Uzbekistan: immigration

How many people emigrate from Uzbekistan?

10,117 people left Uzbekistan to live abroad permanently in 2025, and 1,159 people arrived from abroad to settle, according to the National Statistics Committee's demography data. In 2024 the figures were 10,842 and 2,229.

These counts cover only registered changes of permanent residence. They do not include the much larger number of Uzbek citizens who work abroad temporarily, mainly in Russia and Kazakhstan, while keeping their registration at home. Their remittances are recorded by the Central Bank in the balance of payments, and the World Bank puts personal remittances at 14.4% of GDP in 2025.

Official sources: National Statistics Committee: Demography · Central Bank: Balance of payments review, H1 2026 · World Bank: Personal remittances received, % of GDP, Uzbekistan

How many foreigners visit Uzbekistan?

9,102,729 foreign citizens visited Uzbekistan for tourism in January to August 2026, 21.1% more than in the same months of 2025, according to the National Statistics Committee. The largest numbers came from the Kyrgyz Republic (2,524,378), Kazakhstan (2,171,581) and Tajikistan (2,025,400), followed by Russia (867,757).

The committee counts arrivals at the border by declared purpose. Most visitors come from neighbouring countries. The same person crossing several times is counted at each entry.

Official sources: National Statistics Committee: 9.1 million tourists visited Uzbekistan in 8 months

How many foreign students come to Uzbekistan?

29,548 foreign nationals arrived in Uzbekistan to study in January to August 2026, 2.1 times as many as a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Committee. The largest groups came from Turkmenistan (11,986), India (6,163) and Tajikistan (2,271), followed by China (1,311) and Pakistan (1,252).

The figures count entries with study declared as the purpose, so they measure arrivals in the period rather than the total number of foreign students enrolled at a given date.

Official sources: National Statistics Committee: Foreign nationals arriving for study

Where do people from Uzbekistan travel abroad?

5.3 million citizens of Uzbekistan travelled abroad for tourism in January to August 2026, 109,900 more than a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Committee. The most visited countries were the Kyrgyz Republic (2,427,526 trips), Kazakhstan (955,829) and Tajikistan (876,650), followed by Russia (257,567), Türkiye (212,265) and Saudi Arabia (184,155).

Trips to Saudi Arabia include pilgrimages. These are trips recorded at the border with tourism as the declared purpose, so the figures do not measure labour migration.

Official sources: National Statistics Committee: Top 10 countries most visited by citizens of Uzbekistan

How many refugees and stateless people are there in Uzbekistan?

UNHCR counted 5 refugees and 16,000 stateless people in Uzbekistan at the end of 2025, according to the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. At the end of 2024 it recorded 8,505 refugees and 20,000 stateless people. UNHCR also lists 7,700 other people in need of international protection in 2025.

Uzbekistan is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the large change between 2024 and 2025 reflects how people are classified as well as movements.

Official sources: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder

How many immigrants live in Uzbekistan?

3.2%: that is the share of people born abroad in Uzbekistan for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It was 3.8% in 2015. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 11.7%, and Uzbekistan placed 45th highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 111th highest.

What is net migration in Uzbekistan?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -6,987. Since 2005 it has ranged from -33,386 (2005) to -5,007 (2022). Europe & Central Asia median: 158; Uzbekistan is 33rd highest of 52. Worldwide: 121st of 193.

How many refugees does Uzbekistan host?

In 2025, the number of refugees in the country in Uzbekistan was 5, according to UNHCR. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 50th highest of 50 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 62,365. Worldwide: 157th of 169.

How many refugees have fled Uzbekistan?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Uzbekistan was 5,164 in 2025. The peak was 12,667 in 2011 and the low 3,014 in 2021. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 533, and Uzbekistan placed 13th highest of 49. Worldwide: 77th of 189.

How big are remittances in Uzbekistan's economy?

14.4% of GDP: that is personal remittances received in Uzbekistan for 2025, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 16.5% of GDP; its low point was 2015, at 5.0% of GDP. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.4% of GDP, and Uzbekistan placed 2nd highest of 47. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 11th highest.