Demographic features of the population of Uzbekistan include population growth, population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. The nationality of a person from Uzbekistan is Uzbekistani while the ethnic Uzbek majority call themselves Uzbeks. Much of the data is estimated because the last census was carried out in Soviet times in 1989. Uzbekistan conducted its first census since its independence in February 2026.
Overview
Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country. Its 39 million people (as of January 2026) comprise nearly half the region's total population.
The population of Uzbekistan is very young: 30.1% of its people are younger than 14. According to official sources, Uzbeks comprise a majority (84.4%) of the total population. Other ethnic groups, as of 1996 estimates, include Russians (2.1% of the population), Tajiks (4.8%), Kazakhs (3%), Karakalpaks (2.5%), and Tatars (1.5%). Uzbekistan has an ethnic Korean population that was forcibly relocated to the region from the Soviet Far East in 1937–1938. There are also small groups of Armenians in Uzbekistan, mostly in Tashkent and Samarkand. The nation is 94% Muslim (mostly Sunni), 3% Eastern Orthodox and 3% other faiths (which include small communities of Korean Christians, other Christian denominations, Buddhists, Baha'is, and more). The Bukharan Jews have lived in Central Asia, mostly in Uzbekistan, for thousands of years. There were 94,900 Jews in Uzbekistan in 1989 (about 0.5% of the population according to the 1989 census), but now, since the collapse of the USSR, most Central Asian Jews left the region for the United States or Israel. More than 5,000 Jews remain in Uzbekistan.
Much of Uzbekistan's population was engaged in cotton farming in large-scale collective farms when the country was part of the Soviet Union. The population continues to be heavily rural and dependent on farming for its livelihood, although the farm structure in Uzbekistan has largely shifted from collective to individual since 1990.
Vital statistics UN estimates PeriodBirths per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1 1990–1995 32.7 7.5 25.2 3.95 1995–2000 25.6 6.9 18.7 3.10 2000–2005 21.3 6.4 14.9 2.51 2005–2010 22.4 6.2 16.2 2.49 2010–2015 22.9 6.2 16.7 2.43 2015–2020 21.8 5.8 16.0 2.43 2020–2025 18.6 5.9 12.7 2.31 2025–2030 16.4 6.3 10.1 2.21 2030–2035 15.7 6.9 8.8 2.12 2035–2040 15.6 7.6 8.0 2.05 Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs website > World Population Prospects: The 2019 revision.
Registered birth and deaths
Average population (Dec. 31)Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration rate (per 1000)TFR 1950 6,314,000 192,188 54,612 137,576 30.4 8.6 21.8 1951 6,511,000 207,302 49,275 158,027 31.8 7.6 24.3 6.9 1952 6,704,000 223,452 55,068 168,384 33.3 8.2 25.1 4.5 1953 6,909,000 219,832 60,855 158,977 31.8 8.8 23.0 7.6 1954 7,085,000 237,470 58,345 179,125 33.5 8.2 25.3 0.2 1955 7,256,000 248,545 59,370 189,175 34.3 8.2 26.1 -2.0 1956 7,466,000 267,187 46,210 220,977 35.8 6.2 29.6 -0.7 1957 7,720,000 276,668 47,568 229,100 35.8 6.2 29.7 4.3 1958 7,979,000 300,646 48,433 252,213 37.7 6.1 31.6 1.9 1959 8,252,000 305,082 50,254 254,828 37.0 6.1 30.9 3.3 1960 8,558,000 340,618 51,758 288,860 39.8 6.0 33.8 3.3 1961 8,895,000 339,952 53,591 286,361 38.2 6.0 32.2 7.2 1962 9,237,000 341,352 56,178 285,174 37.0 6.1 30.9 7.5 1963 9,574,000 342,659 54,502 288,157 35.8 5.7 30.1 6.4 1964 9,905,000 346,847 53,315 293,532 35.0 5.4 29.6 5.0 1965 10,233,000 355,135 60,056 295,079 34.7 5.9 28.8 4.3 1966 10,557,000 360,336 60,115 300,221 34.1 5.7 28.4 3.3 1967 10,886,000 359,623 64,627 294,996 33.0 5.9 27.1 4.1 1968 11,259,000 385,687 64,762 320,925 34.3 5.8 28.5 5.8 1969 11,625,000 380,729 69,147 311,582 32.8 6.0 26.8 5.7 1970 11,973,000 401,613 66,189 335,424 33.6 5.5 28.1 1.8 1971 12,354,000 425,646 67,162 358,484 34.4 5.4 29.0 2.8 1972 12,756,000 421,458 77,942 343,516 33.0 6.1 26.9 5.6 1973 13,155,000 441,237 83,170 358,067 33.5 6.3 27.2 4.1 1974 13,569,000 462,062 86,864 375,198 34.1 6.4 27.7 3.8 1975 13,981,000 478,604 100,213 378,391 34.2 7.2 27.0 3.4 1976 14,389,000 503,514 101,544 401,970 35.0 7.1 27.9 1.3 1977 14,786,000 493,329 104,297 389,032 33.4 7.1 26.3 1.3 1978 15,184,000 514,030 105,204 408,826 33.9 6.9 27.0 -0.1 1979 15,578,000 535,928 109,459 426,469 34.4 7.0 27.4 -1.5 1980 15,952,000 540,047 118,886 421,161 33.9 7.5 26.4 -2.4 1981 16,376,000 572,197 117,793 454,404 34.9 7.2 27.7 -1.1 1982 16,813,000 589,283 124,137 465,146 35.0 7.4 27.7 -1.0 1983 17,261,000 609,400 128,779 480,621 35.3 7.5 27.8 -1.2 1984 17,716,000 641,398 132,042 509,356 36.2 7.5 28.8 -2.4 4.60 1985 18,174,000 679,057 131,686 547,371 37.4 7.2 30.1 -4.2 4.68 1986 18,634,000 708,658 132,213 576,445 38.0 7.1 30.9 -5.6 4.69 1987 19,095,000 714,454 133,781 580,673 37.4 7.0 30.4 -5.7 4.57 1988 19,561,000 694,144 134,688 559,456 35.5 6.9 28.6 -4.2 4.28 1989 20,108,000 668,807 126,862 541,945 33.3 6.3 27.0 1.0 4.02 1990 20,465,000 691,636 124,553 567,083 33.8 6.1 27.7 -9.9 4.20 1991 20,857,000 723,420 130,294 593,126 34.7 6.2 28.4 -9.2 1992 21,354,000 680,459 140,092 540,367 31.9 6.6 25.3 -1.5 1993 21,847,000 692,324 145,294 547,030 31.7 6.7 25.0 -1.9 1994 22,277,000 657,725 148,423 509,302 29.5 6.7 22.9 -3.2 1995 22,684,000 677,999 145,439 532,560 29.9 6.4 23.5 -5.2 3.60 1996 23,128,000 634,842 144,829 490,013 27.4 6.3 21.2 -1.6 1997 23,560,000 602,694 137,331 465,363 25.6 5.8 19.8 -1.1 1998 23,954,000 553,745 140,526 413,219 23.1 5.9 17.3 -0.6 1999 24,312,000 544,788 130,529 414,259 22.4 5.4 17.0 -2.1 2000 24,650,000 527,580 135,598 391,982 21.4 5.5 15.9 -2.0 2.59 2001 24,965,000 512,950 132,542 380,408 20.5 5.3 15.2 -2.4 2002 25,272,000 532,511 137,028 395,483 21.1 5.4 15.6 -3.3 2003 25,568,000 508,457 135,933 372,524 19.9 5.314.6 -2.9 2004 25,864,000 540,381 130,357 410,024 20.9 5.0 15.9 -4.3 2005 26,167,000 533,530 140,585 392,945 20.4 5.4 15.0 -3.3 2.36 2006 26,488,000 555,946 139,622 416,324 21.0 5.3 15.7 -3.4 2007 26,868,000 608,917 137,430 471,487 22.7 5.1 17.5 -3.2 2.55 2008 27,303,000 646,096 138,792 507,304 23.7 5.1 18.6 -2.4 2.64 2009 27,767,000 649,727 130,659 519,068 23.4 4.7 18.7 -1.7 2.53 2010 28,562,000 634,810 138,411 496,399 22.2 4.8 17.4 11.2 2.34 2011 29,339,000 626,881 144,585 482,296 21.4 4.9 16.4 10.8 2.24 2012 29,774,000 625,106 145,988 479,118 21.0 4.9 16.1 -1.3 2.19 2013 30,243,000 679,519 145,672 533,847 22.5 4.8 17.7 -1.9 2.35 2014 30,759,000 718,036 149,761 568,998 23.3 4.9 18.4 -1.3 2.46 2015 31,576,000 734,141 152,035 582,106 23.5 4.9 18.6 8.0 2.49 2016 32,121,000 726,170 154,791 571,379 22.8 4.8 18.0 -0.7 2.46 2017 32,653,000 715,519 160,723 554,796 22.1 5.0 17.1 -0.5 2.42 2018 33,254,000 768,520 154,913 613,607 23.3 4.7 18.6 -0.2 2.60 2019 33,905,000 815,939 154,959 660,980 24.3 4.6 19.7 -0.1 2.79 2020 34,558,900 841,814 175,637 666,177 24.6 5.1 19.5 -0.2 2.90 2021 35,271,300 905,211 174,541 730,670 25.9 5.0 20.9 -0.3 3.17 2022 36,024,900 932,192 172,075 760,117 26.2 4.8 21.4 0 3.31 2023 36,799,800 961,962 172,772789,190 26.4 4.7 21.7 -0.4 3.45 2024 37,543,200 926,422 174,413 752,009 24.7 4.6 20.1 -0.2 3.35 2025 38,236,700 879,599 177,104 702,495 23.2 4.7 18.5 -0.2 3.23
Sources:
Current vital statistics + Period Live births Deaths Natural increase January—August 2025 555,897 January—August 2026 522,126 Difference –33,771 (-6.1%) Source:
Demographic and Health Surveys
Total fertility rate (TFR) and crude birth rate (CBR):
Year Total Urban Rural CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR 1996 27 3.34 (3.1) 23 2.71 (2.5) 29 3.74 (3.4) 2002 24.4 2.92 19.8 2.48 27.5 3.21
In 2002, the estimated TFR was 2.92; Uzbeks 2.99, Russians 1.35, Karakalpak 2.69, Tajik 3.19, Kazakh 2.95, Tatar 2.05, others 2.53; Tashkent City 1.96, Karakalpakstan 2.90, Fergana 2.73; Eastern region 2.71, East Central 2.96, Central 3.43, Western 3.05.A.I. Kamilov, J. Sullivan, and Z. D. Mutalova, Fertility , Chapter 4 in Uzbekistan Health Examination Survey 2002.
Years 1925192619271928192919301931193219331934Total Fertility Rate in Uzbekistan5.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.71 Years 1935193619371938193919401941194219431944Total Fertility Rate in Uzbekistan5.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.715.71 Years 19451946194719481949Total Fertility Rate in Uzbekistan5.715.715.715.715.71
The high fertility rate during the Soviet Union and during its period of disintegration is partly due to the historical cultural preferences for large families, economic reliance upon agriculture, and the greater relative worth of Soviet child benefits in Uzbekistan. Abortion was the preferred method of birth control. Legalized in 1955, the number of abortions increased by 231% from 1956 to 1973. By 1991, the abortion ratio was 39 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age per year.
However, in the past few decades, fertility control methods have shifted considerably from abortion to modern contraceptive methods, especially IUDs. By the mid-1980s IUDS became the main method of contraception through government and organizational policies that aimed to introduce women to modern contraceptives. According to a UHES report from 2002, 73% of married Uzbek woman had used the IUD, 14% male condom, and 13% the pill.
The government supported the use of modern contraceptives to control fertility rates because of national economic difficulties that followed the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Thus the government has been influential in determining the popularity of the IUD. Despite family planning programs that educate women on different methods of contraception, the IUD has remained women's first choice of contraception. Word of mouth and social relations also account for the strong preference for the IUD. Nevertheless, factors such as class and level of education have been shown to give women more freedom in their choice of contraception methods.
The late President Islam Karimov had repressive birth control measures as part of state policy, including allegations of forced sterilization, which were loosened after his death in 2016 and which accounts for a baby boom that had started in 2018.
Regional differences
As of 2025, the regions of Surxondaryo and Qashqadaryo have the highest birth rate in Uzbekistan. On the other hand, the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Toshkent have the lowest birth rate in the country. The highest death rate is in the city of Toshkent, while the lowest in the region of Jizzax.
Vital statistics by regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan Division Birth rate (‰) Death rate (‰) Natural growth rate (‰) Total fertility rate Surxondaryo Region 27.5 4.3 +23.2 3.71 Qashqadaryo Region 27.1 4.3 +22.8 3.66 Jizzax Region 24.1 4.1 +20.0 3.22 Samarqand Region 24.5 4.5 +20.0 3.35 Namangan Region 23.9 4.5 +19.4 3.39 Andijon Region 22.8 4.9 +17.9 3.31 Navoiy Region 21.9 4.3 +17.6 3.08 Xorazm Region 22.5 4.6 +17.9 3.01 Fergana Region 23.5 4.5 +19.0 3.37 Republic of Karakalpakstan 19.2 5.1 +14.1 2.53 Sirdaryo Region 22.4 4.9 +17.5 2.93 Buxoro Region 20.9 4.5 +16.4 2.94 Toshkent Region 20.5 5.4 +15.1 2.95 Toshkent 19.8 5.4 +14.4 2.88 Republic of Uzbekistan 23.2 4.7 +18.5 3.23
Infant mortality rate 2020 estimate: Total: 17 deaths per 1,000 live births Male: 19 deaths per 1,000 live births Female: 15 deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy
PeriodLife expectancy inYearsPeriodLife expectancy inYears1950–195556.11985–199066.61955–196057.91990–199566.31960–196559.81995–200066.71965–197061.62000–200567.71970–197563.02005–201069.11975–198064.02010–201570.81980–198565.32015-202075.2 Source: UN World Population Prospects 2017
Ethnic groups Ethnic composition according to the 1989 population census (latest available):Library of Congress, A Country Study: Uzbekistan. Ethnic composition A Country Study: Uzbekistan. Ethnic composition , Appendix Table 4.