Uzbekistan lags behind regional peers in wage growth – Central Bank

In recent quarters, the growth of real wages in Uzbekistan has been relatively lower compared to neighboring countries in the region, the Central Bank said in its report.

In particular, in January–March of this year, the average growth of real wages in Central Asian countries stood at 9.8%, and in some Caucasus countries – at 9.1%, while in Uzbekistan the figure was only 7.2%.

“If this gap with comparable countries persists in the near future, it will lead to a decline in the purchasing power of Uzbekistan’s labor market participants and a weakening of demand for domestic goods and services,” the report stated.

Minimum wage

In the first quarter of 2025, the minimum wage in Uzbekistan amounted to $91.

For comparison:

• Belarus – $243
• Azerbaijan – $235
• Mongolia – $222

Thus, Uzbekistan ranks among the countries with the lowest minimum wages.

Ratio of minimum wage to GDP

The annual minimum wage in Uzbekistan, calculated as a share of per capita GDP, amounted to 35%. This is also one of the lowest levels compared to other countries in the region.

For comparison:

• Kazakhstan – 14%
• Kyrgyzstan – 14%
• Georgia – 12%

In other countries of the region, the indicators are closer to one another and relatively higher.