Uzbekistan sees steep rise in university graduates over the last decade

According to data from the National Statistics Committee, the number of graduates from higher education institutions in Uzbekistan has increased 3.2 times over the past 10 years.

In 2024, a total of 211,200 students graduated from universities and other higher education institutions operating in the country. This figure is 144,900 higher than the number recorded in 2015, when just 66,300 students graduated.

A year-by-year breakdown shows a consistent rise in graduates in recent years, especially after 2020, reflecting major reforms and increased enrollment in the higher education sector:

• 2015 – 66,300 graduates
• 2016 – 64,100
• 2017 – 67,400
• 2018 – 70,300
• 2019 – 70,800
• 2020 – 83,900
• 2021 – 103,900
• 2022 – 102,400
• 2023 – 184,100
• 2024 – 211,200

The sharp increase, particularly from 2020 onward, is attributed to expanded university admission quotas, the opening of new higher education institutions—including international branch campuses—and greater access to education across Uzbekistan’s regions.