Updated September 18, 2018
Uzbekistan
Human Rights
Basic freedoms: Under former President Karimov,
Uzbekistan was one of the most repressive countries in the
world. Rights activists often drew comparisons with North
Korea to characterize conditions in the country. Human
rights activists criticized Uzbekistan for its use of
mandatory manual labor. The country annually forced
millions of people—including students, teachers, public-
and private-sector employees, and sometimes children—to
harvest cotton, the country’s main cash crop, on state-
owned fields.
The country’s reputation has started to change. Since

Source: Graphic created by Hannah Fischer at CRS.
September 2016, some 30 political prisoners have been

released, and Mirziyoyev issued a decree banning courts
Political Background
from using evidence acquired through torture. His regime
also appears to have stopped—or at least limited—the use
Government: Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in
of forced labor. In September 2017, Prime Minister Abdulla
Central Asia that shares long borders with Kazakhstan and
Aripov relieved students, education and health workers
Turkmenistan. Previously a republic of the Soviet Union,
from picking cotton. Still, Freedom House, a U.S.-based
Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991. Uzbekistan’s
human rights NGO, continues to classify Uzbekistan as
government consists of a bicameral legislature (Oliy Majlis)
“not free,” citing corruption, torture, media censorship, and
headed by a prime minister, a Supreme Court, and an
the suppression of political opponents as key concerns.
executive branch led by a term-limited president (two five-
year terms). The government’s centralized structure grants
Religion: The Uzbek state strictly controls and monitors
the executive branch extensive powers, and the president
religious practices, due in part to long-standing security
appoints all cabinet ministers, regional governors, and
concerns about the spread of Islamic extremism from
judges. Meaningful political debate is absent in the
neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some have argued
legislature, which is controlled by pro-government parties.
that Uzbekistan’s anti-extremist laws are used to suppress
the political opposition. The State Department has
Leadership Transition: Uzbekistan’s longtime leader,
designated Uzbekistan as a “Country of Particular Concern”
Islam Karimov, died in 2016, leading many to speculate
for its violations of human rights, including freedom of
about the prospects for significant policy reforms. Shavkat
religion.
Mirziyoyev, the country’s former Prime Minister,
succeeded Karimov as President. Mirziyoyev has presided
over an ambitious reform agenda that challenges
Uzbekistan at a Glance
Karimov’s legacy. He has reestablished diplomatic ties
Area and Population: Land area is 425,400 square km., slightly
with neighboring countries and deepened economic
larger than California
cooperation with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. He also
Population: Approximately 32.4 million (2017)
deepened relations with Russia, China, and the United
Capital: Tashkent
States and signed multi-billion dollar investment
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,
agreements with companies from all three countries.
Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, and other 2.5%
Domestically, Mirziyoyev has ordered the release of some
Language: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, and
political prisoners and demanded the removal of thousands
other 7.1%
of citizens from security service blacklists.
GDP: $48.7 billion (2017)

Demography: With a population of about 32.4 million,
Uzbekistan is the most populous country among the five
Data from World Bank and CIA World Factbook
Central Asian states. Uzbeks are the predominant ethnic
group (80%), and Uzbek is the official state language.
Regional and Security Issues
Russian, however, is also used for day-to-day business
Foreign relations: Historically, Uzbekistan has prioritized
interactions. Muslims—many of whom are Sunnis—
its sovereignty, and has had tense relations with many of its
account for 88% of the Uzbek population, while Orthodox
neighbors, specifically over water rights and border
Christians account for 9%.
delineations. It has been reluctant to involve itself in
regional integration efforts, particularly those led by foreign
states, such as Russia. Uzbekistan, however, joined the
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Uzbekistan
China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at its
Liberalization: Recent economic slowdowns in China and
founding in 2001, and signed strategic-partnership treaties
Russia, Uzbekistan’s main economic partners, have hurt
with Russia and China in 2012. Uzbekistan has developed a
Uzbek trade and investment and worsened its foreign
strong relationship with China, and has received funding for
currency shortage. However, real GDP grew by 5.3% in
infrastructure projects as part of China’s Belt and Road
2017, largely due to modest economic recoveries in Russia
Initiative. Mirziyoyev also has worked to reduce tensions
and Kazakhstan. President Mirziyoyev has pursued
and to increase trade between Uzbekistan and the other
economic reforms, including currency liberalization,
Central Asian states.
relaxation of capital controls, and improved trade relations
with other Central Asian countries, which were strained
Terrorism and Drug Trafficking: About 1,500 Uzbek
under the previous administration. According to the
nationals have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with the
Ministry of Foreign Trade, preliminary results of the new
Islamic State (IS). Uzbek authorities are worried about
open trade policy have been favorable. Exports to
returning fighters and regional terrorist groups, such as the
Kazakhstan rose by 48% in the first half of 2018, and trade
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan—which declared
turnover between Uzbekistan and the other four Central
allegiance to IS in 2015—and its offshoot, Islamic Jihad
Asian countries increased by 46% compared to 2017 over
Union. Terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan are rare because the
the same time period.
authoritarian government’s strict control of religious
practices has largely stifled the emergence of extremist
U.S. Relations
forces within the country. Nevertheless, in 2004 and 2015,
Afghanistan: Uzbekistan has cooperated with the United
the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, was
States in supporting the war effort in Afghanistan since
attacked. Also, several Uzbek nationals have been involved
2001, and reportedly is concerned that a U.S. drawdown in
in terrorist attacks abroad, including in October 2017 when
Afghanistan may lead to increased regional instability.
an Uzbek national killed eight people in New York.
According to some, these concerns prompted Mirziyoyev to
agree to a five-year military cooperation plan with the
Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan, which
United States in 2018 despite periodic tension in the
reportedly produces around 90% of the world’s opium
relationship over U.S. criticism of Uzbekistan’s human
supply. According to Interpol, about 60% of Afghan opium
rights record. In 2005, for example, the United States
exports travel through Uzbek territory. Yet, in 2017, Uzbek
criticized the country’s security forces for killing hundreds
authorities seized only two tons of narcotics, even though
of protestors in an eastern Uzbek city, reportedly irking the
hundreds—and perhaps thousands—of tons passed through
Uzbek government and prompting it to ask U.S. forces to
the country.
vacate the Khanabad airbase, which had been used to
support operations in Afghanistan. In the late 2000s,
Environmental Issues: Uzbekistan faces significant
relations improved, and the United States struck a series of
environmental challenges, including the near disappearance
agreements with Uzbekistan, including one to allow the
of the Aral Sea, which previously was one of the largest
transport of non-lethal supplies through the country. In
lakes in the world and a source of irrigation for the
March 2018, the Uzbek government hosted international
country’s cotton industry. Uzbekistan relies on water from
peace talks on Afghanistan. Several months later, in May
rivers flowing through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and in
2018, Mirziyoyev visited Washington, DC, where he met
2012, Karimov said long-running water disputes between
with President Donald Trump. It was the first official visit
Uzbekistan and its neighbors could result in a regional war.
by an Uzbek President to the United States since 2002. The
In 2018, Mirziyoyev dropped objections to Tajikistan’s plan
two sides agreed to business deals potentially worth about
to build the Rogun Dam, which had been a major source of
$5 billion.
contention between the two countries.
U.S. Foreign Assistance: In FY2017, the United States
Economy
provided $18.8 million in assistance to Uzbekistan. For
Resources: Major Uzbek industries include cotton,
FY2019, the Trump Administration requested $10.6 million
uranium, gold, and natural gas. Uzbekistan is one of the few
for the country. About $7 million was for the Economic
Eurasian countries that is energy-independent and a net
Support and Development Fund, and $2.8 million was for
exporter of energy resources. However, the entire energy
USAID Global Health Programs. Smaller amounts were
sector is monopolized by the government and faces difficult
requested for Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining
tradeoffs between satisfying large domestic energy needs
and Related Programs ($540,000) and International Military
and meeting the requirements of pre-existing international
Education and Training ($300,000).
export agreements. Natural gas and electricity account for
up to 25% of total Uzbek exports. Uzbekistan is Central
Edward Y. Gracia, Research Assistant
Asia’s largest producer of electricity and a net exporter. The
Wil Mackey, Research Assistant
country generates 1.7% of the world’s natural gas
Jennifer M. Roscoe, Research Assistant
production, ranking 13th in global production behind
Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is the world’s 7th largest uranium
IF10302
supplier and is increasing production. Uzbekistan’s uranium
is exported mostly to China with significant amounts sold
to South Korea as well. The country is also the 11th largest
producer of gold.
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Uzbekistan


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10302 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED

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