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Uzbekistan’s agriculture in new figures. What discrepancies did the census reveal?
The census made it possible to clarify data on sown areas, orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, livestock, poultry and fishponds. The results for a number of indicators differed significantly from previously published statistics.
Nearly 1 million hectares of previously unrecorded land identified
As a result of the census, an additional 985.4 thousand hectares of land that had not been covered by previous statistical observations were recorded. The largest share was sown areas — 789.6 thousand hectares.
A representative of the National Statistics Committee explained that geoinformation technologies and satellite imagery were used together with the Uzbekcosmos agency in processing the census results. Specialists studied vegetation cover images for about two years, compared them with cadastral data, and then went out into the field to identify land users and include them in the statistics.
According to the final census results, the area of land under annual open-field crops amounted to 4.21 million hectares.
Natural hayfields and pastures occupy 21.17 million hectares, perennial plantings — almost 3.5 million hectares, forests and other forest-covered lands — 3.57 million hectares.
Another 560.1 thousand hectares are classified as temporarily unsown land, and 652.8 thousand hectares are used for fish farming.
Of the total area under annual crops, 2.32 million hectares, or 55.1%, are accounted for by farms. Another 788.7 thousand hectares (18.7%) are used by dehkan and household plots of the population.
At the same time, 89% of natural hayfields and pastures are used by organizations engaged in agricultural activity.
The area of greenhouses turned out to be almost three times larger than previous data
One of the most significant discrepancies was found in the accounting of greenhouses. Before the census, their total area was estimated at 8 thousand hectares. After clarification, the figure increased to 22.1 thousand hectares, that is, about 2.8 times.
Of this, 15.3 thousand hectares (69.2%) are in dehkan and household plots of the population, while the remaining 6.8 thousand hectares are with legal entities.
Thus, most greenhouse areas are accounted for by small household farms rather than farms and large agricultural enterprises.
The area of orchards and vineyards was also higher than previous data — 613 thousand hectares instead of 516.3 thousand. The difference amounted to 96.7 thousand hectares, or 18.7%.
In particular, the area of fruit plantings reached 456.7 thousand hectares, and vineyards — 156.3 thousand.
Farms account for 194.7 thousand hectares of fruit plantings (42.6%) and 78 thousand hectares of vineyards (49.9%).
Dehkan and household plots occupy 140.7 thousand hectares of fruit orchards (30.8%) and 54.6 thousand hectares of vineyards (34.9%), respectively.
Grain and industrial crops occupy more than 70% of sown land
Of the total area of land under annual crops, almost half — 1.997 million hectares (47.4%) — is accounted for by grain and leguminous crops. Industrial crops occupy another 1.013 million hectares, or 24%. Together, these two groups make up 71.4% of sown areas.
Distribution of areas under annual crops in 2025:
At the same time, the structure of land use differs significantly depending on the category of farm.
Legal entities account for 81.3% of the area under annual open-field crops. However, dehkan and household plots use the bulk of the land under vegetables and potatoes.
In particular, households account for 243.6 thousand of the 340.5 thousand hectares of vegetable crops (about 72%) and 110.8 thousand of the 133.1 thousand hectares of potatoes (about 83%).
A significant share of land under industrial crops is used by farms — 708.5 thousand of the 1.013 million hectares.
Raspberry areas turned out to be 27 times larger, cauliflower 11 times larger
The census revealed significant discrepancies for individual agricultural crops.
In particular, the area under raspberry cultivation was revised from 119 to 3,281 hectares — 27.6 times. The area under cauliflower increased from 471 to 5,189 hectares — 11 times, medicinal plants — from 5,096 to 24,802 hectares (4.9 times), strawberries — from 1,778 to 5,436 hectares (3.1 times).
In addition, the statistics for the first time separately recorded the areas of a number of crops that had not previously been singled out in observations.
Among them are ferula — 12,675 hectares, broccoli — 6,060 hectares, licorice — 5,289 hectares, lavender — 2,994 hectares, blueberries — 490 hectares.
Also separately recorded were areas for growing seedlings of vegetable and melon crops (2,096 hectares), lilac (1,530 hectares) and citrus fruits — lime, oranges and tangerines (201 hectares).
The National Statistics Committee emphasizes that such changes characterize a refinement of statistical coverage, not an actual multiple increase in plantings in a single year.
Grain, vegetable and fruit production revised upward
Clarification of sown areas made it possible to revise agricultural production volumes for 2025 as well.
According to updated data, 11 million tons of grain were produced in Uzbekistan — 8.6% more than the previously published figure.
Vegetable production was revised to 14.4 million tons (+5.2%), and melon crops to 4.2 million tons (+28.2%).
Fruit and berry production amounted to 4.1 million tons (+18.5%), and grapes to 2.3 million tons (+14.5%).
As a result, the estimated value of crop production for 2025 was increased from 243 trillion to 290.6 trillion soums — by 47.6 trillion soums, or 19.6%.
The committee explained that these changes do not mean additional production during the census period. The statistics include volumes that had not previously been fully reflected in the calculations.
The cattle population turned out to be 2.3 million head lower
The census showed the opposite results in livestock farming.
As of January 15, 2026, the cattle population in Uzbekistan amounted to 12.24 million head — almost 2.3 million less than the previous statistical estimate.
At the same time, 10.65 million head, or 87.1%, are kept in dehkan and household plots of the population. Legal entities account for only 12.9%.
Of the total cattle population, about 4.22 million head are cows. Of these, 3.6 million are kept by individuals, and 622.3 thousand by legal entities.
The total sheep and goat population amounted to 23.09 million head. Of these, about 20.29 million are sheep and 2.8 million are goats.
Households keep 16.47 million sheep and goats, or 71.3% of the total herd. The remaining 28.7% are accounted for by legal entities.
The census also recorded 251.1 thousand horses, 35.5 thousand camels, 45.7 thousand pigs and 573.8 thousand fur-bearing animals.
The total poultry population amounted to 120.9 million head. Unlike cattle and small livestock, the majority of poultry (61.7%) is kept by legal entities. Dehkan and household plots account for 38.3%.
In addition, there are 917.1 thousand bee colonies in the country, of which 711.9 thousand, or about 78%, are in households.
Beef and milk production estimates lowered
Clarification of livestock numbers led to a revision of livestock production indicators.
According to the National Statistics Committee, the estimated volume of beef production for 2025 turned out to be 13.1% lower than before, and milk — almost 19.2% lower.
This is a change in previously published statistical data, not an indicator of an actual decline in production in 2025 compared with the previous year.
The census also made it possible to obtain data on methods of keeping animals in agricultural organizations.
In particular, according to preliminary data, legal entities accounted for 24.5 thousand units of stationary animal housing, 15.3 thousand of pasture-based housing, 14.2 thousand of cage housing for poultry and rabbits, and another 1.1 thousand of industrial (factory) housing.
These indicators characterize the recorded methods of keeping animals, not the number of livestock raised using each technology.
Fish catch estimate increased more than twofold
A significant revision also took place in fisheries.
According to the census results, the area of water bodies used for fish farming was estimated at 652.8 thousand hectares — 15% more than previous data.
Of this, 647.6 thousand hectares are accounted for by legal entities, and 5.2 thousand by dehkan and household plots.
Based on updated information on fish-farming water bodies and produced output, the estimated volume of fish catch increased 2.2 times — from 205.5 thousand to 446.5 thousand tons.
In a separate infographic of the National Statistics Committee with preliminary census results, it is also indicated that 7.3 thousand legal entity farms are engaged in fish farming.
At the same time, 5.6 thousand units with artificial water bodies and 2.7 thousand with natural ones were recorded.
The sum of the two categories exceeds the total number of farms, which may be explained by one farm using several types of water bodies. The methodology for such accounting is not specified in the presented materials.
How agricultural land is irrigated in Uzbekistan
The census made it possible to obtain data on water sources and the irrigation methods used for agricultural land.
According to the infographic with preliminary results, traditional surface irrigation remains the most common among legal entities — it is indicated for 108.6 thousand accounting units.
For comparison, drip irrigation is noted for 5.1 thousand units, irrigation through flexible pipes for 4.1 thousand, sprinkler irrigation for 1.3 thousand, and discrete irrigation for 500.
As a water source, surface water is most often indicated — 103.7 thousand units. Groundwater is used in 13.4 thousand units, tap water in 1.6 thousand, and treated wastewater in 600.
It should be borne in mind that the statistics are presented by the number of accounting units of legal entities, not by land area. They do not allow one to directly determine the share of sown areas irrigated using water-saving technologies.
Separate data on the area of land under each irrigation method are needed for such an assessment.
Women head about 12% of farms
According to detailed tables from the National Statistics Committee, in 2025 the number of main employees of legal entities engaged in agricultural activity was 629.3 thousand people. Of these, 452.8 thousand were men (72%), and 176.5 thousand were women (28%).
The largest share of workers was in farms — 417.3 thousand people. Another 210.6 thousand people worked in other organizations engaged in agricultural activity.
Separately, the census identified 400 thousand seasonal workers, including 210.6 thousand men and 189.4 thousand women.
For the first time, a separate infographic presents data on the gender and age composition of heads of agricultural enterprises.
According to preliminary data, among 93.1 thousand heads of farms, 82.2 thousand are men and only 10.9 thousand are women. Thus, women account for about 11.7% of heads of farms, and men for 88.3%.
Overall, among 160.5 thousand heads of organizations represented in the agricultural block of statistics, 132 thousand are men and 28.5 thousand are women. The share of women is about 17.8%.
The largest number of heads falls into the 35–44 age group — 55.3 thousand people. Of these, 45.9 thousand are men and 9.4 thousand are women.
They are followed by heads aged 45–54 — 45.2 thousand people — and those aged 55 and older — 34.2 thousand.
The 25–34 age group includes 23.4 thousand heads, while those under 25 number only 2.4 thousand, or about 1.5% of the total.
Thus, among the heads of recorded legal entities in the agricultural sector, middle-aged and older men predominate.
Households are mainly engaged in growing seedlings
The census also made it possible to clarify the number of farms engaged in growing various types of seedlings.
In particular, 920.5 thousand farms were engaged in growing grape seedlings. Of these, 918.1 thousand were dehkan and private household plots of the population — 99.7%.
Fruit tree seedlings were grown by 375.6 thousand farms, including 365 thousand dehkan and household plots.
Poplar seedlings were grown by 400.4 thousand farms, mulberry by 267.1 thousand, ornamental trees by 257.5 thousand, and paulownia by 34.3 thousand.
Why the results differ so much from previous statistics
Speaking at the November 13 press conference, Deputy Chairman of the National Statistics Committee Zokhidzhon Ziyaev noted that the population and agricultural census became one of the largest events within the reform of national statistics.
According to him, the collected information makes it possible to more fully assess land use, the structure of agricultural activity and other indicators necessary for state planning.
Committee representative Jakhongir Kambarov emphasized that census results may differ from previous statistical data due to the specifics of the methods used to collect them and the sources of information.
During the census, the data were formed on the basis of information provided by participants and were compared with administrative information and previous statistical observations.
Previously, statistics were focused mainly on plots officially classified in the cadastre as agricultural land.
Now, territories actually used for agriculture but having a different official designation were also taken into account.
As examples, the committee representative cited land plots of industrial enterprises and orchards on the territories of social institutions.
Therefore, the identified changes — an increase in areas under certain crops, a decrease in recorded livestock numbers, or a revision of agricultural production — should not automatically be interpreted as changes that occurred directly in 2025–2026.
The information obtained will be used to refine agricultural statistics and other economic indicators.
The National Statistics Committee also said that the publication of detailed census results will continue, including with greater detail by regions and districts.
A phased publication of data is planned until July 1, 2027. Some of the results were presented ahead of the established deadline.
The first-ever nationwide agricultural census in independent Uzbekistan was conducted simultaneously with the population census from January 15 to February 28, 2026.
Gazeta also wrote that Uzbekistan’s population census identified 39 million residents for the first time in 37 years. The National Statistics Committee clarified the share of the urban population, life expectancy, age structure, ethnic composition, marital status and level of education.
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