Uzbekistan Issues - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Disputes - international

Uzbekistan-Afghanistan: none identified

Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan: field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; disputed territory is held by Uzbekistan but the overwhelming majority of residents are ethnic Kazakhs; the two countries agreed on draft final demarcation documents in March 2022 and plan to hold another meeting in April 2022

Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan: border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas; in 2021, border talks between Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials raised the possibility of a land swap arrangement, but a deal was not finalized

Uzbekistan-Tajikistan: none identified

Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan: prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; in 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to create a joint intergovernmental commission to oversee water management

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 13,031 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2022)

stateless persons: 31,829 (2022)

Illicit drugs

a transit country for Afghan heroin, opium, and hashish destined to Kazakhstan, Russia, and Europe;  cannabis and opium poppy are grown domestically for personal use and sale

NOTE: The information regarding Uzbekistan on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Uzbekistan 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Uzbekistan 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.