The Republic of Uzbekistan is the only doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of only two such countries worldwide. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south. Uzbekistan's economy relies mainly on commodity production, including cotton, gold, uranium, potassium, and natural gas. 11% of the land is intensely cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export of hydrocarbons, including natural gas and petroleum, provided about 40% of foreign exchange earnings in 2009. Other major export earners include gold and cotton. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer.

Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)

Total Area: 447,400 sq km (land: 425,400 sq km, water: 22,000 sq km)

Population: 28,128,600 (July 2011 est.)

Languages: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Currency: Uzbekistani Som

Agriculture products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock