Libraries in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has long been recognised as a centre of science, learning, and culture. Libraries remain central to this heritage and play a strategic role in supporting national development priorities. Current policy directions focus on digitisation, the expansion of electronic catalogues and databases, stronger international partnerships, and the creation of inclusive services for young people, rural communities, and people with disabilities.
The country’s library system comprises several types of institutions. The National Library of Uzbekistan is the sector’s flagship institution. In addition to safeguarding the nation’s documentary heritage, it leads work on international scholarly cooperation, the adoption of modern information technologies, and sector‑wide methodological guidance.
Libraries are predominantly financed through the state budget. Regional and district information‑library centres serve as key cultural and educational hubs, providing essential services to local populations.
Libraries in higher‑education institutions supply students and researchers with core academic resources and contribute to national objectives for innovation and human capital development. School libraries foster reading culture and support the moral and intellectual growth of children and young people. Specialised libraries for blind and visually impaired readers ensure equitable access to information resources.
As of 2024, Uzbekistan has more than 14,000 information libraries and information‑resource centres, holding a combined collection of approximately 85 million items. Central information‑library centres operate in all regions, complemented by district‑level facilities.
Within the higher and secondary specialised education sector, hundreds of information‑resource centres actively support learning and research, contributing to the country’s broader goals for educational quality and workforce development.
Library data
Contextual data
Population
Population Growth
Proportion of Population Younger than 15
Proportion of Population Older than 64
Population Density
people per sq km
Population Growth
Access to Electricity
Internet Users
Female Internet Users
Male Internet Users
GDP per capita
Poverty Rate
2011 PPP
Inequality
2011 PPP
Unemployment
Inactive Youth
2011 PPP
Education Spending
% of GDP
Adult Literacy Rate
% of people age 15+
Female Adult Literacy
% of GDP
Male Adult Literacy
% of people age 15+
Female Youth Literacy
% of GDP
Male Youth Literacy
% of people age 15+
Research Spending
% of GDP
Researchers
% of GDP
Research Spending
% of GDP
Library data
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
13,046
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. |
13,046 2023 |
201 2023 |
818 2023 |
144 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
10,572 2023 |
1,311 2023 |
|
Main Libraries
2
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. |
2 2023 |
1 2023 |
— |
1 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
343
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. |
343 2023 |
200 2023 |
— |
143 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
0
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. |
0 2023 |
0 2022 |
— |
0 2022 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
550
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. |
550 2023 |
0 2022 |
— |
550 2022 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
12,846
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. |
12,846 2023 |
1 2023 |
818 2023 |
144 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
10,572 2023 |
1,311 2023 |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
3,884
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. |
3,884 2023 |
180 2023 |
560 2023 |
144 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
3,000 2022 |
|
Full-Time Staff
21,714
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. |
21,714 2023 |
4,519 2023 |
2,988 2023 |
643 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
12,549 2023 |
1,015 2023 |
|
Volunteers
—
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
11.4 M
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. |
11,394,125 2023 |
2,580,608 2023 |
1,403,069 2023 |
97,049 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
6,217,709 2023 |
1,095,690 2023 |
|
Physical Visits
5 M
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. |
4,969,377 2023 |
561,989 2022 |
— |
4,407,388 2022 |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
50.1 M
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). |
50,121,722 2023 |
24,269,472 2023 |
22,021,080 2023 |
1,193,999 2023 |
N/A 2023 |
781,153 2023 |
1,856,018 2023 |
|
eBook Loans
—
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
—
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
—
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). |
— |
— |
— |
— |
N/A 2023 |
— |
— |
Contextual data
|
Population |
Uzbekistan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Population Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. |
36,361,859 2024 |
928,263,208 2024 |
8,141,808,945 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Younger than 15 Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
49.3% 2024 |
27.0% 2024 |
38.0% 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Older than 64 Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
9.3% 2024 |
28.1% 2024 |
15.7% 2024 |
|
Population Growth Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. |
2.0% 2024 |
0 2024 |
1.0% 2024 |
|
Population Density Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. |
80.9% 2023 |
33.7% 2022 |
61.6% 2022 |
|
Urban Population Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division. |
51.0% 2024 |
74.0% 2024 |
57.6% 2024 |
|
Information Infrastructure |
Uzbekistan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet Users Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
89.0% 2023 |
90.9% 2024 |
71.2% 2024 |
|
Female Internet Users This indicator refers to female individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
87.1% 2023 |
90.0% 2024 |
68.2% 2024 |
|
Male Internet Users This indicator refers to male individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
- |
90.0% |
- |
|
Access to Electricity Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources. |
100.0% 2023 |
100.0% 2023 |
91.6% 2023 |
|
Economy, Poverty, and Employment |
Uzbekistan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GDP per Capita This indicator provides values for gross domestic product (GDP) expressed in current international dollars, converted by purchasing power parities (PPPs). PPPs account for the different price levels across countries and thus PPP-based comparisons of economic output are more appropriate for comparing the output of economies and the average material well-being of their inhabitants than exchange-rate based comparisons. Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This series has been linked to produce a consistent time series to counteract breaks in series over time due to changes in base years, source data and methodologies. Thus, it may not be comparable with other national accounts series in the database for historical years. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. The PPP conversion factor is a currency conversion factor and a spatial price deflator. PPPs convert different currencies to a common currency and, in the process of conversion, equalize their purchasing power by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries, thereby allowing volume or output comparisons of GDP and its expenditure components. |
11,879 2024 |
51,720.6 2024 |
24,405 2024 |
|
Poverty Rate Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions. |
2.7% 2024 |
0.5% 2024 |
10.3% 2024 |
|
Inequality Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality. |
34.6% 2024 |
0.0% |
- |
|
Unemployment Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country. |
5.3% 2020 |
5.3% 2024 |
6.2% 2021 |
|
Inactive Youth The share of youth not in education, employment or training (also known as “the NEET rate”) conveys the number of young persons not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population. Youth not in education are those who were neither enrolled in school nor in a formal training program (e.g. vocational training). For the purposes of this indicator, youth is defined as all persons between the ages of 15 and 24 (inclusive). percentage of youth population |
- |
11.7% 2024 |
- |
|
Education and Literacy |
Uzbekistan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Education Spending General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments. percentage of GDP |
5.5% 2023 |
4.6% 2022 |
3.5% 2023 |
|
Adult Literacy Rate Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of people ages 15 and above |
100.0% 2022 |
4.6% 2022 |
87.7% 2024 |
|
Female Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15 and above |
100.0% 2022 |
98.5% 2024 |
84.6% 2024 |
|
Male Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15 and above |
100.0% 2022 |
99.1% 2023 |
90.9% 2024 |
|
Female Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15-24 |
100.0% 2022 |
99.8% 2023 |
92.0% 2024 |
|
Male Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15-24 |
100.0% 2022 |
99.8% 2023 |
94.1% 2024 |
|
Research and Innovation |
Uzbekistan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research Spending Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. percentage of GDP |
0.1% 2023 |
2.0% 2022 |
2.7% 2022 |
|
Researchers The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. per million people |
542 2023 |
3,466.1 2022 |
1,516 2018 |
|
Scientific Articles Article counts refer to publications from a selection of conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals from Scopus in science and engineering fields, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Taxonomy of Disciplines. fractional count |
2,187 2022 |
913,901.4 2022 |
3,338,192 2022 |
National Library Associations
Uzbekistan currently has no library association functioning at the national level.
National Library
The Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan plays a central role in the country’s library sector. As the leading scientific and educational centre with an extensive collection, it also serves as the methodological hub for all libraries nationwide. The Library develops guidelines, standards, and recommendations for regional information library centres, universities, schools, and specialised libraries.
It supports the training and professional development of librarians and leads work on innovations such as digitisation, electronic catalogues, and modern information services. The National Library also promotes international cooperation, working with global institutions and encouraging the adoption of advanced information and communication technologies.
Policy Making Institutions
Library Support Organisations
There are no library support organisations in Uzbekistan.
National Policy for Libraries
There is no information available.
Library Law
The Resolution sets out the legal and organisational framework for improving information and library services across the Republic of Uzbekistan. It applies to all state and public libraries, local government bodies, ministries, departments, and other organisations involved in the development of library services.
Its main objectives are to ensure equal access to information resources for the population, preserve and promote national and global cultural and scientific heritage, and introduce modern information and communication technologies into library work. The Resolution places particular emphasis on developing the National Electronic Library and regional information and library centres.
Key areas addressed include the organisation of library services, the regulation and coordination of library networks, infrastructure modernisation, and the digitisation of collections. The Resolution also outlines measures for managing library personnel, including continuous professional development, retraining of librarians, and attracting young specialists to the sector.
Legal Deposit Law
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on implementing Presidential Decree No. PF‑6269 (24 July 2021), “On measures to improve public service infrastructure and expand public access to services.”
Copyright Law & Library Exceptions and Limitations
The purpose of this Law is to regulate relations arising from the creation and use of scientific, literary, and artistic works (copyright), as well as performances, phonograms, and broadcasts by organisations that transmit programmes by air or cable (related rights).
Professional Qualification Requirements
There is no information available.
Education
To support the growth and development of the library sector, Uzbekistan has established several educational institutions dedicated to training future librarians. The State Institute of Art and Culture and the Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT) are the main institutions offering programmes in Information and Library Systems.
However, the education and training of librarians face several challenges. The current higher‑education curriculum is outdated, and specialised training programmes do not fully meet modern professional requirements. As a result, more than 70% of library staff do not have a formal background in librarianship, which affects the overall quality of library services. High staff turnover, driven by low salaries, also remains a problem. In addition, electronic catalogues—including consolidated catalogues—and electronic libraries often fall short of international standards.
There is a clear need to develop a system for assessing the qualifications and competencies of library staff. Such a system should meet both national information‑service requirements and international standards, helping to strengthen the country’s information infrastructure and expand international cooperation.
Currently, only six higher‑education institutions offer appropriate programmes for training future library professionals. Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT), one of the country’s leading universities, has a Department of Information and Library Systems where around 60 full‑time students, 6 master’s students, and 4 postdoctoral researchers are enrolled. The university also has regional branches in Fergana and Nukus, where around 85 students study in this field.
The Republican Information‑Library Centre conducts training sessions both in traditional and distance‑learning formats. The Centre includes a Model Automated Library, created as a training platform for information‑library specialists using RFID technologies. This enables participants in professional development courses to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice.
The Model Library is equipped with modern tools such as RFID tags, programming devices, inventory scanners, self‑service machines for borrowing and returning books, and a security system, all integrated with the IRBIS information‑library system. The Centre also has specialised scanners for digitising library collections and an electronic reading room connected to major international scientific databases (including EBSCO, Springer, and Wiley), providing researchers with access to valuable resources.
The Centre can accommodate up to 100 specialists at a time. It includes a 35‑seat conference hall, two theoretical classrooms with 20 seats each, and computer rooms with 25 seats. Upon successful completion of the courses, participants receive a certificate issued by the Centre for Quality Control in Education.
From 22 April to 12 July 2024, training programmes under the theme “Fundamentals of Information‑Library Activity Management” were delivered, forming eight groups. During this period, 183 heads of information‑library centres and staff members completed professional development training.
Professional Publications
There is no information available.
Professional Events
There is no information available.
Library Location Resources
No information available