Uzbekistan (Republic of Uzbekistan)

https://www.humantruth.info/uzbekistan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Uzbekistan Republic of Uzbekistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	124th best
Capital	Tashkent
Land Area	425 400km²₁
Location	Asia
Population	32.5m₂
Life Expectancy	70.86yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$7 917 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	UZ, UZB, 860₅
Internet Domain	.uz₆
Currency	Som (UZS)₇
Telephone	+998₈

1. Overview

“Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik 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 degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves and increasing its manufacturing base. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A Silk Road destination of the highest order, Uzbekistan is a centre of culture, trade and architecture that has drawn travellers for centuries. Central Asia´s cradle of culture for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan is proudly home to a spellbinding arsenal of architecture and ancient cities, all infused with the bloody, fascinating history of the Silk Road. Any romantic who has daydreamed of travelling the Golden Road to Samarkand or the desert tracks to Bukhara will have their sights firmly set on Uzbekistan.
As the cultural and historic heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is home to Islamic architecture of floating turquoise domes and towering minarets that rank among the region´s greatest sights. And amid these treasures everyday life goes on: in the foreground bearded old men with stripy cloaks haggle over melons in the bazaar or savour a pot of green tea beside a kebab stand.
Despite being a harshly governed police state, Uzbekistan remains an extremely friendly country where hospitality remains an essential element of daily life.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Uzbekistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
98=	Tunisia	0.731
99=	Fiji	0.730
99=	Suriname	0.730
101	Uzbekistan	0.727
102=	Dominica	0.720
102=	Jordan	0.720
104	Libya	0.718
105	Paraguay	0.717
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
117	Namibia	$8 634
118	El Salvador	$8 296
119	Bolivia	$8 111
120	Uzbekistan	$7 917
121	Cuba	$7 879
122	Vietnam	$7 867
123	Laos	$7 700
124	Swaziland	$7 679
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
121	Algeria	97.7
122	Belize	98.3
123	Azerbaijan	98.5
124	Uzbekistan	98.5
125	Guyana	98.6
126	Egypt	99.9
127	Nepal	100.1
128	Iran	101.4
	Asia Avg	92.4
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Uzbekistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Uzbekistan's population is predicted to rise to 33.37 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.31. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
39	Canada	37.1m
40	Morocco	36.0m
41	Saudi Arabia	33.7m
42	Uzbekistan	32.5m
43	Peru	32.0m
44	Malaysia	31.5m
45	Angola	30.8m
46	Ghana	29.8m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
104	St Lucia	71.1
105	Tonga	71.0
106	Mongolia	71.0
107	Uzbekistan	70.9
108	El Salvador	70.7
109	Micronesia	70.7
110	Venezuela	70.6
111	Jamaica	70.5
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
158	Kiribati	3.27
159	Kenya	3.30
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
80=	Turkmenistan	11.0
80=	Maldives	11.0
82	Mongolia	11.8
83=	Uzbekistan	11.9
83=	Tonga	11.9
85	Kyrgyzstan	12.1
86	Indonesia	12.4
87=	Myanmar	12.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
96	Burkina Faso	3.7%
97	Trinidad & Tobago	3.7%
98	Togo	3.6%
99	Uzbekistan	3.6%
100	Rwanda	3.6%
101	Moldova	3.5%
102	Slovakia	3.4%
103	Turkmenistan	3.4%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
84	UK	7.5%
85	Honduras	7.5%
86	Austria	7.1%
87	Uzbekistan	7.0%
88	Bolivia	6.8%
89	Guinea-Bissau	6.8%
90	Slovenia	6.5%
91	Kiribati	6.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #uzbekistan #uzbekistan_gender #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
154	Togo	120.5
155	Belarus	121.5
156	Azerbaijan	123.2
157	Uzbekistan	123.5
158	Antigua & Barbuda	123.5
159	Maldives	123.5
	Asia Avg	109.13
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Uzbekistan is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Uzbekistan does better than average in terms of opposing gender inequality₂₀. But unfortunately Uzbekistan gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₁, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, combatting modern slavery₂₄, freethought₂₅, supporting press freedom₂₆, its average Freedom in the World rating and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₇. Since the death of President Islam Karimov, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev "has taken some steps to improve the country´s abysmal human rights record, such as releasing some political prisoners, relaxing certain restrictions on free expression, removing citizens from the security services´ notorious “black list,” and increasing accountability of government institutions to the citizenry", instigating a cautious "sense of hope" amongst some₂₈, that Uzbekistan may start to climb out of its abusive human rights abyss. For the first time in 7 years, a Human Rights Watch delegation was permitted to visit in 2017₂₈.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Uzbekistan

5. Uzbekistan's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
24	Turkmenistan	90.2
25	Kazakhstan	90.8
26	Lebanon	92.1
27	Uzbekistan	92.2
28	Turkey	94.2
29	Georgia	94.8
30	Bhutan	96.9
31	Palestine	97.8
32	Azerbaijan	101.6
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
94	Panama	92.1
95	Lebanon	92.1
96	Trinidad & Tobago	92.2
97	Uzbekistan	92.2
98	French Polynesia	93.1
99	Turkey	94.2
100	Fiji	94.4
101	Georgia	94.8
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #uzbekistan #vaccines

Uzbekistan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Uzbekistan comes in the best 20 in terms of delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₁ (amongst the highest in Asia). It does better than average in terms of its alcohol consumption rate₃₂, its adolescent birth rate₃₃, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₄, its smoking rate₃₅ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₆. Uzbekistan doesn't do so well in other areas. Uzbekistan does worse than average when it comes to its average life expectancy₁₁, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇, its suicide rate₃₈ and in its fertility rate₁₅. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Uzbekistan improved by +6yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Uzbekistan is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 6.88 in 1962.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
104	St Lucia	71.1
105	Tonga	71.0
106	Mongolia	71.0
107	Uzbekistan	70.9
108	El Salvador	70.7
109	Micronesia	70.7
110	Venezuela	70.6
111	Jamaica	70.5
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₂
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
49=	Micronesia	2.5
49=	Guatemala	2.5
51	Congo, DR	2.6
52=	Uzbekistan	2.7
52=	Ghana	2.7
52=	Maldives	2.7
55	Ethiopia	2.9
56=	Fiji	3.0
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
158	Kiribati	3.27
159	Kenya	3.30
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₅
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
67	Singapore	16.3%
68	Brunei	16.4%
69	N. Korea	16.6%
70	Uzbekistan	16.8%
71	Comoros	17.3%
72	Cambodia	17.3%
73	Palau	17.4%
74	Cuba	17.5%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₈
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
130=	Romania	11.27
130=	Luxembourg	11.27
132	Slovakia	11.30
133	Uzbekistan	11.41
134	Denmark	11.66
135	Norway	12.03
136	New Zealand	12.10
137	Trinidad & Tobago	12.23
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		1976 %₃₆
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
81	Grenada	26.2
82	Papua New Guinea	26.3
83	Tajikistan	26.4
84	Uzbekistan	27.1
85	St Kitts & Nevis	27.2
86=	Dominican Rep.	27.3
86=	Oman	27.3
86=	Kyrgyzstan	27.3
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 %₃₉
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
121	Russia	28.0%
122	Greenland	28.2%
123	Tunisia	28.3%
124	Uzbekistan	28.5%
125	Honduras	28.5%
126	UK	28.7%
127	Brazil	28.8%
128	Suriname	29.0%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₃
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
61	Ukraine	15.2
62	Sri Lanka	15.4
63	Turkey	15.7
64	Uzbekistan	15.7
65	Macedonia	16.1
66	India	16.3
67	Armenia	18.3
68	Bhutan	18.5
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₄
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₄
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
62=	Sweden	96.5
62=	Mongolia	96.5
64	St Vincent & Grenadines	96.4
65=	Uzbekistan	96.3
65=	Tuvalu	96.3
67	Qatar	96.1
68	Aruba	96.0
69	Eritrea	96.0
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₁
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₁
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
6	Czechia	98.7
7	Seychelles	98.6
8	S. Korea	98.6
9	Sri Lanka	98.4
10	St Lucia	98.2
11	Bahrain	98.2
12	Iran	98.1
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
107	Suriname	20.80
108	Honduras	20.99
109	Palau	21.33
110	Uzbekistan	21.50
111	Vietnam	22.10
112	Fiji	22.11
113	N. Korea	22.55
114	Paraguay	22.61
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Uzbekistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #uzbekistan #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
50	Turkmenistan	134.1
51	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
176	Micronesia	114.6
177	Bhutan	115.3
178	Belarus	116.0
179	Uzbekistan	116.1
180	Cook Islands	119.6
181	Libya	121.4
182	Zimbabwe	121.5
183	Solomon Islands	121.6
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Uzbekistan ranks 21st-worst in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This is calculated from 21 data sets. Uzbekistan comes in the best 20 for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂. It does better than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₃. Uzbekistan does not succeed in everything, however. Uzbekistan does worse than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency₄₄ and in its environmental performance₄₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆ (one of the lowest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		Total₄₂
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
7	Malta	31.4%
8	Cuba	31.0%
9	Kuwait	28.9%
10	Uzbekistan	23.3%
11	Algeria	23.1%
12	China	23.0%
13	Vietnam	23.0%
14	Ireland	22.8%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2010, Uzbekistan restored its forest cover by 13%, from 2961 thousand hectares to 3350 thousand. By 2020, it added a further 10%, setting an important example for the rest of the world.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		2018₄₅
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
133	Indonesia	46.9
134	Guinea	46.6
135	Mozambique	46.4
136	Uzbekistan	45.9
137	Chad	45.3
138	Myanmar	45.3
139	Ivory Coast	45.3
140	Gabon	45.1
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₄
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
120	Qatar	1.46
121	Belgium	1.49
122	Panama	1.49
123	Uzbekistan	1.52
124	Malaysia	1.53
125	Vietnam	1.55
126	Estonia	1.56
127	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.60
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

From the 2000s to the 2010s, Uzbekistan was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
35	Portugal	69%
36	Costa Rica	69%
37	Mexico	69%
38	Uzbekistan	69%
39	India	69%
40	Paraguay	69%
41	Ghana	68%
42	Luxembourg	68%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Uzbekistan was one of the early adopters of the Kyoto Protocol in 1999.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
138	Denmark	14.9%
139	Libya	14.6%
140	Iceland	13.1%
141	Uzbekistan	11.3%
142	Tajikistan	11.1%
143	Haiti	10.0%
144	Albania	9.4%
145	Turkmenistan	8.6%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2021 kg₄₃
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
75	Kyrgyzstan	39.0
76	Macedonia	41.0
77	Guatemala	42.1
78	Uzbekistan	42.3
79	Turkey	43.0
80	Vanuatu	43.4
81	El Salvador	43.9
82	Fiji	44.4
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Uzbekistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
14	Kyrgyzstan	65.5
15	Armenia	65.6
16	Thailand	68.4
17	Uzbekistan	68.5
18	China	69.3
19	Lebanon	69.8
20	UAE	71.4
21	Vietnam	74.8
22	Bahrain	77.9
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
74=	Dominican Rep.	68.3
74=	Bolivia	68.3
76	Thailand	68.4
77	Uzbekistan	68.5
78	Tunisia	68.7
79	Venezuela	68.8
80	Mauritius	69.1
81	China	69.3
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₄₈. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2025 %₅₁
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
37=	Vietnam	95
37=	Venezuela	95
37=	Cyprus	95
37=	Uzbekistan	95
37=	Uruguay	95
37=	Croatia	95
37=	Guatemala	95
37=	Dominican Rep.	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1922, as part of the USSR. Progression:

1960 (90%): USSR metric standards in official sectors.
1970 (95%): Further standardization.
1980 (95%): High completeness.
2000 (95%): Post-independence continuity.
2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better₅₂
Pos.		2018 %₅₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
30=	Slovakia	23
30=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
33=	Uzbekistan	29
33=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₅₃
Pos.		2006₅₃
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
66=	Azerbaijan	87
66=	Indonesia	87
66=	Turkmenistan	87
66=	Uzbekistan	87
70=	Kuwait	86
70=	Philippines	86
72=	Yemen	85
72=	Trinidad & Tobago	85
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #uzbekistan

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Uzbekistan fell by over half a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased.₅₄

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₅
Pos.		2018₅₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
1=	Canada	100.0%
1=	Finland	100.0%
1=	Iceland	100.0%
7	Uzbekistan	99.9%
8	Czechia	99.8%
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2021 Years₅₆
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
125	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	12.6
126	Cape Verde	12.6
127	Guyana	12.5
128	Uzbekistan	12.5
129	Bangladesh	12.4
130	Samoa	12.4
131	Congo, (Brazzaville)	12.3
132	San Marino	12.3
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #politics #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
79	Dominica	81%
80	Italy	81%
81	China	80%
82	Uzbekistan	80%
83	Kyrgyzstan	80%
84	Ukraine	80%
85	Bosnia & Herzegovina	79%
86	Albania	79%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₅₇
Pos.		2012₅₇
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
40	Vietnam	73
41=	Ethiopia	75
41=	Myanmar	75
43	Uzbekistan	77
44	Syria	83
45	China	85
46	Cuba	86
47	Iran	90
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better₅₈
Pos.		2013₅₈
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
26	Qatar	0.65
27	Chile	0.66
28	Guinea-Bissau	0.67
29	Uzbekistan	0.69
30	Moldova	0.71
31	Zambia	0.76
32	Kenya	0.77
33	Cameroon	0.77
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₅₉
Pos.		2017 Ratio₅₉
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
98=	Armenia	0.0
98=	Cape Verde	0.0
98=	Nigeria	0.0
98=	Uzbekistan	0.0
98=	Colombia	0.0
98=	Ghana	0.0
98=	Yemen	0.0
98=	Laos	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Uzbekistan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Singapore	18.1
2	Hong Kong	36.9
3	Japan	38.5
	...
30	Sri Lanka	89.0
31	Kyrgyzstan	89.5
32	Saudi Arabia	91.3
33	Uzbekistan	93.8
34	India	94.9
35	Tajikistan	98.5
36	Azerbaijan	99.4
37	Nepal	100.2
38	Palestine	100.9
	Asia Avg	84.83
q=51.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
117	Egypt	92.2
118	Honduras	92.3
119	Senegal	92.4
120	Uzbekistan	93.8
121	Namibia	94.0
122	Algeria	94.4
123	India	94.9
124	Solomon Islands	95.9
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics #uzbekistan

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2022 %₆₁
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
70=	Burkina Faso	39.0
70=	Tajikistan	39.0
70=	Peru	39.0
73=	Uzbekistan	38.0
73=	Chile	38.0
73=	Mali	38.0
76=	Switzerland	37.0
76=	Finland	37.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2022 Points₆₂
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
123=	Kenya	32.0
123=	Dominican Rep.	32.0
123=	Niger	32.0
126=	Uzbekistan	31.0
126=	Laos	31.0
126=	Mexico	31.0
126=	Bolivia	31.0
130=	Egypt	30.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

After several years of worsening corruption, in 2007, Uzbekistan became the 5th-worst country in terms of perceived corruption.

Happiness Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2024 Score₆₃
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
50	Slovakia	6.2
51	Latvia	6.2
52	Oman	6.2
53	Uzbekistan	6.2
54	Paraguay	6.2
55	Japan	6.1
56	Bosnia & Herzegovina	6.1
57	Philippines	6.1
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₄
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
139	Mozambique	62.3
140	Rwanda	62.2
141	Sao Tome & Principe	60.5
142	Uzbekistan	59.0
143=	Burkina Faso	58.8
143=	India	58.8
143=	Mauritania	58.8
146	Tajikistan	58.5
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₅
Pos.		2023 Score₆₅
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
83	Dominican Rep.	2.02
84=	Morocco	2.02
84=	Angola	2.02
86	Uzbekistan	2.03
87	Guinea-Bissau	2.05
88=	Bangladesh	2.05
88=	Rwanda	2.05
90	Ivory Coast	2.05
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₆
Pos.		2019 Score₆₆
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
13	El Salvador	0.00
14	Bhutan	0.01
15=	Trinidad & Tobago	0.02
15=	Uzbekistan	0.02
17=	Qatar	0.03
17=	Iceland	0.03
19=	Panama	0.04
19=	Guyana	0.04
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₆₇
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %₆₇
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
64	Bolivia	3.35%
65	Panama	3.39%
66	Iran	3.41%
67	Uzbekistan	3.89%
68	Brazil	4.73%
69	El Salvador	4.99%
70	India	5.25%
71	Kyrgyzstan	5.58%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2019₆₈
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
105=	Mongolia	13.10
106	Honduras	13.30
107	Paraguay	13.80
108=	Uzbekistan	13.90
108=	Indonesia	13.90
108=	Azerbaijan	13.90
111	Algeria	14.10
112	Vanuatu	14.40
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2023 %₆₉
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₀
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₀
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₁
	...
36=	Fiji	30.7%₇₂
36=	Myanmar	30.7%₇₃
36=	Austria	30.7%₇₀
39	Uzbekistan	31.2%₇₄
40	Cyprus	31.3%₇₀
41=	Mongolia	31.4%₇₄
41=	Malta	31.4%₇₁
43	France	31.5%₇₀
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Uzbekistan - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_uzbekistan #religiosity #secularisation #uzbekistan

Religiosity (2018)₅₂
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
30=	Slovakia	23
30=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
33=	Uzbekistan	29
33=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
41=	Croatia	42
41=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₇₅
Pos.		Higher is better %₇₅
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
58=	Romania	4
58=	Argentina	4
58=	Georgia	4
58=	Uzbekistan	4
62=	Lebanon	3
62=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	3
62=	Poland	3
62=	Jamaica	3
62=	India	3
67=	Angola	2
67=	Chile	2
67=	Central African Rep.	2
67=	Tajikistan	2
67=	Turkmenistan	2
67=	Indonesia	2
73=	Paraguay	1
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₆:

	2010	2020
Muslim	95.8%	95.6%
Christian	3.36%	2.78%
Other	<0.1%	1%
Unaffiliated	0.604%	0.552%
Hindu	0.201%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 99.4% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 29% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%₇₇.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: "Uzbekistan maintains some of the world´s most restrictive policies on the exercise of worship or belief"₂₈ and sociologists Grim & Finke place Uzbekistan into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries₇₈. It is dangerous for religious folk to congregate even in private; in 2017 April for example, "four Protestant men were sentenced to short prison terms on charges of meeting for worship in ahome"

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