With around 33.46 million (2020, estimated) residents, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia. In terms of area (448,900 km²) it is roughly the size of Sweden. Besides Liechtenstein, the country is the only double landlocked country in the world, which is a natural obstacle to successful economic development.
Country overview
According to internetsailors, Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia between the Syr-Darya and Amu-Darya, the largest rivers in this area. It has no access to the sea and is 2900 km from the nearest sea port. Three quarters of the country consist of steppes and deserts.
History & State
Today’s Uzbekistan is located in the area that has a millennia-old history with ancient state traditions. In its current form, it only emerged as a Soviet republic in the 1920’s.
Economy & Development
Overall, Uzbekistan’s economic system is still largely state-run and the private sector can only develop slowly due to a lack of legal certainty and reforms. The government intervenes in economic processes with often arbitrary exemptions and special regulations.
Society & culture
The meeting with a Uzbek always quickly includes the acquaintance of his family. Having no family seems either unthinkable or a particular calamity. The family is a socially respected asset in Uzbek society.
Everyday & Practical Information
Exotic dream job or gray everyday life? Working as a specialist in Tasсhkent requires saying goodbye to German ways of thinking and to the conveniences that have become so natural in Europe.
Official name: Republic of Uzbekistan / Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi
Area: 448,900 km²
Residents: 33.46 million (2020, estimated, UN)
Growth of population: 1.4% per year (2020, estimated)
Seat of government: Tashkent
Official language: Uzbek
Regional languages: Tajik, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Kyrgyz.
Independence Day: September 1, 1991
Head of state: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (elected on December 4, 2016)
Head of government: Abdulla Aripov since December 14, 2016
Political system: Presidential autocracy
Status Index (BTI 2020): Rank 105 (of 137)
Corruption Index (CPI 2019): Rank 153 (out of 180)
Estimated GDP: 59.77 billion US- $ (2020)
Per capita income (purchasing power parity): US $ 1,762.86 (2020)
Human Development Rank (HDI): 108 (out of 189) or 0.71 (2020)
Proportion of poverty (national poverty line): 12-15% (2020)
Distribution of income (Gini coefficient): 35.3 (2018)
Economic Transformation Index (BTI): Rank 98 (of 137) (2020)
Development and development policy
German development cooperation with Uzbekistan: Due to its large population and its central location, Uzbekistan is a strategic partner for peaceful development in all of Central Asia, including Afghanistan.
Priority areas of German development cooperation: In government negotiations in May 2019, the German government of Uzbekistan has agreed for the years 2019 and 2020 a total of 123.8 million euros for the financial and technical cooperation. The health sector was confirmed as the main focus of German development cooperation. One of the two priorities – sustainable economic development – was ended. In support of this, the BMZ writes: “Good governance and respect for human rights form the normative basis of German development cooperation and also determine the type and scope of development cooperation. Therefore and in view of this The economic progress achieved (which one ?! – Editor), it was agreed in 2015 to end the previous second priority program “Sustainable Economic Development”. ”
Uzbekistan is also included in regional programs that are intended to better network German engagement in the Central Asian states, enable the exchange of experience and strengthen cooperation between the Central Asian states. One focus is the program to implement legal and judicial reforms in Central Asia. There are other regional programs in the areas of sustainable economic development, health, education and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Uzbekistan will receive a total of EUR 12.3 million in development aid in 2017-18 and is listed as a “strategically important country for German development cooperation”. At the same time, the BMZ describes Uzbekistan as “one of the most authoritarian regimes in the CIS area”.
International development cooperation: Alongside other international donors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Germany also started development cooperation with Uzbekistan in 1992. This cooperation is also supported by cooperation with the EU
Millennium Development Goals in Uzbekistan: The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires joint action by the international community as well as national political projects and measures. In other words, without massive international pressure, the Uzbek government will not be willing to really implement the MDGs.
