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About Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Region: Asia-Oceania

Area: 448,920 km²

Population: 36,361,859

Libraries (Service Points): 13,046

Libraries in Uzbekistan

Last update: January 2026

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

Libraries (Service Points) 13,046
Main Libraries 2
Branch Libraries 343
External Service Points 0
Mobile Libraries 550
Libraries (Administrative Units) 12,846
Libraries with Internet Access 3,884
Full-Time Staff 21,714
Volunteers
Registered Users 11.4 M
Physical Visits 5 M
Physical Loans 50.1 M
eBook Loans
Audio Book Loans
Downloads

Contextual data

Population and Geography
36,361,859

Population

No Data Available

Population Growth

49.3%

Proportion of Population Younger than 15

9.3%

Proportion of Population Older than 64

80.9

Population Density
people per sq km

51.0%

Population Growth

Information and Infrastructure
100.0%

Access to Electricity

89.0%

Internet Users

87.1%

Female Internet Users

No Data Available

Male Internet Users

Poverty and Employment
11,878.6%

GDP per capita

2.7%

Poverty Rate
2011 PPP

34.6%

Inequality
2011 PPP

5.3%

Unemployment

No Data Available

Inactive Youth
2011 PPP

Education and Literacy
5.5%

Education Spending
% of GDP

100.0%

Adult Literacy Rate
% of people age 15+

100.0%

Female Adult Literacy
% of GDP

100.0%

Male Adult Literacy
% of people age 15+

100.0%

Female Youth Literacy
% of GDP

100.0%

Male Youth Literacy
% of people age 15+

Innovation and Skills
0.1%

Research Spending
% of GDP

0

Researchers
% of GDP

2,187

Research Spending
% of GDP

Library data

Library type

Total

National

Academic

Public

Community

School

Other

Libraries (Service Points)

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

13,046

2023

201

2023

818

2023

144

2023

N/A

2023

10,572

2023

1,311

2023
Main Libraries

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

2

2023

1

2023

1

2023

N/A

2023

Branch Libraries

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

343

2023

200

2023

143

2023

N/A

2023

External Service Points

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

0

2023

0

2022

0

2022

N/A

2023

Mobile Libraries

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

550

2023

0

2022

550

2022

N/A

2023

Libraries (Administrative Units)

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

12,846

2023

1

2023

818

2023

144

2023

N/A

2023

10,572

2023

1,311

2023
Libraries with Internet Access

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

3,884

2023

180

2023

560

2023

144

2023

N/A

2023

3,000

2022
Full-Time Staff

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

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

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.

11.4 M

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

Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises.

5 M

4,969,377

2023

561,989

2022

4,407,388

2022

N/A

2023

Physical Loans

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).

50.1 M

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

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.

total

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.

percentage of 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.

precentage of 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.

annual percentage

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.

people persq. km of land area

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.

percentage of total population

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.

percentage of population

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.

percentage of female population

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.

percentage of male population

-

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.

percentage of population

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.

current international $

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.

percentage of population

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.

percentage

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.

percentage of total labor force

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 of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi / Alisher Navoiy nomidagi O'zbekiston Milliy kutubxonasi

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.

Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan / O'zbekiston Respublikasi Vazirlar Mahkamasi

There are no library support organisations in Uzbekistan.

National Policy for Libraries

There is no information available.

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ON INFORMATION AND LIBRARY ACTIVITIES / AXBOROT-KUTUBXONA FAOLIYATI TO'G'RISIDA O'zbekiston Respublikasining Qonuni
On Further Improvement of Information and Library Services for the Population of the Republic of Uzbekistan / O'zbekiston Respublikasi aholisiga axborot-kutubxona xizmati ko'rsatishni yanada takomillashtirish to'g'risida

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.

Professional Qualification Requirements

There is no information available.

Education for Librarians

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.

There is no information available.

There is no information available.

Library Location Resources

No information available