The population of Uzbekistan, according to preliminary estimations of the State Statistics Committee, comprised 26.8 million people as of 1 July 2007, having increased by 181,900 or 0.7% since the beginning of the year.

Natural population growth made up 209,300 people, including 151,900 people in rural areas. Migration balance was negative 27,400 people in the reporting half-year.

The number of those born in the first half of the year comprised 284,200 people, which exceeds the previous year’s figure by 26,800 people, or 10.4%. The birth rate has thus increased from 19.6 to 21.3 promille.

An increase in the birth rate is observed across all regions. A substantial increase has been recorded in Ferghana (from 17.9 to 21.1 promille), Tashkent (from 18 to 20.6 promille), Jizzakh (from 22.2 to 24.3 promille) regions. The lowest birth rate is still observed in the city of Tashkent – 17.1 promille.

Death rate increased by 2,100 people or 2.9% compared to first half of 2006. An increase in the mortality indicator was recorded in Kashkadarya (from 4.3 to 4.8 promille), Samarkand (from 5.1 to 5.5 promille), Surkhandarya (from 4.4 to 4.7 promille), and Khorezm (from 4.8 to 5.1 promille) regions.

The highest death rate was again recorded in Tashkent city – 8.3 promille, and the lowest in Jizzakh region – 4.6 promille.

Of those who died in the first half of this year, 59.9% died due to cardiovascular diseases, 7.7% - due to respiratory diseases, 6% - as a result of accidents, poisoning and injuries.

According to the preliminary data, about 4,100 children aged under 1 died in the first half of this year. The infant mortality decreased from 15.3 promille in the first half of 2006 to 14.4 promille. Of the total number of children who died during their first year of life, 40.1% died from respiratory diseases, 38.9% - from the disorders that emerge during the perinatal period, 8.4% - from inborn diseases, and 6.2% - from infectious and parasitic diseases.

In the reporting period, 93,200 marriages and 9,100 divorces were registered – 7 marriages and 0.7 divorces per 1000 people, against correspondingly 5.8 and 0.6 in the first half of 2006.