Why is this important
Indicators of the unobserved economy make it possible to assess the scale of activities that are not fully reflected in official statistics and tax accounting. The high share of such an economy affects tax collection, labor market transparency, and the efficiency of economic planning. At the same time, the structure of the unobserved sector shows in which areas the largest volume of informal or hidden activities persists and where it is more difficult for the state to ensure full accounting of economic activity.
What happened
- The National Statistics Committee reported that in January–March 2026, the gross value added of Uzbekistan’s unobserved economy amounted to 102.7 trillion soums.
- Its share in the gross domestic product reached 22.9%. The bulk of the unobserved economy was attributed to household and individual activities, while the shadow economy accounted for a smaller share.
Numbers and facts
- The total volume of the unobserved economy in the first quarter of 2026 amounted to 102.7 trillion soums.
- Of these, 69.1 trillion soums came from household and individual activities. The share of this segment in GDP was 15.4%.
- The volume of the shadow economy is estimated at 33.6 trillion soums. Its share in the gross domestic product was 7.5%.
- By type of activity, the largest share of the unobserved economy was in agriculture, forestry, and fishing — 81.1%.
- In the service sector, this figure was 24.5%, in construction — 23.9%, and in industry — 6.7%.
Context
- For the state, such indicators mean that a significant volume of economic activity remains outside full official accounting.
- This may limit tax revenues and complicate the assessment of the real state of individual sectors of the economy.
- The highest share of unobserved activities in agriculture indicates that this sector still has a large volume of informal employment and unofficial settlements.
- Lower indicators in industry point to a higher level of formalization and control in the manufacturing sector.
- The publication of such data also allows authorities to more accurately determine directions for the digitalization of accounting, tax administration, and bringing businesses out of the shadow sector.
