Uzbekistan’s population stood at 3.9 million in 1897, 5.3 million in 1926, 6.3 million in 1939 and 8.3 million in 1959. It then rose to 11.8 million in 1970, 15.4 million in 1979 and 20 million in 1989. Compared with the results of the 2026 census, the country’s population has nearly doubled since 1989.
However, one of the census’s most important findings is not the growth itself but the gap with earlier statistical estimates.
810,600 more than previously estimated
The census, the first in Uzbekistan since 1989, revealed a discrepancy with earlier official population data. According to figures presented at a news conference at the National Statistics Committee on Nov. 13, the country’s permanent population stood at 39,047,300 as of Jan. 15, 2026.
The census count is 810,600 higher than the previous running estimate of 38,236,700, a relative difference of 2.1%.
Fewer women than men
Men outnumber women in Uzbekistan, with 103 men for every 100 women. Men make up 50.6% of the population and women 49.4%. In absolute terms, there are 19,766,200 men and 19,281,100 women, a gap of 485,100.
By age, people of working age form the largest group, at 21,739,400, or 55.7% of the population. Those below working age number 12,515,100 (32%), and those above it 4,792,800 (12.3%).
Nearly a third of the population has yet to reach working age. The demographic factor is therefore likely to weigh heavily in planning for the education system, vocational training and labor market demand in the coming years.
The census presentation also put the demographic dependency ratio at 74.6 per 100 working-age people.
Overall, there are on average 79.6 people of non-working age (children and pensioners) for every 100 people of working age. The figure is 77.9 in cities and 81.7 in rural areas.
Uzbeks make up the bulk of the population
The census also covered the ethnic composition of the population. According to the presentation, Uzbeks account for 89.4%, followed by Tajiks (3.3%), Karakalpaks (2.2%), Kazakhs (1.8%) and Russians (1.6%). The shares of other ethnic groups were not given separately.
