Uzbekistan to Conduct Combined Population and Agricultural Census in 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 11 September, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals for the effective organization of a combined population and agricultural census, according to the press service of the head of state.
The last nationwide census in Uzbekistan was held in 1989. In recent years, steps have been taken to modernize the process: the Law on Population Census was adopted, stipulating that a census must be conducted at least once every ten years, while agricultural censuses are to be held every five years. A trial population census was conducted in 2021, followed by an agricultural survey in 2022. A full-scale census was postponed to study international experience and prepare necessary measures.
The plan proposes a unified census of population and agriculture with the participation of the World Bank, UNFPA, and FAO. According to the schedule, the census will be held from 15 January to 28 February 2026: the first 17 days will be conducted online via the internet, followed by a door-to-door survey with the involvement of the “mahalla seven” community representatives.
This new format is expected to save around 1.3 trillion soums and make the process more transparent. The number of questions has been reduced from 328 to 71. The census will create a single database covering the country’s 38 million residents, including information on migration, marital status, employment, and income, in line with the recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians.
Agricultural data will also be refined, including land use, livestock, and poultry numbers, enabling an assessment of the effectiveness of the 25.6 trillion soums allocated annually to the sector, including 2.2 trillion soums from the state budget.
To ensure a high-quality census, training and financial incentives will be provided to the “mahalla seven” representatives under the World Bank project for strengthening statistical systems. An information campaign will also be organized through media and social networks.
The results of the census will provide up-to-date data on demographic and agricultural conditions, necessary for the targeted and effective implementation of state programs.
The President approved the proposals and instructed authorities to ensure a systematic and high-quality census. Earlier, an alternative schedule was considered from 15 July to 21 August 2026.