About uzbekistan

About Uzbekistan. Population, labor and employment.
By the beginning of 2005, population of Uzbekistan exceeded 26 million people, two-thirds of which live in rural and one-third in urban areas. Most populated cities include the capital city, Tashkent (2.2 million people), followed by Samarkand, Namangan, Andijan,which of them counts from 300 to 400 thousands of residents. In Uzbekistan, together with the main ethnic group - Uzbeks, after which the country takes its name, more than 100 other ethnic groups' representatives, including Karakalpaks, Tajiks, Russians, Kazakhs, Tatars, Koreans and many others, live in peace and harmony.
During last several years, average annual growth of population in rural areas of Uzbekistan has been accounting for 1.5%, and 0.5% - in urban areas. It is projected that by the year 2015 total population of Uzbekistan will reach 30.1 million people.
In 2004 9.9 million people were employed in economy of Uzbekistan. 67.7% of that employed in the economy were engaged in the sphere of material production, 31% - being in agriculture and forestry, 13% - in manufacturing sector, and more than 8% - in construction. 32.3% of the employed population worked in spheres of non-material production.
In 2004 around 425 thousand job-seekers were registered, and 324 thousand of them provided with jobs. The number of the officially registered at labor exchanges amounted for approximately 35 thousand people.
About Uzbekistan. Macroeconomics.
In 2004, the sustainable economic growth was ensured in Uzbekistan. Macroeconomic and financial stability strengthened. The balance in the economy and in its individual sectors improved. For the first time in the whole period of conducting reforms, Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 7.7%, industrial production - by 9.4%, including production of foodstuffs - by 13.4%.
Investment activity has increased. In 2004, the volume of capital investments increased by 5.2%. Funds of enterprises became a significant source (2/5) of capital investments. About 130 big industrial and infrastructure objects were built and launched in the account of those and other attracted investments. Double increase in inflow of business capital from abroad testified on growth of investment attractiveness of the country.
The role of small businesses and private sector has increased as well. In 2004, number of small enterprises increased by 14%, and its share in GDP grew up to 35.6%). More than 425 thousand jobs were created through achieved development of private entrepreneurship. In agrarian sector, the process of turning unprofitable shirkats into farms has continued.
Favorable macroeconomic conditions that took shape in 2004, and were expressed in terms of growth of GDP along with decline of inflation level (down to 3.7%>), as well as continued structural reforms in the national
economy, and improvement of addressed social protection, ensured 15% increase in monetary income of population in real terms.