Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As of 1 May 2025, there were 446.9 thousand active enterprises and organizations registered in Uzbekistan. A significant majority — 377.8 thousand or 84.5% — are small businesses and microfirms.

According to the National Statistics Committee, the total number of economic entities in the country has been steadily declining since 2023. While there were 548.7 thousand registered enterprises in 2022, the figure fell to 488.76 thousand in 2023 and 469.26 thousand in 2024.

Tashkent accounts for the largest share of active enterprises and organizations — 22.6% of the total. It is followed by Tashkent region (9.6%), Samarkand (8.8%), Fergana (8.1%), and Kashkadarya (6.5%) regions. The highest share of entrepreneurial entities is also concentrated in Tashkent (90.1%), as well as in Navoi (87.6%), Khorezm (86.9%), and Bukhara (86.7%) regions.

In terms of sectoral distribution, the trade sector remains the most active, accounting for 32.7% of all active enterprises and organizations as of 1 May 2025. It is followed by industry (12.7%) and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (7.3%). Collectively, these three sectors make up over half of all registered business entities.

Out of 381.9 thousand active commercial enterprises, 292.9 thousand are registered as limited liability companies (LLCs), making this the most common legal structure for businesses in Uzbekistan.

A regional breakdown shows that enterprises with foreign capital are predominantly located in Tashkent, accounting for 64.4% of the total. Other regions with notable shares include Tashkent region (12.1%), Samarkand (3.7%), and Surkhandarya (3.4%).

Over the past five years, the number of active foreign-invested enterprises in Uzbekistan has increased by 1.3 times. The share of wholly foreign-owned enterprises rose from 53.2% to 74.7%.

As of 1 May 2025, there were a total of 16,007 such enterprises, including 4,043 joint ventures and 11,964 fully foreign-owned companies. Compared to the same period last year, their number increased by 1,529, primarily due to growth in the trade sector (up by 704 enterprises), information and communication technologies (up by 217), and construction (up by 148).

China remains the leading investor in Uzbekistan’s economy, with 3,880 active enterprises, accounting for 24.2% of the total. Other major investors include Russia (19.1%), Turkey (12.3%), Kazakhstan (7.0%), Afghanistan (4.2%), and South Korea (4.1%).