Uzbekistan's poverty rate fell from 5.8% to 3.6% in nine months — Employment Ministry
According to the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction's nine-month 2026 results, the poverty rate fell from 5.8% to 3.6% and 824,000 people were placed in permanent jobs.
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction has released its results for January–September (nine months) of 2026. According to the data, the national poverty rate fell from 5.8% to 3.6%.
Employment
According to the ministry, 824,000 citizens were placed in permanent employment during the nine months. In addition, 980,000 informal jobs were formalised — that is, previously undeclared jobs were moved into official employment.
Income support and the registry
Some 4.1 million people received income assistance of various kinds. 440,000 families were removed from the social registry as their situation improved. The number of neighbourhoods (mahallas) recognised as poverty-free rose from 1,435 to 3,627.
Subsidies and loans
Through the "Online Mahalla" platform, 7,730 subsidy applications were approved, allocating 64.1 billion soums (58.4% more than a year earlier). On 8,835 loan applications, 79.8 billion soums in preferential loans were issued (31.4% more).
Vocational training
96,400 people enrolled in vocational-training programmes and 59,200 completed them; of these, nearly 45,000 found work. Through the voucher system, 130,000 people received vouchers, 56,500 finished courses, and more than 43,000 were employed.
Context
According to a World Bank report released this September, poverty in Uzbekistan fell from 17% to 5.8% over 2021–2025. The ministry's new nine-month figure — 3.6% — was presented as a continuation of that trend.
