]! ^! Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up 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. 
]" ^" Central Asia, north of Afghanistan ^# 41 00 N, 64 00 E ^$ Asia ^% `! 447,400 sq km `" 425,400 sq km `# 22,000 sq km ^& slightly larger than California ^' `! 6,221 km `Y Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km ^( 0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline ^) none (doubly landlocked) ^* mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east ^+ 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 ^, `% Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m `& Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m ^- natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum ^. `' 10.51% `( 0.76% `) 88.73% (2005) ^/ 42,810 sq km (2003) ^0 NA ^1 shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; 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 _P `P Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands `Q none of the selected agreements ^2 along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world 
]# ^3 27,780,059 (July 2007 est.) ^4 `+ 32.4% (male 4,587,338/female 4,416,014) `, 62.8% (male 8,636,226/female 8,817,633) `- 4.8% (male 543,417/female 779,431) (2007 est.) ^5 `! 22.9 years `. 22.3 years `/ 23.5 years (2007 est.) ^6 1.732% (2007 est.) ^7 26.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^8 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^9 -1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^: `0 1.05 male(s)/female `1 1.039 male(s)/female `, 0.979 male(s)/female `- 0.697 male(s)/female `2 0.982 male(s)/female (2007 est.) ^; `! 68.89 deaths/1,000 live births `. 73.5 deaths/1,000 live births `/ 64.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) ^< `2 64.98 years `. 61.57 years `/ 68.56 years (2007 est.) ^= 2.88 children born/woman (2007 est.) ^> less than 0.1% (2001 est.) ^? 11,000 (2003 est.) ^@ less than 500 (2003 est.) ^A `3 Uzbekistani `4 Uzbekistani ^B Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.) ^C Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% ^D Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% ^E `5 age 15 and over can read and write `2 99.3% `. 99.6% `/ 99% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `6 Republic of Uzbekistan `7 Uzbekistan `Z Ozbekiston Respublikasi `[ Ozbekiston `\ Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic ^H republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch ^I `8 Tashkent (Toshkent) `9 41 20 N, 69 18 E `: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) ^J 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* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) `* administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) ^K 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) ^L Independence Day, 1 September (1991) ^M adopted 8 December 1992 ^N evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system ^O 18 years of age; universal ^P `; President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) `< Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003) `= Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly `> 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 9 January 2000 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president `? Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2% ^Q bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) `> last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009) `? Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10 `* all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV ^R Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly) ^S Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TASHMUHAMMEDOVA]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Hurshid DOSMUHAMMEDOV]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party (Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV] ^T Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protection of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigora KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition [Sanjar UMAROV, chairman] ^U AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) ^V `R Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV `S 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 `T [1] (202) 887-5300 `U [1] (202) 293-6804 `V New York ^W `R Ambassador Jon PURNELL `_ 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093 `` use embassy street address `T [998] (71) 120-5450 `U [998] (71) 120-6335 ^X 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 
]% ^Y Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. 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. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. 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. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), both organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets. US firms have not made major investments in Uzbekistan in the last 5 years. ^Z $54.81 billion (2006 est.) ^[ $10.78 billion (2006 est.) ^\ 6.8% (2006 est.) ^] $2,000 (2006 est.) ^^ `@ 31.1% `A 25.7% `B 43.2% (2006 est.) ^_ 14.44 million (2006 est.) ^` `@ 44% `A 20% `B 36% (1995) ^a 3% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed (2006) _! 33% (2004 est.) _" `C 3.6% `D 22% (2000) _d 26.8 (2000) _# 7.6% officially, but 38% based on analysis of consumer prices (2006) _$ `E $4.08 billion `F $4.24 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY07 est.) _% 29.7% of GDP (2006 est.) _& cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock _' textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals _( 10.8% (2006 est.) _) 49 billion kWh (2006 est.) _* 47 billion kWh (2006 est.) _+ 6.8 billion kWh (2006) _, 10.5 billion kWh (2006 est.) _- 142,000 bbl/day (2004) _. 148,000 bbl/day (2004) _/ NA bbl/day _0 NA _W 600 million bbl (1 January 2005) _1 62.5 billion cu m (2006 est.) _2 48.4 billion cu m (2006 est.) _X 12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.) _Y NA _Z 1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.) _Q $1.41 billion (2006 est.) _3 $5.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _4 cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles _5 Russia 23.8%, China 11.9%, Kazakhstan 6.9%, Turkey 6.9%, Ukraine 5.4%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Poland 4.2%, Tajikistan 4% (2005) _6 $3.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _7 machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals _8 Russia 26.6%, South Korea 15.2%, Germany 8.8%, Kazakhstan 7.1%, China 7.1%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005) _[ $2.986 billion (2006 est.) _9 $4.713 billion (2006 est.) _: $91.6 million from the US (2005) _; Uzbekistani soum (UZS) _< Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003), 423.832 (2002) _= calendar year 
]& _> 1.717 million (2003) _? 1.1 million (2005) _@ `G antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization `H the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated; the state-owned telecom company, Uzbektelecom, is using a US$110 million loan from the Japanese government to improve main line services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base doubling in 2005 to 1.1 million; there are 6 main cellular providers currently in operation `I country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications (1998) _A AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006) _B 8 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2003) _C .uz _D 9,058 (2006) _E 880,000 (2005) 
]' _F 61 (2006) _G `! 34 `a 6 `J 13 `b 5 `c 5 `W 5 (2006) _R `! 27 `J 2 `W 25 (2006) _^ gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006) _e `! 3,950 km `r 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2005) _H `! 81,600 km `K 71,237 km `L 10,363 km (1999) _b 1,100 km (2006) _I Termiz (Amu Darya) 
]( _J Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard _T 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004) _K males age 18-49: 6,340,220 females age 18-49: 6,432,072 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 4,609,621 females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.) _L males age 18-49: 324,722 females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.) _U 2% (2005 est.) 
]) _N prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates 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 _c `o 39,202 (Tajikistan) `k 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2006) __ `f Uzbekistan is a source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women trafficked to Asia and the Middle East for the purpose of sexual exploitation; women from other Central Asian countries and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the construction and agricultural industries to Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; men and women are also trafficked within the country `g Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3 because it failed to fulfill commitments by the country to take additional steps during 2005, including the adoption of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, criminal code amendments to raise trafficking penalties, support to the country's first trafficking shelter, and approval of a national action plan _O 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 