Demographics (HR) | Invest Uzbekistan

A young, growing workforce — and a state investing in its skills

With a population of more than 38.2 million — 60% of them under 30 — Uzbekistan has one of the most favourable demographic profiles in the region. Around 700,000 young people enter the labour market every year, building a continuously growing talent pool for industry, technology, energy and services.

Key human capital indicators · 2025–2026

38,2 m
Total population
January 2026, Statistics Agency
60%
Under the age of 30
Median age — 27 years
700k
Enter the labour market every year
A steady inflow of young talent
~6%
Public spending on education
Share of GDP, STEM is the priority
48%
Tertiary enrolment rate
2024 — up from 8% in 2017
1,3 m+
University students
200+ higher education institutions
30+
Branches of foreign universities
UK, Germany, Korea, Japan, USA
$250 m
World Bank EduImkon loan
December 2025 — for 600k students

“Tertiary enrolment rose from 8% to 48% between 2017 and 2024 — and more than 30 branches of foreign universities now operate in Uzbekistan”

The number of higher education institutions has almost tripled over the same period

What builds human capital

The demographic dividend
The population exceeds 38,2 million, 60% of them under 30, with a median age of 27. Around 700,000 young people enter the labour market every year — a continuously growing talent pool for industry, technology, energy and services. The share of the population with a higher education degree has reached 42%.
Higher education and internationalisation
More than 200 higher education institutions operate in the country, including over 30 branches and campuses of leading universities from the UK, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and the USA. 7 universities entered the QS World University Rankings 2026, and 59 are represented in the THE Impact Rankings 2025 — more than any other country in Central Asia.
Vocational education
2026 has been declared the year of training young people in modern professions. The Vocational Education Agency is rolling out international standards across 598 technical colleges, and BTEC programmes have launched in 14 colleges covering IT, logistics, energy, construction and mechanical engineering — jointly with Germany, Switzerland, China, Korea and the UK.

Higher education and key facts

QS World University Rankings 2026 · Statistics Agency · June 2026

QS World University Rankings 2026

7 Uzbek universities entered the global ranking — 4 of them for the first time

University	Main focus	QS 2026
Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers	Engineering, water resources, agricultural engineering	No. 469Top 500
National University of Uzbekistan	Natural sciences, IT, economics, humanities	721–730
Tashkent State Technical University	Engineering, industrial manufacturing	901–950First entry
Samarkand State University	Natural sciences, education, economics	1001–1200First entry
Tashkent State University of Economics	Economics, finance, management	1001–1200
Tashkent State Transport University	Transport, logistics, infrastructure	1201–1400
Tashkent University of Information Technologies	IT, telecommunications, digital economy	1401+First entry

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 features 59 universities from Uzbekistan — the largest number among Central Asian countries, 12 of which entered the global Top 1000.

International programmes in Tashkent

Over 30 branches and campuses of foreign universities

United Kingdom
Westminster International University
Economics, finance, business, IT
South Korea
Inha University
Engineering, IT, digital technologies
Italy
Turin Polytechnic University
Mechanical and industrial engineering
USA
Webster University
International business, finance, management
Singapore
MDIS Tashkent
Business, logistics, tourism
Russia
Lomonosov Moscow State University branch
Natural sciences, mathematics, economics

Priority training areas for investors

Engineering and technical professions
IT and digital technologies
Energy and renewables
Industrial manufacturing
Logistics and transport
Agro-industrial complex
Finance and economics
Construction

Targeted workforce training programmes tied to specific investment projects are widely used and supported at the level of national policy.

Learn more

Economy
GDP growth, FDI inflow, macroeconomic stability
Sectors
Energy, mining, agribusiness, technology
Doing business
Investment law, PPP mechanisms and incentives
Contacts
Get in touch with the Investment Promotion Agency

Key sources for investors

Official national and international sources

Data is based on materials from the World Bank, the IMF, the OECD, QS, Times Higher Education and the Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Updated in June 2026.