|
Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia and is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by Kazakhstan to the northwest, north and northeast, Kyrgyzstan to the east, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south and Turkmenistan to the south and west. 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.
Area: 447,400 sq km
Population: 27,307,134
Capital: Tashkent
People: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5%
Language: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Religion: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Government: Multiparty Republic
GDP: US$54.81 billion
Major Industries: Agriculture, chemicals, fertilizers, machinery, mining, oil refining, silk, steel milling, and textiles.
Major Trading Partners: Its main trading partner is the CIS.
|
