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Uzbekistan

Asia · 35 million

About Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Central Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Tashkent, and the country is home to approximately 37.9 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as “Узбекистан”, “O‘zbekiston”. Russian and Uzbek are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Uzbekistan. The official currency in circulation is the Uzbekistani soʻm (so'm), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Uzbekistan is widely recognised for the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, blue-tiled mosques and plov rice. People from Uzbekistan are referred to as Uzbekistani.

Geography & climate

Uzbekistan covers approximately 447,400 km² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 5 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Uzbekistan sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 41.0° N, 64.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+05:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Uzbekistan can be summarised as: central asian desert & oases with hot summers, cold winters. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 37.9 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan is a country of significant population size. Linguistic life is plural here: Russian and Uzbek are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Locals refer to their homeland as “Узбекистан” or “O‘zbekiston”, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Uzbekistani, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Uzbekistani soʻm (so'm) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Uzbekistan should familiarise themselves with the capital, Tashkent, the local time zone (UTC+05:00), the local currency (Uzbekistani soʻm). The international dialling prefix is +998, which is required when phoning a Uzbekistan number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .uz, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Uzbekistan is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Uzbekistan is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Central Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Bordering countries

Uzbekistan shares land borders with 5 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world (alongside Liechtenstein) — and Samarkand has stood at the heart of the Silk Road for over 2,500 years.

Uzbekistan in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Uzbekistan appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Uzbekistan carries the personality tags “🕌 Samarkand Tiles” and “🐪 Silk Road Heart”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Uzbekistan to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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