Uzbekistan


The Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia (it is surrounded only by landlocked countries and, along with Liechtenstein, is one of only two such countries in the world). It shares borders with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
O‘zbekiston Respublikasi
Flag of Uzbekistan 100px
(In detail) (Full size)
National motto: none
image:LocationUzbekistan.png
Official language Uzbek
Capital Tashkent
President Islam Karimov
Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev
Area
— Total
— % water 		Ranked 55th
447,400 km²
4.9%
Population (of which 0.064% German)
— Total (2002)
— Density 		Ranked 41st
25,563,441
57/km²
Independence
— Declared
— Recognised 		From Soviet Union
September 1, 1991
(Year)
Currency Uzbekistani Som (UKS)
Time zone UTC +5
National anthem National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Internet TLD .uz
Calling Code 998

History

Main article: History of Uzbekistan For thousands of years the present area of Uzbekistan was a part of the Persian Empire. Before the gradual arrival of the Turkic invaders the area was populated by the Persian-speaking people of Iranian stock who still comprise a large minority in Uzbekistan and are called Tajiks today. The area was a bone of contention between the Uzbek emirs and the Persian Kings for many centuries. In the 19th century, the Russian Empire began to expand, and spread into Central Asia. The "Great Game" period is generally regarded as running from approximately 1813 to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 a second less intensive phase followed. At the start of the 19th century there were some 2000 miles separating British India and the outlying regions of the Tsarist Russia. Much of the land in between was unmapped. By the beginning of the 19th century, Central Asia was firmly in the hands of Russia and despite some early resistance to Bolsheviks, Uzbekistan and the rest of Central Asia became a part of the Soviet Union. On September 1, 1991, Uzbekistan reluctantly declared independence. While the Baltic States led the fight for independence, Central Asian states were afraid of it. "The centrifugal forces pulling the Union apart were weakest in Central Asia. Well after the August 1991 coup attempt, all Central Asian leaders believed that the Union might somehow be preserved," wrote Michael McFaul in Russia's Unfinished Revolution.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Uzbekistan

Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan is divided into 12 regions (viloyatlar; singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions and alternate spellings have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Geography

Main article: Geography of Uzbekistan Map of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan is a dry, double-landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It is one of two double-landlocked countries in the world - the other being Liechtenstein. See also: List of cities in Uzbekistan

Economy

Main article: Economy of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, 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 reforms have 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 fulfillment of Fund conditions impossible. 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 cloud growth prospects in 2000.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Uzbekistan

Communications

Main article: Communications in Uzbekistan

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Uzbekistan

Military

Main article: Military of Uzbekistan

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Uzbekistan

Culture

Main article: Culture of Uzbekistan
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Countries in Central Asia
PRC (China) | KazakhstanKyrgyzstan > MongoliaTajikistan > Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Flag of CIS
ArmeniaAzerbaijan > BelarusGeorgia > KazakhstanKyrgyzstan > MoldovaRussia > TajikistanTurkmenistan > Ukraine Uzbekistan
Category:Central Asian countriesCategory:Uzbekistan ar:اوزباكستان cy:Uzbekistan da:Usbekistan de:Usbekistan et:Usbekistan es:Uzbekistán eo:Uzbekio fa:ازبکستان fr:Ouzbékistan he:אוזבקיסטן it:Uzbekistan ms:Uzbekistan nl:Oezbekistan ja:ウズベキスタン lt:Uzbekija nds:Usbekistan no:Usbekistan pl:Uzbekistan pt:Uzbequistão ru:Узбекистан sl:Uzbekistan fi:Uzbekistan sv:Uzbekistan tt:Özbäkstan th:ประเทศอุซเบกิสถาน zh:乌兹别克斯坦

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