About Uzbekistan

The map shows Uzbekistan, a landlocked republic in Central Asia. The country borders Kazakhstan to the north, Turkmenistan to the southwest, Afghanistan to the south, Tajikistan in the southeast, and Kyrgyzstan in the east.

Uzbekistan occupies an area of 447,400 km²; the country is about the size of Sweden or slightly larger than the U.S. state of California.

Uzbekistan has a population of 37.7 million people (in 2025), with Uzbeks making up the majority. Other major ethnic groups include Tajiks, Kazakhs, Russians, Karakalpaks, and Tatars. Spoken languages are Uzbek and Russian. The main religion is Islam; most Uzbeks follow Sunni Islam. The capital and largest city is Tashkent (Тошкент).

More about Uzbekistan


Geography of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's landscape is dominated by dry, flat to gently rolling desert terrain, with areas of steppe, sand dunes, and sparse vegetation. The vast Kyzylkum Desert spans much of the country. Only around 10% of the country is intensively cultivated, mainly in irrigated river valleys and scattered oases.

Uzbekistan is a major producer of cotton, gold, and uranium, and holds significant reserves of natural gas.


Desert
The Kyzylkum Desert ("Red Sand" in Turkic) is a vast, extremely dry desert, mainly located in Uzbekistan. It also extends into Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The desert's landscape features extensive sand dunes, stony plains, and isolated oases. Its climate is characterized by extreme temperatures, with hot summers and cold winters, and sparse annual rainfall.



Mountains
The eastern and southeastern edges of Uzbekistan are fringed by mountains, including the Tian Shan and Gissar mountain ranges.

Uzbekistan's highest point
The country's highest point is Khazret Sultan, reaching 4,643 meters (15,233 ft). The mountain is located in the southern Gissar Mountains near the border with Tajikistan, northwest of Dushanbe.

The Tian Shan Mountains are a massive Central Asian mountain range, spilling into eastern Uzbekistan. Home to rugged peaks and alpine valleys.



Rivers of Uzbekistan
Main rivers are the Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshan River.

In contrast to the dry lowlands, Uzbekistan's main rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, provide vital water for agriculture. The Amu Darya forms part of the southern border with Turkmenistan and flows northwest toward the remnants of the Aral Sea. The Syr Darya crosses the eastern Fergana Valley before curving northwest across the steppe. These rivers feed a network of canals, sustaining oases and irrigated farmland in an otherwise arid landscape.



Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was once a vast inland lake in Central Asia, shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
At its peak in the 1960s, the Aral Sea covered 68,000 km² (26,300 sq mi) — roughly the size of Ireland.
Now, the sea has largely dried up due to decades of water diversion projects initiated during the Soviet era. Rivers that once fed the sea, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, were redirected to irrigate cotton fields in the center of Central Asia.
Once-thriving fishing villages now lie in a dusty desert. The eastern basin within Uzbekistan has shrunk into a salt-crusted plain known as the Aralkum Desert. The desert has become a habitat for wildlife, including the critically endangered Saiga antelope. The Aralkum National Nature Park was established in March 2022 in the Muynak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. ^[UZINFO]
The drying up of the Aral Sea is now considered one of the most dramatic environmental disasters in the world. It is a stark reminder of unsustainable resource use. ^[RFF]



Major Cities of Uzbekistan
Uzbek cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva were important stops along the ancient Silk Road, that connected China and the Orient with Europe.

• Tashkent
  Tashkent is Uzbekistan's capital, a modern metropolis with Soviet-era architecture and a vibrant cultural scene. The country's largest city is located in a fertile oasis near the Chirchik River. It is a major industrial hub and the country's political, economic, and transport center.
  
  
  
• Samarkand
  Samarkand is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. The city was a major Silk Road stop-over and capital of Timurid Empire. It is famous for its stunning Islamic architecture and historic sites, such as the madrasahs on Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
  
  
  
• Bukhara
  Bukhara is a historic city in south-central Uzbekistan, with more than 2,000 years of continuous settlement. Once a thriving oasis on the ancient Silk Road, it became one of the Islamic world's leading centers of learning, culture, and commerce during the early Middle Ages. The city is known for its elegant madrasas, mosques, and caravanserais. The city reached its cultural peak under the Samanid and later the Timurid dynasties.
  Today, the Historic Centre of Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Landmarks like the Ark Fortress, the towering Kalon Minaret, and the Lyab-i Hauz ensemble give visitors a glimpse into a city that once stood at the crossroads of empires and ideas.
  
  
  
• Khiva
  Khiva is known for the walled inner city of Itchan Kala. A town in the Kyzylkum Desert, filled with minarets, palaces, and madrasahs. A living museum of Khorezmian culture, a blend of Turkic and Persian influences.
  
  
  

• Andijan
  Andijan is located in the fertile Fergana Valley. The city is an industrial hub and one of the oldest urban centers in the region. Andijan is known as the birthplace of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.
  
  
  
• Namangan
  Namangan is another Uzbek city in the Fergana Valley. Namangan is known for its gardens, textile industry, and traditional crafts. In recent years the city has grown rapidly.
  
  
  
• Nukus
  Nukus is the capital of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. The city is known for the Savitsky Museum, which houses one of the world's best collections of Soviet avant-garde art.
  
  
  
• Navoi
  Navoi is a center for mining and industry, especially known for gold and uranium. The city is also home to the Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ).
  
  
  
• Termez
  Termez is located in the far south near the Afghan border. It is one of Uzbekistan's oldest cities. Termez served as a key Buddhist center during the Kushan Empire, with archaeological sites like Fayaz Tepe revealing its ancient spiritual and cultural life. Today, it's a quiet border town with a rich past, holding strategic and historical significance.
  
  
  
• Qarshi
  Qarshi is a regional center in the south, important for natural gas and agriculture. Historically linked to Persian and Turkic civilizations.