Oezbekistan

Exact population: 27,307,134 (July 2006 est.)
Literacy: Total population: 99.3%; male: 99.6%; female: 99%
Ethnicities: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Land boundaries: Total: 6,221 km; border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Extremes: Lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m; highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Imports: Russia 26.8%, South Korea 12.6%, US 8%, Germany 7.7%, Kazakhstan 6.3%, China 5.8%, Turkey 5.1%, Ukraine 4.5% (2004)
Exports: Russia 22%, China 14.7%, Turkey 6.4%, Tajikistan 6.1%, Kazakhstan 4.2%, Bangladesh 4% (2004)
Industries: Textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Source: CIA World Factbook