Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Boshevik 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 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 terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
Population
27,865,738 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:44
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.)
Religions
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Country Name
Conventional long form:Republic of Uzbekistan
Conventional short form:Uzbekistan
Local long form:Ozbekiston Respublikasi
Local short form:Ozbekiston
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 20 N, 69 18 E
Time difference:UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan]* (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
adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 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 the Supreme Assembly
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Elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held on 23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
Election results:Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%
Legislative branch
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (150 seats; 135 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, while 15 spots reserved for the new Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan)
Elections:last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014)
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 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat 19
note: 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 [Ismoil SAIFNAZAROV]; Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan [Boriy ALIXONOV, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Muhammadjon AHMADJONOV]; National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Latif GULOMOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders
there are no significant opposition political parties or pressure groups operating in Uzbekistan
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (suspended), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Ilxamdjan NEMATOV
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 Richard B. NORLAND
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 and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant; 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
