Healthcare and education top corruption statistics in Uzbekistan

Speaking at a press conference in Tashkent on 6 February, Burkhanov said that a total of 5,222 corruption-related crimes were recorded nationwide in 2025, representing an 8.6% decline compared with 5,716 cases registered in 2024.

The highest number of corruption offences was detected in the healthcare sector, as well as in preschool and general secondary education, and local government bodies. More than 300 cases were linked to local administrations, with over 80% of these involving assistants to mayors, Burkhanov said.

“Due to the large number of corruption-prone factors in this area, such offences occur more frequently,” he noted, adding that the agency had conducted a detailed analysis of the issue.

Regionally, the number of corruption crimes increased in Fergana and Surkhandarya regions, while a decline was recorded in Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Tashkent, and Samarkand regions. Among local governments, the highest number of cases in 2025 was reported in Tashkent city (612), Tashkent region (584), and Fergana region (455).

Burkhanov said measures are being taken to eliminate the human factor in the allocation of subsidies and concessional loans by removing the involvement of mayor assistants and the so-called “neighborhood seven.” These processes are expected to be fully digitized.

“I believe that in 2026 we will be able to sharply reduce the share of corruption crimes committed by mayor assistants,” he said.

The Anti-Corruption Agency also reviewed 192 public procurement contracts worth a total of UZS 673.3 billion in 2025, identifying multiple legal violations. As a result, administrative penalties were imposed on 14 individuals, disciplinary measures on 12 others, and criminal cases were opened in two instances.

At the end of December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev described corruption as a key threat to Uzbekistan’s development and announced the introduction of a new anti-corruption oversight system starting in 2026. The system has been rolled out across all government bodies since 1 January.

“Those who think, ‘I have a position and a title, no one will touch me,’ are mistaken,” the president warned.