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Abstract
This article systematizes the socio-economic factors that affect the quality of human capital in Uzbekistan and assesses their impact using official statistical data. The factors are grouped as economic, social, institutional, infrastructural and technological. Using the World Bank’s 2026 HCI+ indicators, the 70-point gap between Uzbekistan and the Europe and Central Asia regional average is decomposed by pillar. Education accounts for 68.6% of the gap, employment for 28.6% and health for only 2.9%. The 2015–2024 trends show substantial growth in higher education coverage (from 7.0% to 47.7%), internet use (from 42.8% to 89.5%) and health spending, together with a fall in unemployment from 10.5% to 5.5%. At the same time, female labour force participation remains low (41.3%), and the HCI+ gap between women and men is 37 points. The article proposes measures to improve education quality, formal employment and women’s participation in the labour market.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ostanova, M.E., Sayimova, A.L. (Muallif)