Background: Uzbekistan

Independence: September 1, 1991 (from Soviet Union);

Adjacent Countries: Afghanistan (south), Kazakhstan (north; west), Kyrgyzstan (east), Tajikistan (east), Turkmenistan (south);
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Government: Republic; Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Chief of State: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990)
Head of Gov't: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December 1995)

Population (July 2001 est.):
25,155,064

Infant mortality rate (2001 est.):
71.92 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth (2001 est.):
Total Population: 63.81 years
Male: 60.24 years
Female: 67.56 years

Ethnic groups:
Uzbek - 80%
Russian - 5.5%
Tajik - 5%
Kazakh - 3%		 Karakalpak - 2.5%
Tatar - 1.5%
other - 2.5%

Religions:
Muslim - 88% (mostly Sunnis)
Eastern Orthodox - 9%
other - 3%

Languages:
Uzbek - 74.3%
Russian - 14.2%
Tajik - 4.4%
other - 7.1%

Literacy: (definition: age 15 and over can read and write)(1996 est.)
Total Population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99%