Uzbekistan to roll out new national data governance system

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the preliminary results of the 2026 national population and agricultural censuses on 2 September 2026, approving plans to establish a Data Governance Commission and launch a National Data Platform by 1 July 2027.

Preliminary figures from the 2026 census placed Uzbekistan's permanent population at 39,047,000 people. The census clarified the residence and social status of 810,600 citizens who were previously unrecorded in official accounts. Regional comparisons revealed significant discrepancies with prior statistical estimates, including a population count 1.6 times higher than previously recorded in the Tashkent district and 15.8 percent lower in the city of Andijan.

The agricultural census updated boundaries for 985,500 hectares of previously unrecorded land, including 789,500 hectares of cultivated crops, 14,100 hectares of greenhouses, 75,300 hectares of orchards, 21,400 hectares of vineyards, and 85,000 hectares of aquaculture ponds. Digitalization allowed enumeration to be completed in 15 days, with online coverage reaching 82.3 percent at a cost of under 1,500 soums per person.

Official data presented during the meeting indicated that the unobserved economy accounts for 23 percent of national GDP, or 246 trillion soums, reaching 60 percent in the agricultural sector. Additionally, 42 percent of the 15.2 million employed individuals—approximately 6.5 million people—do not have their full incomes reflected in official statistics.

To address these gaps, Uzbekistan will conduct a national business census from 15 October to 30 November 2026 to inventory operating economic entities and update business registers.

Under the approved statistical reform roadmap through 2030, the government plans to establish a Data Governance Commission comprising representatives from key ministries and agencies. The commission is mandated to audit government data systems by 1 December 2026 and approve an enhancement plan by 1 May 2027.

The initiative will culminate in the launch of the National Data Platform by 1 July 2027 to integrate state datasets, expand AI-driven analytical tools, and publish statistical information in machine-readable formats. A Data Management School and an Open Data Rating for government bodies will also be introduced.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan plans to conduct a Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey in 2027–2028 and undergo an evaluation by the International Monetary Fund to assess the compliance of its national statistical system with international standards. President Mirziyoyev instructed officials to integrate the census findings into upcoming state development programs.