Standard of living
Uzbekistan ranks sixty-seventh in the world out of 217 in terms of living standards. The indicator is compared with the population income level. What do ordinary residents of Uzbekistan breathe today? The average salary of workers in the capital is approximately two hundred dollars. This is much lower compared to countries with thriving economies. A trip on public transport costs two to three dollars, and a day of treatment in a hospital will cost about fifteen dollars. But citizens also have the opportunity to receive free treatment.
Food prices are gradually increasing. Reasonable prices for food in supermarkets in large cities. You can shop much cheaper at the market. There is a wide selection and lower prices. You can bargain and get discounts ranging from 15-20%. This is how they live in Uzbekistan.
Villages in Uzbekistan
Today, the life of ordinary people in villages is lively. It's not easy for most of the residents, but they work hard to provide a good life for their families. The roads there are good, the streets are always clean. There are small shops and schools. Almost all houses are built in the letter P. Inside there is a plot of land intended for a garden. Herbs, vegetables, and watermelons are grown here. Fruit trees such as cherries, pears, pomegranates, and persimmons are also grown on the plots. Large areas are occupied by vineyards. Residents of the villages are also involved in livestock farming. In the courtyards you can find sheep, chickens, and cows.
Every home must have a tandoor and a large cauldron. A tandoor is a clay oven for making flatbread. Every housewife bakes flat cakes every day, without which it is impossible to imagine a tea party. Uzbek cauldron, intended for preparing a signature dish - pilaf. Food in the villages consists mainly of natural and healthy products.
A country's economy
Uzbekistan is a rapidly developing state in the economic sphere. Agriculture is the best developed area. Main products: cotton, grain crops, vegetables and fruits. Uzbekistan supplies mainly agricultural products to other countries. Mineral fertilizers and gas are exported. There are always good reviews about Uzbek products on the world market. The tourism business makes a small contribution to the economy, as tourists from different countries come to see the country’s sights.
Popular professions and salaries
Positive changes are now taking place in the economy. But wages are much lower compared to other countries, even in prestigious professions. The following professions are most in demand: salesman, driver, programmer, builder, engineer, policeman. Drivers and salespeople have the lowest salaries ($110-130). How much do people in the most in-demand professions earn? Programmers up to 320, and builders up to 300 dollars per month. This is the income of qualified specialists in Uzbekistan.
Economy
The economic basis of modern Uzbekistan was created during the Soviet period. Agriculture is focused on growing cotton and grains. The country ranks third in the world in terms of cotton export volumes, and sixth in terms of production. The share of agriculture in GDP is 17%. In addition to cotton and wheat, vegetables and melons are grown in the country's fields. About 95% of agricultural products are produced by dehkans (farmers).
An important component in the economy of Uzbekistan is gas exports
Uzbekistan took 11th place in the world ranking of gas exporters, fifth in uranium production, and the total gold reserves in the Uzbek subsoil place it in fourth place in the world . The share of industrial production in GDP was 24%, more than 50% is occupied by the service sector. The country is actively exploring and further developing mineral deposits; they constitute a significant part of exports.
Thus, oil reserves in Uzbekistan are estimated by experts at 5 billion tons, gas reserves at more than 5 trillion cubic meters.
The country's subsoil also contains large reserves of coal. An important gas pipeline from Central Asia to China passes through the territory of Uzbekistan. The main part of the country's industry is cotton production, food and engineering enterprises, and ferrous metallurgy.
Standard of living compared to Russia
How ordinary citizens live in Uzbekistan can be judged by the following factor: prices are rising, but people’s incomes are not increasing. Therefore, many people have to calculate their budget. Not every family has the opportunity to buy the most necessary goods.
If we compare the standard of living in Uzbekistan with that of Russians, there is only one conclusion: in Russia it is higher. Citizens living in regional centers and industrial cities have monthly incomes 3-4 times higher. Therefore, the working population goes abroad to work.
Life in mahallas of Uzbekistan
An interesting feature of public life in Uzbekistan is the mahalla. This is a kind of association of relatives and neighbors living in the same block, district or small village. Mahallas have existed for several centuries and have not yet become obsolete, especially in Uzbek villages. They even received recognition at the legislative level as self-government bodies.
The center of the mahalla is a teahouse or mosque where men gather to make joint decisions that affect all members of the community. There is an unspoken law by which conflicts are resolved, assistance is provided to those in need, and weddings or funerals are held. Such social structures have a great influence on peace and harmony between Uzbek residents and even on the formation of an original culture of the people. For most Uzbek citizens, public opinion is very important, and being expelled from the mahalla and losing its support is considered a real curse.
How do pensioners and children live?
The age at which people retire is 60 for men and 55 for women. To do this, you must have work experience of 25 years and 20 years, respectively. If the length of service is not enough, then upon reaching retirement age, a monthly benefit of $25.5 is paid. Mostly they receive little money, an average of $100. They are enough to cover the necessary set of products and pay for housing and communal services. Not every pensioner can buy the necessary clothes or afford any entertainment. But neither of them feels alone. Children support the elderly. The average life expectancy in Uzbekistan is 72 years. A significant portion of pensioners work. Those who are officially employed receive only 50% of their pensions.
https://youtu.be/vptocXoLg9o
In the photo you can see the happy faces of the children. Although Uzbekistan ranks 72nd in the world in terms of the quality of life of children. In compiling this rating, the premature end of childhood (child labor, mortality, early marriage) is taken into account. Public and private preschool institutions are open for children. But not everyone can afford a private kindergarten. Children are educated in schools from the age of seven. School education lasts for nine years. After this, children have the right to continue their studies at a college or lyceum. Young people can obtain higher education if they successfully pass the entrance exams. In March of this year, a new law was introduced on the right of the child to resolve issues in the family that are related to his interests.
Family and attitude towards women
Since ancient times, Uzbek men have played a dominant role in the family. They are responsible for making decisions and caring for the needs of family members. Women of Uzbekistan from childhood are brought up in subordination to the dominance of men; they see it not as an infringement of their rights, but as protection.
An important role of a woman in a family is taking care of the household and raising children. In cities, more and more representatives of the fairer sex are getting jobs. In villages, women, as in ancient times, do handicrafts, help their husbands on the land, and raise livestock.
Uzbek families are strong: divorce is rare here. According to tradition, parents choose a spouse for their son, focusing on the wealth and social position of the future bride’s family. Of course, modern marriages are increasingly concluded on the initiative of young people, and not by the choice of parents.
The modern institution of the family in Uzbekistan is undergoing great changes: for many centuries, polygamy was allowed according to Muslim traditions. Now the Islamic marriage ceremony - nikah, carried out without registration in the registry office, is prosecuted by law. This decision was made to protect the rights of women and children in Uzbek families. Also, early marriages at 13–14 years old were common. According to the latest laws, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years for men and 17 years for women.
Uzbeks are kind to children. Even men pamper and cherish children. From infancy, children learn to obey their elders. Mothers instill deep respect for the father's authority.
Accommodation in cities and villages
We will talk about life in the villages. Living in a rural area, you won’t be able to get a regular job. The main areas of activity are livestock farming and crop production. They are dominated by manual labor. Not every village has authorities that could protect human rights. Therefore, mainly old people, women and children live here. Most of the working-age population leaves to work in cities or abroad. Visiting people also rarely stay in such places permanently.
The quality of life in the city is much better. More employment opportunities. There is the possibility of organizing cultural leisure.
The best cities to live in Uzbekistan
Tashkent. The capital of the country is famous for its museums and architectural monuments. There are prospects for improving the quality of life here. There is always work in various fields. Tourists love this city. Therefore, there are many vacancies in this area. The capital has higher salaries and people tend to move there.
Namangan. It is located more than 200 km from the capital. Big City. There are buildings of Soviet architecture here, the infrastructure is developed, and highly qualified personnel are always required.
Samarkand. Third city by population. Mausoleums and mosques attract tourists from all over the world. Samarkand is the economic center of Uzbekistan. Petrochemical and machine-building enterprises operate here.
Bukhara. One of the oldest cities in Uzbekistan. There are several hundred old mosques on its territory. The city is very popular among tourists. There is a permanent job in the tourism sector.
Russian schools
In the modern world, studying the Russian language is treated with respect and honor, since its knowledge plays a leading role in obtaining a quality education and successful employment, both at home and abroad.
In schools, classes have been formed where knowledge is presented in Russian, and quite often there are a large number of children from indigenous Uzbek families in them.
According to the Ministry of Education, there are secondary educational institutions in the country:
- 9629 – total number.
- Including those with Russian language of instruction - 903, where the number of students is more than 500 thousand people.
Statistics show how much attention and practice is paid to learning the Russian language in schools. Which indicates a favorable situation regarding the Russian-speaking population. Schools are of a mixed type, thereby giving children the opportunity to choose an interesting direction and develop their skills in building their future.
In colleges and technical schools, the ratio of language groups is 90 to 50 percent. This dynamics can be seen in 1,196 educational institutions.
Today, residents of large cities speak Russian quite fluently, which cannot be said about residents of remote areas; they still adhere to their native speech. This is due to the fact that in 1995, the Constitution of the country nominated Uzbek as the state language.
Moving to permanent residence
To enter Uzbekistan you must have a foreign passport. For Russians who plan to stay in the country for less than two months, a visa is not required. For a long stay, you must obtain the appropriate visa. Among Russians there are those who want to move to Uzbekistan for permanent residence. To do this, you need to obtain a residence permit, which allows you to live in the country for five years.
To obtain a residence permit, you need to collect a package of documents and contact the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the territory you are interested in. First, an application is filled out using a specific form. Attached to it: a valid international passport, birth certificate, certificate of residence, document on marital status, 5 photos and a receipt for payment of the state fee. Next, the documents are checked by authority. The Department of Migration and Citizenship Registration resolves the issue of residence permit status and registration.
People who moved to live in Uzbekistan feel fine. There is no language barrier; many residents speak Russian fluently.
Climate
The climate is sharply continental. Approximately 80% of the territory is occupied by plains, the rest by mountains. The Kyzylkum Desert is located in the center, Aralkum and Ustyurg in the north-west of the country.
Precipitation in Uzbekistan is uneven. Most of them are in mountainous areas, and a smaller part are in the steppes.
Summer in Uzbekistan is hot, starting in May and lasting until mid-October. The average temperature is about +32°C. Sometimes there are dust storms.
Autumn begins in October and lasts until December. Sometimes it rains. The air temperature is from +5 to +20°C. At the end of autumn the temperature drops to zero degrees.
Winter lasts from late December to mid-February. Most of the annual precipitation falls during winter. The temperature usually ranges from
-5°С to +10°С. The snow that falls may turn to rain or melt within a few days.
Spring begins in February and ends in May. The air warms up to +20°C, there is a strong wind, and it often rains. There are frosts.
general information
The Republic of Uzbekistan is located in the very center of Central Asia, bordering the Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Turkmens, Tajiks and Afghans. There is access to the sea, although to the Aral Sea, which is gradually drying up.
The first states were formed on the modern territory of Uzbekistan long before our era. Once upon a time, Khorezm and Bactria settled here. There are many ancient cities:
- Samarkand (8th century BC)
- Shakhrisabz (VII century BC)
- Khiva (VI century BC)
- Bukhara (IV century BC)
- Tashkent (2nd century BC)
Once upon a time, Alexander the Great himself came here and even married the daughter of the ruler of Bactria. The local resistance was very serious; Alexander the Great was forced to stay in the region.
Rulers and ruling clans were constantly changing. Tamerlane is considered one of the most significant in the history of these lands, who was able to significantly expand the territory of his state.
In the 19th century, the Russian Empire came here, having established its power, the Russians did not interfere with the customs and traditions of the local residents. What cannot be said about the advent of the Bolsheviks, which for many years, and maybe even decades, undermined the good attitude towards Russians among the local population. The Soviets ruthlessly established their power. In 1991, Uzbekistan declared independence from the USSR.
The highest point of Uzbekistan is Khazret-Sultan peak (4643 m). The country's territory is mainly covered by deserts and steppes; this is a huge part of the country where almost no one lives. Cities are concentrated in river valleys. The capital is Tashkent, where, according to various sources, 2.5 million people now live
Tourism
Every year approximately 200 thousand tourists come to Uzbekistan, many of them are citizens of the CIS. The best time to explore the country is spring and autumn. The most visited cities are Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara.
Fans of active recreation visit the Chimgan and Beldersay ski slopes in winter.
Ethnic tours are very popular, allowing you to spend the night in a yurt, enjoy national dishes, ride a camel, and watch handmade silk production. Hospitable Uzbeks can even invite tourists to a wedding, and will be proud that a foreign guest was present at their wedding.
Prices for accommodation, excursions, meals are reasonable. A family of two will need $35-40 per day.
Product prices
Uzbekistan is famous for its low food prices. This country is famous for its variety of vegetables and fruits. Here you can always have a snack on the go. In any city there are enough establishments such as cafes, teahouses, and restaurants. On average, a check for lunch at a restaurant will be about 300 rubles per person.
It is better to buy the cheapest products at the market. Here is how much some products cost in rubles per 1 kilogram: strawberries - 31, carrots - 10, potatoes - 8, cherries - 28, apricots - 31, rice - 35-38.
In stores the price of products is also low. Prices for some of them are indicated in rubles: cottage cheese - 20 per 0.2 kg, feta cheese - 139 per 1 kg, kefir - from 10 per 0.5 l, eggs - 30 per dozen, pork - 240 per 1 kg, chicken - 150 per 1 kg.
You can often hear positive reviews from tourists from Russia about low prices for vegetables and fruits in Uzbekistan.
Tips for those who have planned a trip to Uzbekistan:
- get acquainted in advance with the objects you want to visit;
- do not exchange large amounts of money, otherwise the bills may not fit in your wallet; in some retail outlets you can pay by card;
- when buying goods on the market, you can bargain;
- take light clothing made from natural materials, a hat, sunglasses;
- refuse revealing clothing, because the majority of residents are Muslims;
- if you are planning an excursion to a temple or mosque, choose clothes that cover your elbows and knees, and for women, cover their heads with a headscarf.
