Uzbekistan Emerges as Central Asia’s Digital Leader in Global ICT Index

Uzbekistan has been recognized for its accelerating progress in digital transformation, according to the 2025 ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Based on 2023 data, Uzbekistan achieved a score of 86.5 out of 100, edging closer to the benchmark set by high-income nations, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

This marks a 1.6-point improvement from the previous year and places Uzbekistan well above the global average of 78.2. The country’s performance also approaches the CIS regional average of 86.9 and the lower-middle-income country average of 88.2, underscoring the effectiveness of national policies aimed at expanding ICT infrastructure and services.

In the Central Asian region, Uzbekistan ranks second, following Kazakhstan (90.5) and ahead of Kyrgyzstan (85.9), reflecting regional leadership in digital growth and public digital service adoption.

The ITU report highlights significant regulatory progress as a key driver of Uzbekistan’s advancement. In 2020, the country stood at G1 level in the ICT Regulatory Tracker with a score of just 27.5. By 2024, Uzbekistan had advanced to the G3 level, scoring 72.5, signaling the emergence of a mature and innovation-friendly regulatory environment that supports sustainable development, competition, and global interoperability.

Uzbekistan is now the only Central Asian country to achieve G3 status-an important milestone that boosts the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors, international technology partners, and digital entrepreneurs.