The Center for Economic Research and Reforms in Uzbekistan has, for the first time, evaluated the country’s economic activity using NASA’s Nighttime Light (NTL) satellite data. This innovative method, which relies on artificial intelligence technologies, allowed for a rapid and independent assessment of economic well-being across regions and cities in Uzbekistan.
The Center’s press service announced that this approach, widely used internationally, proved highly effective in measuring local development and verifying official statistics. The analysis covered the period from 2020 to 2024 and revealed strong correlations between satellite-observed light intensity and reported economic indicators.
According to the NTL data, Uzbekistan’s per capita gross regional product (GRP) rose by 63.5% during this period, increasing from $2,011 to $3,287. This closely aligns with the 59.4% growth rate documented in official statistics, confirming the reliability of the satellite-based assessment.
Tashkent recorded the largest per capita GDP increase, rising by $3,200 to reach $7,200 in 2024. In particular, districts such as Mirabad, Yakkasaroy, and Yunusabad showed per capita GDP figures exceeding $9,000 — nearly double the average for major Uzbek cities.
Other cities with high per capita GDP in 2024 included:
- Navoi: $8,300
- Zarafshan: $6,800
- Samarkand: $5,700
- Kokand: $5,600
- Andijan: $5,100
- Yangiyul: $5,000
- Karshi: $4,800
Economic activity was also notably strong in small and medium-sized cities like Termez ($4,500), Urgench, Margilan, Kattakurgan ($4,300), and Chirchik ($4,000).
The satellite data further highlighted significant economic growth in the Navoi region ($1,500 increase), Namangan ($1,400), as well as the Fergana and Samarkand regions. Additionally, cities such as Zarafshan, Karshi, Chirchik, Margilan, and Termez showed marked increases in economic activity.
The study also examined urbanization trends using nighttime light intensity as an indicator. The number of districts exhibiting high NTL levels (index above 10), characteristic of urban agglomerations, grew from 21 in 2020 to 26 in 2024. Conversely, rural districts with low lighting decreased from 129 to 102, reflecting a transition toward urban-type development in 27 districts.
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