Introduction
============

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.

Geography
=========

Location:
 Central Asia, north of Afghanistan 

Geographic coordinates:
 41 00 N, 64 00 E 

Area:
total: 447,400 sq km 
water: 22,000 sq km 
land: 425,400 sq km 

Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km 
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km 

People
======

Population:
 26,410,416 

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 4,583,228; female 4,418,003) 
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 7,990,233; female 8,157,136) 
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 513,434; female 748,382)

Median age:
total: 22.1 years 
male: 21.4 years 
female: 22.7 years (2004 est.) 

Government
==========

Government type:
 republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch 

Capital:
 Tashkent (Toshkent) 

Independence:
 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) 

Constitution:
 new constitution adopted 8 December 1992 

Flag description:
 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 

Economy
=======

Economy - overview:
 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, a large producer of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistan responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy. The government, while aware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, the government's control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. 

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 13.1% 

Labor force - by occupation:
 agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36%

Unemployment rate:
 0.5% plus another 20% underemployed (2003)