Uzbekistan’s economy has been growing at a slow pace. The economy is primarily dependent on the agricultural and industrial sector. Uzbekistan mainly exports cotton, gold, and textiles.

Gross domestic product (GDP)

GDP in 2010 was UZS 61,831.2 billion compared to UZS 48,097 billion in 2009.

(Source: stat.uz, stat.uz. stat.uz)

GDP growth rate

The GDP growth rate in 2010 was estimated at 7.4% compared to 7% in 2009.

 

(Source: IMF)

 

Gross national income (GNI)

The GNI per capita at PPP was USD 3,085 in 2010 compared to USD 2,163 for 2005.

 

 

(Source: UNDP)

Income tax

Income tax on individual incomes in Uzbekistan varied between 11% tand 22%.

Income tax on individual incomes
Taxable income (UZS)	Tax rate
Up to 6x minimum Wage	11%
Between 6x-10x minimum wage	17%
10x minimum wage and more	22%

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Corporate tax

Standard corporate tax in Uzbekistan is 9% and VAT is 20%.

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Inflation rate

The inflation rate in Uzbekistan in 2010 was 12.9%. In 2009, inflation in terms of consumer price change (annual %) was 10.6%.

 

e= estimated

(Source: IMF)

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

The FDI inflow in the first quarter of 2010 was USD 929.8 million. (Source:uzdaily)

In 2009, FDI inflows amounted to USD 750 million compared to USD 711 million in 2008.

 

(Source: UNCTAD, pg no.422)

 

Banking sector assets

The total banking sector assets in the first half of 2009 mounted to UZS 14.865 trillion compared to UZS 12.065 trillion for the same period the previous year.

(Source: uzdaily)

Consumer price index

(Source: IMF)

Interest rates on saving deposits/time deposits

Average annual interest rates, august 2010 (%)
Term deposits (in soums)	21.47
Term deposits in the US dollar	6.94
3-month deposit	20.45
6-month deposits	21.6
12-month deposit	22.5

(Source: uzdaily.com)

Money supply (currency in circulation)

Money supply (UZS billion), 2009
Money supply (M1)	3,943
Currency in circulation	2,528
Demand deposits	1,415
Quasi-money	2,146
Money supply (M2)	6,088

(Source: adb.org)

 

Government expenditure

In 2010, government expenditure amounted to UZS 21,360 billion compared to UZS 16,469.8 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Official exchange rate

In April 2011, the official exchange rate for UZS per USD was 1689.23.

(Source: nbu)

(Source: statistics.uz)

 

Government finances

Fiscal balance

The fiscal deficit in 2010 was USD 1,330.8 billion compared to USD 4,031.82 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Total revenue

According to IMF estimates, Uzbekistan's revenue in 2010 was USD 22,690.75 billion, an increase of approximately 25.9% from USD 18,009.67 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Tax revenue

The tax revenue in 2008 was 28.2% of GDP compared to 27.1% in 2007.

(Source: adb.org)

Current account balance

 

(Source: IMF)

Balance of payments

Balance of payments (USD million)
	2009	2008
Exports of goods and services	11,679	12,158
Imports of goods and services	11,698	11,393
Resource balance	-19	765
Net income	422	-312
Net current transfers	475	1,980
Current account balance	878	2,432
Financing items (net)	1,001	1,526
Changes in net reserves	-1,879	-3,958

 (Source: World Bank)

Labour force

The labour force in Uzbekistan was 12.68 million people in 2009 compared to 12.26 million in 2008.

The labour force participation rate in 2009 was 65%; the male and female participation rate was 71% and 58% respectively.

(Source: World Bank)

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in Uzbekistan was 0.2% in 2008.

(Source: adb.org)

Minimum wage

The minimum wage rate in Uzbekistan is UZS 25,040 per month. The minimum wage for a 19-year old worker or an apprentice is USD 23.9 per month.

(Source: minimum-wage, doingbusiness.org)

Level of unionisation

The Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan is the main trade union centre in Uzbekistan.

(Source: sfp.uz)

Uzbekistan is a presidential republic. The executive powers lie with the president, prime minister and the cabinet.

The parliament is bicameral and is known as the supreme assembly. It consists of the legislative chamber and the senate. The legislative chamber has a statutory requirement of 150 members, of which 135 are directly elected and the remaining 15 are elected by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. The senate is made up of 100 members, of which 84 are elected by the local councils and 16 are appointed by the president.

The main political parties include:

• Liberal Democratic Party
• Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
• Social Democratic Party
• People's Democratic Party

(Source: IPU, fco.gov.uk, state.gov)

Regulatory environment

Uzbekistan was ranked 163^rd in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, with an economic freedom score of 45.8. It ranked 36^th out of 41 countries in the Asia–Pacific region. Uzbekistan's overall score is lower than the regional and world average.

(Source:Heritage.org)

Corruption perception

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a survey to measure the perceived level of corruption across countries worldwide. Uzbekistanis ranked 172^nd indicating the corruption levels in the public departments is fairly high.

Uzbekistan has improved in the CPI rankings since 2009, it was ranked 174^th with a score of 1.7 indicating the perceived levels of corruption have decreased.

(Source:transparency.org)

Freedom of information

The media in Uzbekistan is restricted. Most of the printing and distributing infrastructure is controlled by the government.

(Source: BBC)

The World Press Freedom Index 2010 ranked Uzbekistan163^rd with a score of 71.50 which indicates that the media in Uzbekistan was restricted.

(Source: rsf.org)

Newspapers:

• Khalq Sozi (Peopl’s Word)
• Narodnoye Slovo (People’s Word)
• Pravda vostoka (Truth of the East)
• Ozbekistan Ozovi (Voice of Uzbekistan)
• Hurriyat (Freedom)
• Mohiyat

(Source: BBC)

Judicial system

The judiciary in Uzbekistan includes:

• Supreme court
• Constitutional court
• Higher economic court
• Supreme courts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan
• Economic Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan
• Regional and Tashkent city courts
• Inter-district, district and city courts
• Martial and economic courts

The Supreme Court is the highest court of justice and deals with administration, civil and criminal proceedings.

(Source: gov.uz)

According to IMF estimates, the total population of Uzbekistan in 2010 was 28.25 million, increasing by 1.20% over the previous year.

The gender ratio in Uzbekistan is not balanced i.e. there are approximately 98.8 men for every 100 women.

(Source: UN)

In 2009, the number of people below the age of 14 accounted for 29.3% of the total population. In 2009, 7% of women and 5.5% of men (% of total population) were above the age of 60.

 

The mortality rate of infants (per thousand live births) was 48 in 2009. The mortality rate (per thousand people) was 5.

The average life expectancy at birth in Uzbekistan for men was 64.6 years and 70.9 years for women in 2010.

(Source: UN, World Bank)

The crude birth rate was 20 per 1000 people and the crude death rate was 7 per 1000 people in 2009.

(Source: unicef.org)

The international migrant stock in mid 2010 was 1,175,900 people. This was approximately 4.2% of the total population.

(Source: UN)

The latest figures reveal that the urban population in Uzbekistan grew at an annual rate of 1.6% between 2005 and 2010. The rural population grew at a slower rate of 1.4% per year in the same period.

 (Source: UN)

The ethnic groups in Uzbekistan include:

 

• Uzbek
• Russian
• Tajik
• Kazakh
• Karakalpak
• Tatar
• Other

 

A large proportion of the population in Uzbekistan is Uzbek. Nearly 90% of the people are Muslims.

(Source: State.gov)

Uzbekistan ranked 102^nd out of 182 countries on the Human Development index 2009 conducted by the United Nations. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

 

(Source: UNDP)

 

 

Literacy rate

Uzbekistan’s literacy rate between 2005 and 2008 was 99%.

(Source: UNICEF)

Education resources

Education is compulsory from the age of seven to sixteen years. Primary education starts at the age of seven and secondary education starts at the age of eleven.

The student-teacher ratio at primary level is 18:1. The net enrolment rate in primary schools for girls and boys is 89% and 91% respectively. The enrolment rate at secondary level of education for girls and boys was 90% and 93% respectively.

The total expenditure on education in 2010 was UZS 5,035.4 billion or 8.4% of GDP. In 2009, expenditure on education amounted to UZS 4,489.8 billion or 9.3% of GDP.

(Source: adb.org)

Health care

The citizens have the right to free medical service through a network of polyclinics, first aid stations and state hospitals. Healthcare is financed through the state budget. Governmnet spending on health was approximately 9.9% of GDP.

(Source:uzbekistan.org)

The following table shows some of the healthcare facilities in 2005:

(Source: UNDP)

The main mode of transport in Uzbekistan is road travel (buses and cabs). Railways are operated by Uzbekistan Railways.

Roadways

The total road network in Uzbekistan is approximately 86,500 km, of which 87% are paved.

(Source:estandardsforum)

Railways

The railways are operated by Uzbekistan Railways Company. The total rail network in Uzbekistan is approximately 3,645 km, of which 17% are electrified.

(Source:estandardsforum)

Ports

There are no ports in Uzbekistan.

(Source: worldportsource.com)

Airports

(Source: Air charter world)

Telecommunications networks

The number of fixed telephone lines in Uzbekistan has increased from 1,750,400 in 2004 to 1,856,600 in 2009, registering a CAGR of 1.2%. The use of fixed telephone lines has increased from 6.73 per 100 people in 2004 to 6.75 per 100 people in 2009.

(Source: ITU)

The number of mobile phone subscriptions rose from 541,000 in 2004 to 16,417,900 in 2009. The ratio of mobile phone subscriptions to fixed telephone lines was 8.8:1, indicating that the amount of mobile phones used in Uzbekistan is higher than the number of fixed telephone lines in use.

(Source: ITU)