Uzbekistan

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The first recorded settlers in Uzbekistan were Eastern Iranian nomads, known as Scythians, who founded kingdoms in Khwarazm, Sogdiana, and Bactria in the 8th–6th centuries BC, as well as in Fergana and Margiana in the 3rd century BC – 6th century AD. The area was incorporated into the Achaemenid Empire and, after a period of Greco-Bactrian rule, was part of the Sasanian Empire until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century. The early Muslim conquests and the subsequent Samanid Empire resulted in the spread of Islam among the local people.

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Etymology

The name Uzbegistán appears in the 16th century Tarikh-i Rashidi.

The origin of the word Uzbek remains disputed.

"free", "independent" or "own master/leader", requiring an amalgamation of uz (Turkic: "own"), beg ("master" or "leader")

eponymously named after Oghuz Khagan, also known as Oghuz Beg

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History

The region has been referred to by many names over the millennia. The name Uzbekistan first appears in 16th century literature. Other names for the region include Transoxiana, Turkestan, and Bukhara. In the 14th century the region served as the birthplace, home, and capital of Tamerlane. Under Tamerlane, the region was a part of the Timurid Empire which extended from the Black Sea to the Arabian Sea, and as far as Delhi in India.

Central Asia was shaped by multiple Indo-European migrations.

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Geography

Uzbekistan has an area of 448,978 square kilometres (173,351 sq mi). It is the 56th largest country in the world by area and the 40th by population. Among the CIS countries, it is the fourth largest by area and the second largest by population.

Uzbekistan lies between latitudes 37° and 46° N, and longitudes 56° and 74° E. It stretches 1,425 kilometres (885 mi) from west to east and 930 kilometres (580 mi) from north to south.

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Government and politics

After Uzbekistan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, an election was held, and Islam Karimov was elected as the first President of Uzbekistan on 29 December 1991. The elections of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament or Supreme Assembly) were held under a resolution adopted by the 16th Supreme Soviet in 1994. In that year, the Supreme Soviet was replaced by the Oliy Majlis. The third elections for the bicameral 150-member Oliy Majlis, the Legislative Chamber, and the 100-member Senate for five-year terms, were held on 27 December 2009.

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Economy

Uzbekistan mines 80 tonnes of gold annually, ranking seventh in the world. In 2015, the country's gold production was 102 metric tonnes. Uzbekistan's copper deposits rank tenth in the world, and its uranium deposits twelfth. The country's uranium production ranks seventh globally. The Uzbek national gas company, Uzbekneftegaz, ranks 11th in the world in natural gas production, with an annual output of 60 to 70 billion cubic metres (2.1–2.5 trillion cubic feet). The country has significant untapped reserves of oil and gas: there are 194 hydrocarbon deposits in Uzbekistan, including 98 condensate and natural gas deposits and 96 gas condensate deposits.

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Demographics

As of 2026, Uzbekistan has the largest population of countries in Central Asia. Its 39 million citizens comprise nearly half the region's total population. The population of Uzbekistan is very young though it is slowly aging. 30.4% of its people are younger than age of 15. Uzbeks are a majority (89.4%) of the population. Other ethnic groups include Tajiks 3.3%, Kazakhs 1.8%, Karakalpaks 2.2%, Russians 1.6% and Turkmens 0.5% as of 2026 census. In addition, 91.3% of respondents identified Uzbek as their native language in the same census.

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Culture

Uzbekistan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Uzbek being the majority group. In 1995 about 71% of Uzbekistan's population was Uzbek. The chief minority groups were Russians (8%), Tajiks (3–4.7%), Kazakhs (4%), Tatars (2.5%) and Karakalpaks (2%). It is said, however, that non-Uzbeks decline as Russians and other minority groups slowly leave and Uzbeks return from other parts of the former Soviet Union.

When Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, there was concern that Muslim fundamentalism would spread across the region.

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