Uzbekistan postpones population census to 2026

A draft presidential decree outlining the details of the 2026 census has been published on the official portal for discussing legislative acts. According to the document, a Republican commission will be established, along with territorial commissions under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as the regional governments and the city of Tashkent. These bodies will facilitate the organization and execution of the census.

In preparation for the census, Uzbekistan plans to acquire the necessary technical and software tools in 2024–2026, financed through concessional loans from the World Bank. Additionally, authorities have been tasked with installing street name signs, numbering houses and yards, and completing these efforts by July 1, 2025.

The draft decree is open for public discussion until November 6.

Uzbekistan has not conducted a population census since 1989, despite talks of holding one since 2017. The census was initially scheduled for 2022 but was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, plans to conduct an electronic census were introduced, with a dedicated website, logo, and slogan—"Be Part of New Uzbekistan!"—but the census ultimately did not take place.