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.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 27,780,059 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.4% (male 4,587,338/female 4,416,014) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 8,636,226/female 8,817,633) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 543,417/female 779,431) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 22.9 years male: 22.3 years female: 23.5 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.732% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 26.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.979 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.697 male(s)/female total population: 0.982 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 68.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 73.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 64.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.98 years male: 61.57 years female: 68.56 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.88 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 11,000 (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

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Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

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Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

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Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

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Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.3% male: 99.6% female: 99% (2003 est.)

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. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), both organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets. US firms have not made major investments in Uzbekistan in the last 5 years.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $55.75 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $10.83 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 7.3% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,000 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.1% industry: 25.7% services: 43.2% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 14.44 million (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44% industry: 20% services: 36% (1995)

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Unemployment rate: 3% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed (2006)

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Population below poverty line: 33% (2004 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 22% (2000)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 26.8 (2000)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6% officially, but 38% based on analysis of consumer prices (2006)

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Budget: revenues: $4.08 billion expenditures: $4.24 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY07 est.)

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Public debt: 29.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

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Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

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Industrial production growth rate: 10.8% (2006 est.)

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Electricity - production: 49 billion kWh (2006 est.)

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Electricity - consumption: 47 billion kWh (2006 est.)

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Electricity - exports: 6.8 billion kWh (2006)

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Electricity - imports: 10.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

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Oil - production: 142,000 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - consumption: 148,000 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA

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Oil - proved reserves: 594 million bbl (1 January 2005)

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Natural gas - production: 62.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 48.4 billion cu m (2006 est.)

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Natural gas - exports: 12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

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Natural gas - imports: NA

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Current account balance: $1.41 billion (2006 est.)

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Exports: $5.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles

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Exports - partners: Russia 23.9%, Poland 11.8%, China 10.5%, Turkey 7.5%, Kazakhstan 6%, Ukraine 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.4% (2006)

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Imports: $3.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals

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Imports - partners: Russia 27.8%, South Korea 15.6%, China 10.4%, Kazakhstan 7.3%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 4.8%, Turkey 4.5% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.986 billion (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $4.713 billion (2006 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: $91.6 million from the US (2005)

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Currency (code): Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

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Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003), 423.832 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year