Updated
Overview
Uzbekistan has 3.4 times the population of Tajikistan: 37.05 million people against 10.79 million (2025).
Uzbekistan's economy is 8.3 times the size of Tajikistan's, at $147.04B versus $17.66B.
Per person, Uzbekistan is the wealthier of the two: $3,968 against $1,637 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Uzbekistan | Tajikistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $147.04B | $17.66B | 2025 | $114.97B / $14.21B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,968 | $1,637 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 7.7% | Higher: 8.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 6.0% | 2025 / 2016 | 9.6% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 28 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $351 | $140 | 2022 / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $83 | $74 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 37.05 million | 10.79 million | 2025 | 37.02 million / 10.59 million |
| Population growth | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 27.0 yrs | 22.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.45 | 2.99 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 72.5 yrs | 71.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 51% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 90% | 56% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 447,400 km² | 143,100 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 82.8/km² | 75.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 139 Mt | Lower: 11 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.8 t | Lower: 1.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.44B | $246.39M | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.9% | 1.8% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 68,000 | 17,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Tajikistan is growing faster: 8.4% annual GDP growth versus 7.7%.
Uzbekistan runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 6.0%.
Average monthly earnings favour Uzbekistan: $351 against $140 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Tajikistan is the younger society: median age 22.2 versus 27.0 years.
Uzbekistan is considerably more urbanized: 51% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in Uzbekistan (90% vs 56% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Uzbekistan is 3.1 times the size of Tajikistan: 447,400 km² versus 143,100 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Uzbekistan spends 5.8 times as much on defence as Tajikistan: $1.44B versus $246.39M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Uzbekistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.9% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Uzbekistan fields the larger armed forces: 68,000 personnel against 17,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Uzbekistan bigger than Tajikistan?
- Uzbekistan is larger by land area. Uzbekistan covers 447,400 km² while Tajikistan covers 143,100 km², so Uzbekistan is 3.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Uzbekistan or Tajikistan?
- Uzbekistan has the larger population: 37.05 million versus 10.79 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Uzbekistan richer than Tajikistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Uzbekistan is richer: $3,968 against $1,637. Total GDP tells the same story: $147.04B for Uzbekistan versus $17.66B for Tajikistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Uzbekistan or Tajikistan?
- Uzbekistan spends more: $1.44B versus $246.39M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).