Uzbekistan: flag, capital, currency and history

Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, is a country in Central Asia, Asia. Its capital is Tashkent. The currency is the Uzbekistani soʻm. Languages spoken include Russian and Uzbek.

Quick facts about Uzbekistan

Official name: Republic of Uzbekistan
Capital: Tashkent
Region: Asia, Central Asia
Currency: Uzbekistani soʻm (UZS, so'm)
Languages: Russian, Uzbek
Calling code: +998
Internet domain: .uz
Area: 447,400 km² (172,742 sq mi)
Land borders: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Demonym: Uzbekistani
National day: Independence Day, September 1

Flag of Uzbekistan

Download the flag of Uzbekistan as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇺🇿.

SVG (vector)

History of Uzbekistan

The region of Central Asia that is now Uzbekistan hosted Sogdian and Khwarazmian cultures and cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara on the Silk Road. Arab armies brought Islam in the 8th century, and later Turkic dynasties and the Mongols ruled the area. Timur made Samarkand the capital of his empire in the 14th century. The khanates of Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand were conquered by Russia in the 19th century. The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was created in 1924, and Uzbekistan became independent in 1991.

Key dates

c. 330 BCAlexander the Great campaigns in Sogdiana, including the area around Samarkand.
8th centuryArab armies conquer Transoxiana and spread Islam in the region.
1220Mongol forces under Genghis Khan capture Bukhara and Samarkand.
1370Timur establishes his rule and makes Samarkand his capital.
1860sThe Russian Empire conquers much of the region, including Tashkent in 1865.
1924The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic is established.
1991Uzbekistan declares independence as the Soviet Union dissolves.