Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$156 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.276 (2010), 22.568 (2009),
20.936 (2008), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006)
Communications ::Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
953,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.802 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity is 135 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system
provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
mixture of privately-owned and state-run broadcast media; more than
100 commercial radio stations and about 20 television channels
broadcasting; cable TV is available; large number of community radio
and TV stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet hosts:
765,525 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 47
Internet users:
1.405 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
Transportation ::Uruguay
Airports:
58 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,641 km (1,200 km operational)
country comparison to the world: 79
standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:
total: 77,732 km
country comparison to the world: 63
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)
Waterways:
1,600 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 52
Merchant marine:
total: 18
country comparison to the world: 101
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo
7, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Argentina 2, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5)
registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Montevideo
Military ::Uruguay
Military branches:
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional
Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del
Uruguay; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de
Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime),
Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; up to 40 years of
age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the
government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum
6-year education (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 849,358
females age 16-49: 832,774 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 713,223
females age 16-49: 697,197 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,631
female: 26,703 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 95
Transnational Issues ::Uruguay
Disputes - international:
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction
of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with
Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has
the legal right to stop such construction with potential
environmental implications to both countries; two uncontested
boundary disputes with Brazil over Isla Brasilera at the tripoint
with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Uruguay
rivers, and, in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region,
over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the
Quarai/Cuareim River
Illicit drugs:
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often
through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money
laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border
control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine
base and synthetic drugs
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Uzbekistan
Background:
Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late
19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Boshevik
Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic
established 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 ::Uzbekistan
Location:
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 56
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
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
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern
portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims:
none (doubly landlocked)
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid
grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat
intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr
Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded
by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead
and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 88.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
72.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%)
per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of
chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then
blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to
desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the
heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human
health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination
from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including
DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked
countries in the world
People ::Uzbekistan
Population:
27,865,738 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 3,970,386/female 3,787,371)
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,191,439/female 9,309,791)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 576,191/female 770,829) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.938% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Birth rate:
17.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Death rate:
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Net migration rate:
-2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 91
male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.24 years
country comparison to the world: 124
male: 69.22 years
female: 75.44 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups:
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar
1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
9.4% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 7
Government ::Uzbekistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside
the executive branch
Capital:
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous
republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati,
Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan
Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),
Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus),
Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo
Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent
Viloyati [Tashkent province], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet; elected
president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2
January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term,
extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held on
23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister,
ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom
T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house
or Senate (100 seats; 84 members elected by regional governing
councils and 16 appointed by the president; members to serve
five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (150
seats; 135 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms,
while 15 spots reserved for the new Ecological Movement of
Uzbekistan)
elections: last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next
to be held in December 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - LDPU 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat
19
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed
by the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Ismoil SAIFNAZAROV];
Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan [Boriy ALIXONOV, chairman];
Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Muhammadjon
AHMADJONOV]; National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) [Ahtam
TURSUNOV]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist
Party) [Latif GULOMOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
there are no significant opposition political parties or pressure
groups operating in Uzbekistan
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ilxamdjan NEMATOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent
100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon (closed
side to the hoist) and 12 white stars shifted to the hoist on the
top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky,
white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and
deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the
red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links
good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth;
the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and
constellations of the Uzbek calendar
National anthem:
name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National
Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
note: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan
kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but
adopted new lyrics
Economy ::Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; 11% of the land is
intensely cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of
the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export
of hydrocarbons, including natural gas and petroleum, provided about
40% of foreign exchange earnings in 2009. Other major export earners
include gold and cotton. Uzbekistan is now the world's
second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it has
come under increasing international criticism for the use of child
labor in its annual cotton harvest. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan enjoyed
a bumper cotton crop in 2010 amidst record high prices. 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, as well as
increased cooperation with South Korea in the realm of civil
aviation, may boost growth prospects. However, decreased demand for
natural gas in Europe and Russia in the wake of the global financial
crisis could reduce energy-related revenues in the near term. 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 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic
Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both
organizations dominated by Russia. In the past Uzbek authorities had
accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of
violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets, but no new
expropriations occurred in 2008-09. Instead, the Uzbek Government
has actively courted several major U.S. and international
corporations, offering attractive financing and tax advantages, and
has landed a significant US investment in the automotive industry.
Although growth slowed in 2009-10, Uzbekistan has seen few other
effects from the global economic downturn, primarily due to its
relative isolation from the global financial markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$86.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$79.55 billion (2009 est.)
$73.59 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$37.72 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
8.1% (2009 est.)
9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$2,900 (2009 est.)
$2,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 32.3%
services: 46.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
16 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
1.1% (2009 est.)
note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20%
underemployed
Population below poverty line:
26% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 80
44.7 (1998)
Public debt:
9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
9.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
14.1% (2009 est.)
note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer
prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008
Stock of narrow money:
$4.895 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 90
$3.829 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$7.197 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$5.648 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$6.482 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$5.484 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$715.3 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold,
petroleum, natural gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - production:
44.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - consumption:
40.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - exports:
11.52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.44 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
70,910 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - consumption:
145,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - exports:
6,104 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - imports:
35,810 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - proved reserves:
594 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - production:
67.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - consumption:
52.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - exports:
15 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Current account balance:
$5.588 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$3.595 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$13.13 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$10.74 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 29.91%, Russia 13.94%, Turkey 7.53%, Kazakhstan 7.26%,
Bangladesh 6.83%, China 5.69%, South Korea 4.19% (2009)
Imports:
$9.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$9.023 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 23.72%, China 20.36%, South Korea 13.03%, Germany 6.09%,
Ukraine 5.39%, Kazakhstan 4.68% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.236 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.053 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,588.1 (2010), 1,466.7
(2009), 1,317 (2008), 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006)
Communications ::Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.857 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.418 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital exchanges in large cities but still
antiquated and inadequate in rural areas