WNAM REPORT: Uzbekistan’s firm progress in economic reforms is also recognized worldwide.
According to the Index of Economic Freedom 2026, published by The Heritage Foundation, the country scored 60.3 points and rose to 86th place in the global ranking. As a result, for the first time, Uzbekistan officially ranked among countries with a moderately free economy.
The current indicator, up 2.3 points from last year, exceeds the global average of 59.9 points in 2026. Notably, strong results have been achieved in areas related to the openness of the economy to trade and investment. The Trade Freedom indicator in the Open Markets category was 80.6 points, and the Investment Freedom rating was 70 points. Both are above the global averages of 70.2 and 53.4 points, respectively. As a result, the openness of trade and investment has become a key strength of the national economy. Overall, the positive evaluation in international indices is supported by strong financial growth figures.
The state’s foreign trade turnover increased from $63.5 billion in 2023 to $81.2 billion in 2025. Export volumes rose from $24.9 billion to $33.8 billion, and the amount of foreign investments and loans invested in fixed assets reached 422.1 trillion UZS by the end of 2025, up from 201.7 trillion UZS in 2023. Data for 2026 also indicate high levels of foreign economic activity.
Thus, the Index of Economic Freedom 2026 confirms not only Uzbekistan’s improved position in the rankings but also its achievement of sustainable growth in trade, exports, and investment.
