Uzbekistan
About Uzbekistan
Magical Silk Road cities, epic wide open spaces and a quirky Soviet past; Uzbekistan has it all. Uzbekistan has come under the rule of empires such as the Macedonian, the Arab, the Persian, and the Mongol.
Today Uzbeks only came into the picture in the 1500s with the creation of modern day Uzbekistan, which came into being after the dissolution of the Soviet States in the late 1900s.
The Silk Road cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva hold some of the world’s most exquisite Islamic architecture and those three cities are must-visit cities in Uzbekistan. Hectic bazaars, half-hidden desert citadels, silk workshops, and the chance to glimpse the vanishing Aral Sea are all world-class draws, and the country is also a convenient launching pad for treks and travel within Central Asia.
Uzbek Landscape 448,978 km2
Uzbekistan’s landscape is as diverse as it is striking. The majority of the country is dominated by dry, expansive deserts, including the vast Kyzylkum Desert. These areas are characterized by rolling sands and towering sand dunes, creating a somewhat otherworldly scene where the land stretches endlessly under the bright sun and the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers that are the lifelines of Uzbekistan.
In contrast to the desert’s monotony, the eastern part of Uzbekistan, near the borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, offers a sharp contrast. Here, the terrain rises dramatically into rugged mountain ranges, including parts of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay mountains, adding a stunning and refreshing diversity to the country’s geography. The mountains are not only visually impressive, but they also provide a cooler climate and more fertile lands, especially in the foothills where agriculture thrives.
Uzbek Population 36,628,000
As of 2024, Uzbekistan’s population is estimated at approximately 36.628 million people, continuing its steady growth. The country has seen a consistent increase in population over the past few decades, with a projected growth rate of around 1.9% annually
The majority of the population lives in urban areas, although the rural population still accounts for a significant portion, particularly in the central and eastern regions of the country.
Uzbekistan is known for its ethnic diversity. The largest group is the Uzbeks, but the country is home to numerous other ethnic communities, including Tajiks, Russians, Kazakhs, Karakapaks and Kyrgyz, among others. This diversity is especially evident in regions like the Fergana Valley, where various ethnic groups have lived for centuries, contributing to the cultural richness of the country
Uzbek, Russian Karakalpak
In Uzbekistan, the official language is Uzbek, a Turkic language that holds cultural and historical significance as the state language. It is widely spoken throughout the country, especially in rural areas and in government. Following Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991, the government has made efforts to promote and develop the Uzbek language, but Russian continues to play an important role in everyday life, particularly in urban areas like Tashkent, and in business, media, and education. Russian remains a common second language for many Uzbeks, especially among older generations who grew up during the Soviet era.
In addition to Uzbek and Russian, Karakalpak is an official language in the Karakalpakstan region, an autonomous republic located in the northwestern part of Uzbekistan. The Karakalpak people, an ethnic group closely related to Kazakhs, speak their own Turkic language, Karakalpak, which is recognized as a minority language in this region. The linguistic diversity in Uzbekistan reflects the country’s complex cultural and ethnic makeup, with other minority languages like Tajik, Kazakh, and others spoken by different communities across the country
Sum UZS
The currency of Uzbekistan is the sum (S), also known as som, s’om, or soums. It is abbreviated as UZS (Uzbekistan Sum). The sum was introduced in 1994, replacing the Soviet ruble following Uzbekistan’s independence from the Soviet Union.
The Uzbek sum has experienced significant inflation over the years, leading to the issuance of high-denomination notes. The highest denomination is the 100,000 sum note, which, at current exchange rates, is roughly equivalent to around 10 US dollars. This high note denomination makes it easy for visitors to feel wealthy, as even a modest sum in Uzbekistan can result in significant purchasing power locally
Despite the high-value notes, the currency’s purchasing power is relatively low when compared to many other countries, largely due to inflation and the costs of goods and services. Many Uzbeks often use cash for transactions, especially in rural areas, although credit cards are increasingly accepted in major cities like Tashkent. However, most financial dealings are still handled in cash. When traveling, it’s important to note that while the currency is widely accepted, it’s always a good idea to have a mix of smaller bills, as merchants may not always have change for larger denominations
Uzbekistan quick tips
Drinking water
Tap water in Uzbekistan isn’t safe to drink, especially in Karakalpakstan. Bottled water is available everywhere and its cheap.
Safety in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a relatively safe place. Generally risky traveling at night, including taking overnight local transport or unofficial taxis.
Use of drones in Uzbekistan will attract fines, detention and confiscation of equipment. Licenses to import drones must be obtained prior to arrival.
Best time to go
Spring is Uzbekistan’s most gorgeous season with pleasant weather, green pastures, flowers in full bloom and several local holidays as Nooruz and festivals that are well worth seeing.
Autumn is cool and sunny weather, coupled with bazaars that burst with melons and grapes, call a second wave of tourists to this Silk Road land and its harvest time for country.
Currency exchange
Official exchange booths at airports, hotels, banks, and souvenir shops in Uzbekistan and several private banks will change most currencies into Uzbek som, though US dollars, Euros and Russian Rubles.
There are exchange machines, one in the airport and around the cities as well.
Travel budget in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is an affordable and perfect destination for budget travelers.
As a budget traveler you can expect to pay around 30 – 45 USD per day per person and that should cover accommodation and 3 meals altogether. You should still be prepared for relatively hard haggling as locals tend to try to keep the prices high for locals.
Credit cards in Uzbekistan
Today in Tashkent and in the big cities of Uzbekistan you can use card payment, however always keep some cash. It is still a cash economy, so cards are fairly useless outside the central areas of the big cities.
Get also a big bag to carry your money in, as you’ll get big stacks of local currency. There are ATMs in Tashkent, however, they are often short of cash or just don’t work (especially with foreign cards). Make sure to have enough cash outside Tashkent as it might be hard to find any ATMs there.
Local Uzbek SIM card
Local sim cards can be purchased by tourists in many airports and operator shops with prepaid data but be prepared to show proof of living quarters for your stay.
Internet speed is ok to navigate around the cities but often slow for streaming or video calls.
Please not that if you wish to continue using your mobile phone in Uzbekistan for more than a month, you need to register it to Uzbekistan in the office of local authority.
WIFI
Internet in Uzbekistan is slow compared to Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan but better than in Tajikistan.
The adequate data network is limited to the largest cities and the speed leaves some room for improvement now and then. Tashkent has adequate connections. Most hotels in Uzbekistan do offer free Wi-Fi. TikTok and some news channels are banned in Uzbekistan.
Religion
During the 7th and 8th centuries, Arabs conquered Uzbekistan and converted its population to Islam. Therefore the main religion in Uzbekistan is Islam, 88 % (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, and other 3%. Majority of Karakalpakstan population are muslim as well.
Churches of other significant confessions include Armenian Apostolic Church and Jewish synagogues do exist as well. The majority of Central Asian Jewish people are living in the Bukhara area.
Trains in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has the best train network in Central Asia and it is expanding rapidly making it the most convenient way of traveling inside the country as the road network is still often poor even between the large cities. There are also the Afrosiyob high speed trains that travel between Tashkent, Samarkand, Qarshi, Jizzakh and Bukhara with plans to extend the fast rail network all the way to Khiva by 2026 (Currently connected with lower speed rail network and not electrified). Lower speed trains can also take you to Southern Uzbekistan to cities like Termez. Fergana valley is also connected to Tashkent with slower speed trains and some tunnels under the mountains as the Soviet connection through Tajikistan has not always been available after the independence of the Central Asian countries.
Uzbekistan Must Visit Destinations
Interesting Facts about Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan is the most populated country in Central Asia.
- Uzbekistan was occupied by Alexander the Great when he captured Samarkand in 329 BCE.
- Authoritarian President Islam Karimov ruled the country from 1989 until his death in 2016.
- Uzbekistan was at the heart of the historic Silk Road, old trading route or “superhighway” that connected China with Europe and the Middle East.
- Uzbekistan’s Silk Road sites include four of the country’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Samarkand, Shahrisabz, Bukhara and Itchan Kala (Khiva). The fifth is the Tien-Shan mountains.
Check the latest statistical information on Uzbekistan in the State Committee of Statistics of Uzbekistan.
Page updated 5.3.2023