THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN: GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION, ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL DIVISION, POPULATION AND CLIMATE

The Republic of Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country in the heart of Central Asia, occupies a strategically vital position that has shaped its history, economy and society for millennia. Covering an area of 448,978 km², it is bordered by five nations and is the only country in the world whose every neighbour is also landlocked. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Uzbekistan’s geographical location and relief, its current administrative-territorial structure (12 regions, one autonomous republic and the capital city), demographic dynamics (population exceeded 37 million in 2025), ethnic and urban–rural distribution, and its sharply continental arid climate. The interrelationship between these factors continues to influence water management, agricultural productivity, urbanisation trends and sustainable development strategies in one of the fastest-growing nations in Central Asia.