Uzbekistan

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Uzbekistan
Population: 34,382,000
Principal Languages: Northern Uzbek, Russian
Literacy Rate: 100% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966)
General References: Akiner 1983, Campbell and King 2011, Paper 1978, Sebeok 1963
Deaf Population: 22,060
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Uzbekistan is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 7 are developing, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 26 unestablished languages and 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Arabic, Uzbeki Spoken auz: Bukhoro, Navoiy, and Qashqadaryo regions; Samarkand region, middle and lower Zerafshan valley, some in Katta-Kurgan town; small villages. Users: 700 (1992 G. Watson). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Central Asian Arabic, Jugari, Jugari Arabic, Uzbeki Arabic, Uzbekistan Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Toshkent City; Samarqand region. Users: 65,700 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Azerbaijani, North azj: Scattered. Users: 59,600 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Bashkort bak: Scattered. Users: 46,500 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Belarusian bel: Scattered. Users: 21,200 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Bukharic bhh: Bukhoro region: cultural center. Users: 3,840 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bokharian, Bokharic, Bukharan, Bukharin, Judeo-Tajik Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Chechen che: Users: 1,700 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Chuvash chv: Samarqand and Toshkent regions. Users: 13,100 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
Crimean Tatar crh: Navoiy and Samarqand regions. Users: 177,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Crimean Turkish, Qırım Türkçesi, Qirim, Qirimtatar Classification: Turkic, Southern
Dargwa dar: Khorezm province: north. Users: 2,600 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi
Dungan dng: Users: 1,700 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Erzya myv: Toshkent region. Users: 16,200 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
Georgian kat: Khorezm region: north near Turkmenistan border. Users: 6,200 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
German, Standard deu: Users: 17,200 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 5,300 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Karakalpak kaa: Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic; Bukhoro, Navoiy, and Khorezm regions along lower Amu river, south Aral Sea area. Users: 726,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Ethnic population: 726,000 (2019 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 869,870. Status: 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Karakalpakstan (1995, Official Language Law (amended), 3561-XI, Article 3). Alternate Names: Kara-Kalpak, Karaklobuk, Klobouki, Tchorny Autonym: Qaraqalpaq tili, Қарақалпақ тили‎ (Qaraqalpaq tili) Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Kazakh kaz: Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic; Bukhoro, Jizzakh, Navoiy, and Sirdaryo regions. Users: 824,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Ethnic population: 825,000 (2019 World Factbook). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Korean kor: Toshkent City. Users: 182,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Koreanic
Kyrgyz kir: Andijon, Farg’ona, and Namangan regions: scattered. Users: 282,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Lak lbe: Users: 3,700 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lak
Lezgi lez: Qoraqalpog’iston Republic: Amundaryo district, Nukus area. Users: 4,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Lithuanian lit: Users: 2,000 in Uzbekistan (2010 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Mari, Meadow mhr: Users: 5,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mari
Ossetic oss: Users: 7,800 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
Parya paq: Sukhondaryo region: upper Surkhandarya valley. Users: 1,000 in Uzbekistan (2008). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Unclassified
Persian, Iranian pes: Xorazm region; scattered elsewhere. Users: 33,300 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Polish pol: Users: 3,300 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romanian ron: Users: 8,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Major cities. Users: 11,800,000 in Uzbekistan (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 4,720,000 (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 759,000 (2019 World Factbook). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Rossiya Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 22,000 in Uzbekistan (2008 WFD). Another estimate: 100,000–200,000, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Tajik tgk: Bukhoro, Farg’ona, Navoiy, Qashqadaryo, Samarqand, and Surkhondaryo regions. Users: 1,450,000 in Uzbekistan (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 1,580,000 (2019 World Factbook). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Tajiki Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tatar tat: Users: 702,000 in Uzbekistan (2017). Ethnic population: 479,000 (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Turkish tur: Bukhoro, Jizzakh, Navoiy, Qashqadaryo, Samarqand, and Sirdaryo provinces. Users: 143,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Osmanli, Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turkmen tuk: Scattered along Turkmenistan border. Users: 197,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian
Udmurt udm: Users: 4,140 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Permian
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 72,700 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Uyghur uig: Andijon, Farg’ona, and Namangan regions; cultural centers: Andijon and Toshkent cities; scattered elsewhere. Users: 48,500 in Uzbekistan (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Uzbek uzb: Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 31,137,920. Status:
Uzbek, Northern uzn: Widespread. Users: 24,500,000 in Uzbekistan (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 27,600,000 (2019 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 27,746,540. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Official Language Law (amended), 3561-XI, Article 1). Alternate Names: oʻzbek, oʻzbekcha, Özbek Autonym: oʻzbek tili, ўзбек тили‎ (oʻzbek tili) Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Uzbek, Northern

[uzn] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Official Language Law (amended), 3561-XI, Article 1). 24,500,000 in Uzbekistan (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 27,600,000 (2019 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 27,746,540.

3 (Wider communication)

Russian

[rus] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 11,800,000 in Uzbekistan (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 4,720,000 (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 759,000 (2019 World Factbook).

5 (Dispersed)

Kazakh

[kaz] 5* (Dispersed). 824,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Ethnic population: 825,000 (2019 World Factbook).

Korean

[kor] 5* (Dispersed). 182,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Tajik

[tgk] 5* (Dispersed). 1,450,000 in Uzbekistan (2019 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 1,580,000 (2019 World Factbook).

Turkish

[tur] 5* (Dispersed). 143,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

5 (Developing)

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Developing). 65,700 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Crimean Tatar

[crh] 5* (Developing). 177,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Karakalpak

[kaa] 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Karakalpakstan (1995, Official Language Law (amended), 3561-XI, Article 3). 726,000 in Uzbekistan (2019). Ethnic population: 726,000 (2019 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 869,870.

6a (Vigorous)

Bukharic

[bhh] 6a* (Vigorous). 3,840 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 6a (Vigorous). 22,000 in Uzbekistan (2008 WFD). Another estimate: 100,000–200,000, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL).

8a (Moribund)

Arabic, Uzbeki Spoken

[auz] 8a (Moribund). 700 (1992 G. Watson).

Unestablished

Azerbaijani, North

[azj] Unestablished. 59,600 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Bashkort

[bak] Unestablished. 46,500 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Belarusian

[bel] Unestablished. 21,200 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Chechen

[che] Unestablished. 1,700 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Chuvash

[chv] Unestablished. 13,100 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Dargwa

[dar] Unestablished. 2,600 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Dungan

[dng] Unestablished. 1,700 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Erzya

[myv] Unestablished. 16,200 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Georgian

[kat] Unestablished. 6,200 in Uzbekistan (2019).

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 17,200 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 5,300 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Kyrgyz

[kir] Unestablished. 282,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Lak

[lbe] Unestablished. 3,700 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Lezgi

[lez] Unestablished. 4,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Lithuanian

[lit] Unestablished. 2,000 in Uzbekistan (2010 J. Leclerc).

Mari, Meadow

[mhr] Unestablished. 5,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Ossetic

[oss] Unestablished. 7,800 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Parya

[paq] Unestablished. 1,000 in Uzbekistan (2008).

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 33,300 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 3,300 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 8,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Tatar

[tat] Unestablished. 702,000 in Uzbekistan (2017). Ethnic population: 479,000 (2017).

Turkmen

[tuk] Unestablished. 197,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Udmurt

[udm] Unestablished. 4,140 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 72,700 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Uyghur

[uig] Unestablished. 48,500 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Uzbekistan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Uzbekistan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Uzbekistan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Uzbekistan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Uzbekistan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

View Terms
Each Ethnologue country digest is a licensed product with restricted terms of use. Before downloading the product, you must agree to the following terms:
- This is a license for individual use. Just as with a conventionally published book, it is a violation of copyright to make a copy and give it to others.
- You may not redistribute this work in any form, including ingesting the contents into a database that is shared with others or posting it on a web site (whether public or private).
To inquire about permission for reuse or redistribution, please use the Contact Us form in the footer.
I agree to the digest terms of use.
Digest of the languages of Uzbekistan ($149.95, 23 page PDF)

Uzbekistan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action