Tashkent region jumps from seventh to third in population after census revision

At the beginning of 2026, the population of Tashkent region was estimated at around 3.2 million. However, the census data clarified that nearly 3.8 million people permanently reside in the area. This adjustment has pushed Tashkent region from 7th to 3th place in terms of population among the country's 14 administrative territories.

Conversely, the census showed lower population counts than official statistics in five regions: Namangan, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Bukhara. Meanwhile, the margin of error proved minimal in half of the country. In seven regions, the difference between official estimates and census results was under 1%, reflecting a low long-term statistical error rate. The smallest variance was recorded in Bukhara region, where the gap stood at just 0.1%.

The National Statistics Committee noted that the data compares current demographic registry figures from January 1, 2026, with the preliminary results of the census conducted in January–February 2026, meaning a slight time gap exists between the compared periods.

Explaining the 810,000 variance, the committee attributed the discrepancy between the demographic registry and the actual count to several factors. Regular estimates rely primarily on administrative records of births, deaths, and migration. Discrepancies often arise from internal migration, changes of residence, temporary relocations, or delayed updates to registration databases. During the census, data on households and residential properties was collected directly from residents. The use of online registration, the OneID system, tablets, and geolocation data helped expand coverage, while foreign citizens residing in Uzbekistan for over a year were also accounted for.

Such variations are common in international practice. For instance, census counts exceeded regular statistical estimates in Canada by +3.15%, Kazakhstan by +1.6%, and Russia by +1.12%. In contrast, census results dropped below official estimates in Belarus by -0.7% and Australia by -0.2%. Uzbekistan's variance stood at +2.1%, aligning with global trends and indicating that the census has successfully provided a more accurate picture of the country's actual population.