World Factbook
Uzbekistan
O'zbekiston Respublikasi
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by narrow red stripes with a vertical white crescent moon and 12 five-pointed white stars in the left corner of the top band meaning: blue stands for the Turkic peoples and the sky, white for peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, and green for nature and Islam; the red stripes represent the vital force of all living organisms; the crescent stands for Islam, and the 12 stars for the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar
Capital
name
Tashkent (Toshkent)
etymology
the current name of the ancient city was first used in the 11th century and comes from the Sogdian (Turkic) words tash ( stone) and kent (town); the city was first recorded in the 5th or 4th century B.C. with the name of Chach or Shash
time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
41 19 N, 69 15 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992
amendment process
proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum
Country name
former
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the name comes from the local people, the Uzbeks, whose name is said to have originated with Mongol leader Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad UZBEK; the Persian suffix - stan means "country"
local long form
O'zbekiston Respublikasi
local short form
O'zbekiston
conventional long form
Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form
Uzbekistan
Independence
1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system
note: in 2020, the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility were reformed; a constitutional referendum in 2023 included additional criminal code reforms
Government type
presidential republic; highly authoritarian
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 67 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and economic sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
subordinate courts
regional, district, city, and town courts
judge selection and term of office
judges of the highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for a single 10-year term; the court chairman and deputies appointed for 10-year terms without the right to reelection. (Article 132 of the constitution)
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
chief of state
President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016)
election results
2023: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in snap election; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 87.7%, Robaxon Maxmudova (Adolat) 4.5%, Ulugbek Inoyatov (PDP) 4%, Abdushukur Xamzayev (Ecological Party) 3.8% 2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.3%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4%
head of government
Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016)
most recent election date
9 July 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by majority party in the Supreme Assembly but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
National color(s)
blue, white, red, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Itchan Kala (c); Historic Bukhara (c); Historic Shakhrisyabz (c); Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c); Western Tien Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)
Political parties
Ecological Party of Uzbekistan or EPU Justice Social Democratic Party or ASDP People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or PDP Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party or UzLiDep Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party or UzMTDP
Legislative branch
legislature name
Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
history
adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics
lyrics/music
Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
National symbol(s)
khumo (mythical bird)
Administrative divisions
12 provinces ( viloyatlar , singular - viloyat ), 1 autonomous republic* ( avtonom respublikasi ), and 3 cities** ( shahar ); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Shahri, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Shahri [Samarkand City], Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Nurafshon], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Legislative Chamber (Qonunchilik palatasi)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/7/2024 to 11/12/2024
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
38%
parties elected and seats per party
Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) (64); Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party (O'zMTDP) (29); Social Democratic Party ("Adolat" SDP) (21); People's Democratic Party (XDP) (20); Ecological Party (O'EP) (16)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senat)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
65 (56 indirectly elected; 9 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/27/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
24.6%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 293-6804
chancery
1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 887-5300
chief of mission
Ambassador Furqat SIDIKOV (since 19 April 2023)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
info.washington@mfa.uz https://www.uzbekistan.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[998] 78-120-6335
embassy
3 Moyqorghon, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093 Tashkent
telephone
[998] 78-120-5450
mailing address
7110 Tashkent Place, Washington DC 20521-7110
chief of mission
Ambassador Jonathan HENICK (since 14 October 2022)
email address and website
ACSTashkent@state.gov https://uz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EEU (observer), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt