Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The number of Uzbek citizens travelling abroad for education fell by 33% in January–September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, with 16,522 people leaving the country to study, according to the National Statistics Committee.
The figure was 8,100 lower than in the first nine months of 2025, representing a decline of 33%, the committee said.
Russia was the most popular destination for Uzbek citizens studying abroad in January–September 2026, replacing Tajikistan, which ranked first during the same period in 2025.
A total of 3,847 Uzbek citizens travelled to Russia for education in the first nine months of 2026. The Kyrgyz Republic ranked second, with 2,809 people, followed by the Republic of Korea, which received 2,118 Uzbek students.
Türkiye was the destination for 1,818 Uzbek citizens travelling abroad to study, while 1,248 went to China and 1,112 to Kazakhstan. Tajikistan, the leading destination in the corresponding period of 2025, received 904 Uzbek citizens for educational purposes in January–September 2026.
Other destinations included the United Kingdom, which received 784 Uzbek citizens, Germany with 374 and the United States with 231.
A further 1,277 Uzbek citizens travelled to other countries for education during the nine-month period.
The data indicate a shift in the leading destination for Uzbek citizens studying abroad, with Russia taking the top position in 2026 after Tajikistan led in the corresponding period of the previous year.
