World Enivironmental Issues Brief

  • LARGE AREAS SUBJECT TO OVERPOPULATION
  • INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS
  • POLLUTION (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances)
  • LOSS OF VEGETATION (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification)
  • LOSS OF WILDLIFE
  • SOIL DEGRADATION
  • SOIL DEPLETION
  • EROSION
  • GLOBAL WARMING

Pinkham.com - 8

Global Issues Snapshots

Error message

Notice: A non well formed numeric value encountered in number_field_formatter_view() (line 283 of /var/www/html/8/modules/field/modules/number/number.module).

Uzbekistan

— Current Environmental Issues —
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT

— Health Indicators —
HIV / AIDS prevalancy rate: 0.0
Fertility Rate: 2.9
Infant Mortality Rate: 68.9
Life Expectancy at Birth: Male: 61.6
Life Expectancy at Birth: Female: 69.0
Life Expectancy at Birth: Total Population: 65.0

— Population —
Population Total: 27,780,059
Population Growth Rate: 1.7

— Economic Indicators —
GDP Real Growth Rate: 6.8
Military Expendatures Percent of GDP: 2.0
Unemployment Rate: 3.0
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6
GDP Per Capita PPP: 2,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 33
    (Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations.)

— Education and Communications —
Global Issues Snapshots
Global Issues Snapshots
Bordering country: Afghanistan
Bordering country: Kazakhstan
Bordering country: Kyrgyzstan
Bordering country: Tajikistan
Bordering country: Turkmenistan

— Background —
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.