| variable | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | -0.02 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 6.45 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| CPI % | 362.24 | 15.31 | 12.3 | 12.12 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Unemployment rate | - | 4.54 | 5.2 | 6.49 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| Debt/GDP % | 18.27 | 22.2 | 6.25 | 12.6 | 30.7 | 30.9 | 28.6 | 27.5 | 27.0 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -1.73 | 4.97 | 3.95 | -0.22 | -7.3 | -4.7 | -3.9 | -1.3 | -3.4 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories 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 the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan’s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan’s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote.
Area: 447,400 sq km km2
Climate: mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Groups: Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.9% (2017 est.)
Languages: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Government type: presidential republic; highly authoritarian
Chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016)
Head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016)
Description: Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) - bicameral
lower-middle income Central Asian economy; key exporter of natural gas, cotton, and gold; ongoing reform efforts to reduce state-owned sector dominance, attract foreign investment, and improve sustainability of cotton production
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 18.3% (2024 est.), Industry: 31.8% (2024 est.), Services: 45.2% (2024 est.)
Export partners: Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)
Export commodities: gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
Import partners: China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Import commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)
Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan
Military expenditure: 2019: 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.