Uzbekistan’s Population Nearly Doubles Since 1989 Census

Uzbekistan has released the preliminary findings of its first population census in 37 years, revealing a significant demographic shift. The National Statistics Committee announced that the country's population has surged to over 39 million, a near doubling since the last census was conducted in 1989.

The census, mandated by a decree from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed to establish an updated database of the nation's demographic and socio-economic indicators. The preliminary results indicate that Uzbeks constitute the largest ethnic group, making up 89.4% of the population. Other significant ethnic minorities include Tajiks (3.3%), Karakalpaks (2.2%), Kazakhs (1.8%), Russians (1.6%), Kyrgyz (0.6%), and Turkmens (0.5%).

Linguistic data from the census further highlights national identity, with 91.3% of respondents identifying Uzbek as their native language. The census process itself was extensive, having been postponed from its original 2022 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later rescheduled. It involved two stages: the first from January 15-31 and the second from February 4-28, utilizing both online questionnaires and door-to-door interviews to collect data.