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
  note: in the Karakalpakstan Republic, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status
  Religions:
  Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
  Population:
  29,199,942 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24.56% (male 3,676,029/female 3,496,916)
  15-24 years: 19.92% (male 2,945,837/female 2,869,483)
  25-54 years: 43.46% (male 6,310,206/female 6,379,037)
  55-64 years: 7.17% (male 987,930/female 1,104,347)
  65 years and over: 4.9% (male 610,272/female 819,885) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 49.7%
  youth dependency ratio: 42.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7%
  potential support ratio: 14.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 27.6 years
  male: 27.1 years
  female: 28.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.93% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Birth rate:
  17 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Death rate:
  5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Net migration rate:
  -2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 36.4% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  TASHKENT (capital) 2.251 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 19.2 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 22.78 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 73.55 years
  male: 70.5 years
  female: 76.78 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Total fertility rate:
  1.79 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  64.9% (2006)
  Health expenditures:
  6.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Physicians density:
  2.53 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  4.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.5% of population
  rural: 80.9% of population
  total: 87.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.5% of population
  rural: 19.1% of population
  total: 12.7% of population (2012 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.15% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  32,300 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  2,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  14.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  4.4% (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.6%
  male: 99.7%
  female: 99.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 11 years (2011)

- ## Government :: UZBEKISTAN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
  conventional short form: Uzbekistan
  local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi
  local short form: O'zbekiston
  former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
  Government type:
  republic; authoritarian presidential rule with little power outside the executive branch
  Capital:
  name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
  geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E
  time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Tashkent province], 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 the Soviet Union)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992; amended several times, last in 2014 (2014)
  Legal system:
  civil law system
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when elected president by the former Supreme Soviet; first elected president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of both chambers of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term; previously a 5-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to 7 years, and reverted to 5 years in 2011); election last held on 29 March 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
  election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV (LDPU) 90.4%, Akmal SAIDOV (Democratic Party of Uzbekistan) 3.1%, Khatamjan KETMANOV (NDP) 2.9%, Nariman UMAROV (Justice Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan) 2.1%, other 1.5%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of the Senate (100 seats; 84 members indirectly elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) and the Legislative Chamber or Qonunchilik Palatasi (150 seats; 135 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed and 15 indirectly elected by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan; members serve 5-year terms)
  note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President Islom KARIMOV
  elections: last held on 21 December 2014 and 4 January 2015 (next to be held in December 2019)
  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 52, National Rebirth Party 36, NDP 27, Adolat 20, Ecological Movement 15
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 34 judges organized in civil, criminal, and military sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); Higher Economic Court (consists of 19 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges of the 3 highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for 5-year terms subject to reappointment
  subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Ekologik Harakati) [Boriy ALIXONOV]
  Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Narimon UMAROV]
  Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU [Sodiqjon TURDIYEV]
  National Rebirth Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Milliy Tiklanish) [Sarvar OTAMURODOV]
  People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or NDP [Hotamjon KETMONOV] (formerly Communist Party)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups in Uzbekistan
  International organization participation:
  ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Baxtiyor GULOMOV (since 18 July 2013)
  chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 283-6803
  FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
  consulate(s) general: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela SPRATLEN (since 21 January 2015)
  embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093
  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 (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white stars shifted to the hoist on the top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky, white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth; the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar
  National symbol(s):
  khumo (mythical bird); national colors: blue, white, red, green
  National anthem:
  name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
  lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
  note: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but adopted new lyrics

- ## Economy :: UZBEKISTAN

- Economy - overview:
  Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; more than 60% of the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export of natural gas, gold and cotton provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbekistani agriculture remains largely centered around cotton; Uzbekistan is now the world's fifth largest cotton exporter and sixth largest producer.
  The country is beginning to enforce a ban on the use of child labor in its cotton harvest and is trying to address international criticism for its previous use of this practice. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government continues to intervene in the business sector and has not addressed the impediments to foreign investment in the country. In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods.
  Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments and a favorable export environment. In the past Uzbekistani authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbekistani laws and have frozen and even seized their assets. At the same time, the Uzbekistani Government has actively courted several major US and international corporations, offering financing and tax advantages. Diminishing foreign investment and difficulties transporting goods across borders further challenge Uzbekistan’s economy, though it recently has intensified economic ties to Beijing. Tashkent began exporting natural gas to China and Chinese investments in the country have substantially increased.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $171.7 billion (2014 est.)
  $158.8 billion (2013 est.)
  $147 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 67
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $62.62 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  8.1% (2014 est.)
  8% (2013 est.)
  8.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $5,600 (2014 est.)
  $5,200 (2013 est.)
  $4,800 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Gross national saving:
  31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  29.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  32% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 55.6%
  government consumption: 22.7%
  investment in fixed capital: 24.4%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 26.9%
  imports of goods and services: -29.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 18.5%
  industry: 32%
  services: 49.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
  Industries:
  textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals
  Industrial production growth rate:
  6.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Labor force:
  17.24 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 25.9%
  industry: 13.2%
  services: 60.9% (2012 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4.9% (2014 est.)
  4.9% (2013 est.)
  note: official data, another 20% are underemployed
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Population below poverty line:
  17% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.8%
  highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  36.8 (2003)
  44.7 (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Budget:
  revenues: $18.67 billion
  expenditures: $19.27 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  29.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Public debt:
  7.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  6.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.4% (2014 est.)
  12% (2013 est.)
  note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 22% in 2012
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  12.44% (31 December 2013 est.)
  11.2% (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Stock of narrow money:
  $7.605 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.154 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Stock of broad money:
  $15.58 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $13.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $12.76 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $12.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA (31 December 2012)
  $715.3 million (31 December 2006)
  Current account balance:
  $73 million (2014 est.)
  $1.339 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Exports:
  $13.32 billion (2014 est.)
  $12.83 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Exports - commodities:
  energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and nonferrous metals, textiles, foodstuffs, machinery, automobiles
  Exports - partners:
  China 26.8%, Russia 14.7%, Kazakhstan 14.6%, Turkey 13.1%, Bangladesh 10.2% (2014)
  Imports:
  $12.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $11.43 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and nonferrous metals
  Imports - partners:
  Russia 22.8%, China 19.6%, South Korea 14.9%, Kazakhstan 10.2%, Germany 4.8%, Turkey 4.4% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $17 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Debt - external:
  $8.751 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.517 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -
  2,313.6 (2014 est.)
  2,095.6 (2013 est.)
  1,890.1 (2012 est.)
  1,715.8 (2011 est.)
  1,587.2 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: UZBEKISTAN

- Electricity - production:
  52.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - consumption:
  45.07 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - exports:
  12.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Electricity - imports:
  12.16 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  12.35 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  86% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Crude oil - production:
  100,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  594 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  92,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  105,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  4,968 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  655.9 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Natural gas - production:
  62.9 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Natural gas - consumption:
  52.7 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Natural gas - exports:
  10.2 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  123.2 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39

- ## Communications :: UZBEKISTAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2.51 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 21.6 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: digital exchanges in large cities and in rural areas
  domestic: the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, owner of the fixed-line telecommunications system, has used loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital exchanges; mobile-cellular services are provided by 3 private and 1 state-owned operator with a total subscriber base of 19 million as of January 2014
  international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; the country also has a link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; Uzbekistan has supported the national fiber optic backbone project of Afghanistan since 2008 (2009)
  Broadcast media:
  government controls media; 14 state-owned broadcasters - 10 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast to local markets; privately owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation; in 2013, the government closed TV and radio broadcasters affiliated with the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, a government-sponsored NGO for private broadcast media
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 20, FM 24, shortwave 3 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .uz
  Internet users:
  total: 11.8 million
  percent of population: 40.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41

- ## Transportation :: UZBEKISTAN

- Airports:
  53 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 33
  over 3,047 m: 6
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 4 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 20
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  under 914 m:
  18 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 10,401 km; oil 944 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 3,645 km
  broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Roadways:
  total: 86,496 km
  paved: 75,511 km
  unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Waterways:
  1,100 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Ports and terminals:
  river port(s): Termiz (Amu Darya)

- ## Military :: UZBEKISTAN

- Military branches:
  Uzbek Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-month or 1-year conscript service obligation for males; moving toward a professional military, but conscription in some form will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 7,887,292
  females age 16-49: 7,886,459 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,566,118
  females age 16-49: 6,745,818 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 306,404
  female: 295,456 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: UZBEKISTAN

- Disputes - international:
  prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 86,703 (2014)
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; adults and children are victims of government-compelled forced labor during Uzbekistan’s annual cotton harvest, as well as for the construction and cleaning of parks; the government in 2013 for the first time cooperated with the ILO to monitor the cotton harvest for compliance with the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention; the ILO recorded 53 violations but concluded that forced child labor was not used on a systematic basis during the 2013 cotton harvest; Uzbekistani women and children are sex trafficked domestically and in countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe; Uzbekistani men and women are subjected to forced labor in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, the UAE, Malaysia, and, to a lesser extent, Ukraine in domestic service, agriculture, construction, and the oil industry
  tier rating: Tier 3 – Uzbekistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government in 2013 did not openly acknowledge forced labor in the cotton sector, which remained prevalent, but it took an encouraging step in allowing the ILO to monitor the cotton harvest for forced child labor; authorities continued to address transnational sex and labor trafficking, implementing anti-trafficking awareness campaigns; the government operated a shelter to help sex and labor trafficking victims and strengthened its ties with NGOs to repatriate victims and provide services, although no systematic procedures for assisting trafficking victims were in place; NGOs unaffiliated with the government faced additional scrutiny in 2013, hampering their efforts to protect victims (2014)
  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

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