Uzbekistan
Asia · Central Asia
Ancient Silk Road cities in Samarkand and Bukhara; ultra cheap and opening up fast.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Uzbekistan's Human Development Index
0.727
High human development#105 of 191 countries worldwide, #25 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 45% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country of extraordinary architectural heritage, where the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva preserve some of the most beautiful Islamic architecture in the world in tilework, domes, and mosaics of vivid colour. The culture is Uzbek and Tajik at its roots, with a tradition of hospitality, pilaf, and tea that shapes every social encounter. Those with an interest in the ancient world and the Islamic artistic tradition will find it one of the great destinations in Asia.
- Samarkand was the wealthiest city on the Silk Road for centuries.
- Soviet-era cotton farming diverted so much water that the Aral Sea — once the world's fourth-largest lake — has nearly vanished.
- One of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, largely under the radar.
Quick Facts
Capital
Tashkent
Languages
Russian, Uzbek
Currency
so'm UZS
Area
440,650 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
93Mbps
Mobile
52Mbps
GDP / Capita
$4K
PPP / Capita
$14K
Inflation
8.8%
Unemployment
4.6%
Innovation (GII)
26.5
GNI / Capita
$4K
Tax Revenue
11.0%
FDI Inflows
3.0%
Education Spend
5.5%
Cost of Living
27.3
Price Level Index
87th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2000
0.603 → 0.727 (+0.124)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 23 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Uzbekistan for real?
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Uzbekistan head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Uzbekistan's Human Development Index?
Uzbekistan's Human Development Index is 0.727 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #105 of 191 countries.
Is Uzbekistan safe?
Uzbekistan scores 1.73 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #37 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Uzbekistan?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Uzbekistan at 27.3 (New York = 100); that is #18 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Uzbekistan?
Life expectancy at birth in Uzbekistan is 72.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #111 of 195 countries.