Uzbekistan to conduct nationwide census in 2026

Uzbekistan will carry out nationwide population and agricultural registration from January 15 to February 28, 2026. The first 17 days will be conducted online, followed by a month-long door-to-door census involving neighborhood committees, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on September 11 during a presentation on census organization.

The last nationwide census in Uzbekistan was held in 1989. Since then, significant preparatory work has been undertaken. A law “On Population Registration” was adopted, stipulating that population registration must take place at least once every 10 years, and agricultural registration every five years. A pilot population census was conducted in 2021 and an agricultural census in 2022. The full-scale census was postponed to allow for further study of international practices and the development of appropriate measures.

The upcoming census will be conducted simultaneously for both population and agriculture, in line with international experience and with support from the World Bank, UNFPA, and FAO. This approach is expected to reduce costs by 1.3 trillion soums and simplify the process. The questionnaire has been streamlined from 328 to 71 questions.

As a result, a single database will be created containing information on the population’s composition, migration, family status, economic activity, and sources of income. The agricultural component will cover land use, livestock, and poultry numbers, providing key data to guide the effective use of 25.6 trillion soums allocated annually to the sector, including 2.2 trillion from the state budget.

Neighborhood committees will play a central role in the census, with members receiving training under a special program funded through a World Bank-supported project to strengthen the statistical system. Public awareness campaigns will also be launched via media and social networks.

President Mirziyoyev approved the proposals and instructed officials to ensure systematic and high-quality implementation of the census.

As of August 28, Uzbekistan’s permanent population exceeded 38 million people.