GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

May 9, 2003 

The Honorable Richard G. Lugar 

Chairman 

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

United States Senate 

The Honorable Henry J. Hyde 

Chairman 

The Honorable Tom Lantos 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on International Relations 

House of Representatives 

Subject: Central and Southwest Asian Countries: Trends in U.S. Assistance and Key 

Economic, Governance, and Demographic Characteristics

Following the terrorist attacks of September 2001, prosecuting the global war on terrorism 

became the United States’ primary foreign policy priority. The United States focused its initial 

efforts on Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom because the country harbored elements 

of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. As a result, countries in the region—Pakistan and the five 

Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—

became frontline states in the war on terrorism, raising the profile of U.S. relations with these 

countries. 

We performed this work under the authority of the Comptroller General; we are sending it to you 

because of your oversight responsibilities. This letter with its enclosures provides information on 

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the five Central Asian republics. Specifically, this letter highlights 

changes in U.S. priorities, assistance, and presence in Central and Southwest Asian countries 

since September 2001, and the economic, political, and demographic environment in which these 

changes have occurred. Additionally, we prepared short profiles for the seven countries that 

address these changes and characteristics in more detail. Enclosure I presents our scope and 

methodology, and enclosures II through VIII include the country profiles. Enclosure IX provides 

the sources used to develop the country profiles. 

Summary 

Since the attacks of September 2001, the United States has broadened its priorities and increased 

its assistance and presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the five Central Asian republics—

countries with significant political and economic challenges that may affect the United States’ 

priorities and programs in the region. While not specific to all countries in the region, the United 

States continues to focus on priorities that were in place prior to September 2001: political and 

United States General Accounting Office

Washington, DC 20548 
Page 2 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

economic reform, nonproliferation, energy development, counternarcotics, and trafficking. 

However, since that time, the United States has emphasized enhanced security and 

counterterrorism relationships accompanied by increased military and economic assistance and 

U.S. military presence. For example, in fiscal year 2001 the United States provided about $342 

million in assistance to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the five Central Asian republics. In fiscal year 

2002, the United States planned to provide about $1.9 billion in assistance for these countries, 

primarily for Afghanistan and Pakistan.1

 Further, since September 2001, the United States has 

deployed forces to a number of military facilities in the region to support U.S. operations in 

Afghanistan. These expanded activities and investments occur in an environment generally 

marked by authoritarian regimes, poor economic outlooks, and large youth populations 

vulnerable to the appeal of radical movements. 

Background 

U.S. security assistance to these countries is primarily channeled through the Departments of 

Defense and State and includes foreign military financing, international military education and 

training, drawdowns of U.S. equipment and services, and cooperative threat reduction funds. 

Economic assistance is primarily channeled through the U.S. Agency for International 

Development (USAID) and the Department of State, and includes funds for child survival and 

disease programs; development assistance; peacekeeping operations; international narcotics and 

law enforcement; economic support; nonproliferation, antiterrorism, and demining; and 

assistance provided under the Freedom Support Act.2

 Economic assistance also includes funding 

for the Peace Corps and food aid. 

The United States Has Expanded Its Priorities, Assistance, and Presence in a Region 

Characterized by Significant Challenges 

According to Department of State officials, the United States has generally broadened its 

priorities in the countries of Central and Southwest Asia since September 2001. Before that time, 

U.S. priorities for the Central Asian republics, Afghanistan, and Pakistan generally included 

promoting nonproliferation, limiting narcotics production and trafficking, promoting economic 

and political reform, and in the case of the Central Asian republics, encouraging energy 

development. Since September 2001, the United States has continued to pursue these priorities 

while enhancing security relationships and emphasizing political and economic reform and 

development. In the cases of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States has removed or waived 

sanctions and restrictions on assistance to carry out the war on terrorism. 

U.S. economic and security assistance to countries in the region has increased since September 

2001. As figure 1 shows, for fiscal year 2002, the United States planned to provide about $1.5 

billion more in assistance than it provided in fiscal year 2001. Most of this increase—about $1.3 

billion—went to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Planned assistance in fiscal year 2002 to the five 

Central Asian countries more than doubled from assistance in the prior year—an increase of 

about $232 million. Requested assistance for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 is lower than amounts 

budgeted in fiscal year 2002, but these amounts are generally higher than assistance provided in 

each fiscal year from 1993 through 2001. 

 

1

At the time of our review, obligations data were not available for fiscal year 2002 assistance to 

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the five Central Asian republics. 

2

The Freedom Support Act (P.L. 102-511) provides funds, in part, to support freedom and open markets in 

the independent states of the former Soviet Union, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, 

Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 
Page 3 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

Figure 1: U.S. Security and Economic Assistance to Central and Southwest Asian Countries, 

Fiscal Years 1993 through 2004 

(Constant fiscal year 2002 dollars in millions)

Source: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

a

Budget authority amounts from U.S. Department of State budget documents. 

b

Requested amounts from U.S. Department of State budget documents. 

Notes: GAO analysis of data from the Departments of Defense and State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Amounts for fiscal years 1993 through 2001 are taken from U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants, which, according to USAID, 

is the complete historical record of all loans and grants authorized by the U.S. government since 1945. However, in 

discussions with Department of State and USAID officials, we learned that it does not include all assistance to these 

countries. For example, other State Department reports show about $386 million in assistance to the Central Asian states 

for fiscal years 1992 through 2001, an amount we were unable to breakdown by year. 

Assistance funds are shown as obligations for fiscal years 1993 through 2001, as budget authority for fiscal year 2002, and 

as requests for fiscal years 2003 and 2004. Exceptions to this include $2 million and $150 million in fiscal years 2002 and 

2003, respectively, to Afghanistan, which are for drawdowns for defense articles, services, education, and training. 

In addition to increases in U.S. assistance, U.S. military presence in the five Central Asian 

republics, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has expanded since September 2001. For instance, to 

conduct Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States used military facilities in Afghanistan, 

Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and secured overflight rights from these 

countries, as well as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.3

 Prior to September 2001, the United States 

did not have military forces based in these countries. Moreover, since September 2001, the 

United States has concluded several agreements and declarations with countries in the area for 

the use of military infrastructure, rights to transit territories, and cooperation on political, 

economic, and security issues. 

 

3

According to congressional testimony by a Department of Defense official, overflight rights granted by 

Turkmenistan were for humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Pakistan 62.4 57.5 19.4 18.4 46.2 19.4 65.6 4.0 91.7 1,050.1 301.4 384.6

Afghanistan 45.0 2.7 14.1 16.9 30.9 0.0 20.4 31.3 65.2 401.1 427.8 535.7

Central Asian states 136.8 336.2 184.4 143.9 43.9 93.1 174.9 162.7 184.9 416.7 179.0 201.6

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

 Total 244.2 396.4 217.9 179.2 121.0 112.5 260.9 198.0 341.8 1,867.9 908.2 1,121.9 

a b b
Page 4 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

These Central and Southwest Asian countries are characterized by significant economic, 

political, and demographic challenges that could affect U.S. efforts in the area. These countries 

generally carry large amounts of debt and have demonstrated uneven progress in economic 

reform, despite some positive growth in both gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita GDP. 

Furthermore, various monitors of human rights and political freedoms, including the Department 

of State, have identified these countries as politically repressed and corrupt. For example, 

Freedom House rates all of these countries as not free for political rights and civil liberties. In 

addition, these countries have large youth populations; about 40 percent of the total population 

of these countries are under the age of 15, nearly twice that of the United States. According to 

National Intelligence Council documents and testimonies of U.S. officials, large youth 

populations, combined with poor economic prospects in politically repressive environments 

provide fertile ground for radical political movements and social unrest. In addition, China, India, 

Iran, and Russia have historic and current interests in these countries, which the United States 

must consider when pursuing its objectives. 

Scope and Methodology 

To obtain information about changes in U.S. priorities, assistance, and presence, we analyzed 

documents from the Departments of Defense and State and USAID, including USAID’s U.S. 

Overseas Loans and Grants. We also interviewed officials from these agencies. To obtain 

information on other bilateral and multilateral assistance we relied on data from the Organization 

for Economic Cooperation and Development. To analyze economic, governance, and 

demographic information, we obtained data from the Central Intelligence Agency, the Library of 

Congress, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Development Program, Freedom 

House, Global Insight, the Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

We conducted our work from December 2002 to March 2003 in accordance with generally 

accepted government auditing standards. 

Agency Comments and our Evaluation 

We discussed this report with officials of the Departments of Defense and State and USAID who 

generally concurred with the information provided in this correspondence. They also provided 

technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. In particular, USAID emphasized its 

efforts in humanitarian assistance and social sector reform. 

We are sending copies of this report to other committees and Members of Congress; the 

Secretaries of Defense and State; the Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development; 

the Director, the Office of Management and Budget; and other interested parties. Copies will be 

made available to others on request. In addition, this report will be available at no charge on our 

Web site at http://www.gao.gov. 
Page 5 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

If you have any questions about this report, please contact me at 202-512-8979 or by E-mail at 

Christoffj@gao.gov. John Hutton, Muriel Forster, Michael Rohrback, Rebecca Gambler, Lynn 

Cothern, and Mary Moutsos made major contributions to this report. 

Sincerely yours, 

Joseph A. Christoff 

Director, International Affairs and Trade 

Enclosures: 9
Enclosure I 

Page 6 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

Scope and Methodology 

To describe U.S. priorities in these countries, we reviewed congressional testimonies of U.S. 

officials from the Departments of Defense and State and USAID. We also reviewed Department 

of Defense country profiles and security cooperation guidance and Department of State 

congressional budget justifications, fact sheets, and other informational documents. We 

interviewed officials from the Departments of Defense and State and from USAID. 

To describe U.S. presence in these countries, we reviewed information from Global Security Inc., 

the Peace Corps, and Department of Defense country profiles. We also interviewed officials from 

the Departments of Defense and State. 

To describe U.S. security and economic assistance for fiscal years 1993 through 2001, we 

analyzed data reported as obligations by USAID in U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants.

4

 According 

to U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants, economic assistance includes child survival and disease 

funds, development assistance, Freedom Support Act funds, Economic Support Funds, security 

supporting assistance, food aid, Peace Corps funds, and international narcotics control 

assistance. Security assistance includes foreign military financing, international military 

education and training, and transfers of excess defense articles. 

We used U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants because, according to USAID, it is the complete 

historical record of all loans and grants authorized by the U.S. government since 1945, and it 

provides the most consistent record of U.S. assistance to all seven countries in terms of 

obligations. However, in discussions with Department of State and USAID officials, we learned 

that U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants does not include all assistance to the countries we 

reviewed. For example, the Department of State’s reports U.S. Government Assistance to and 

Cooperative Activities with Eurasia for fiscal year 2001 and U.S. Government Assistance to 

and Cooperative Activities with the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union for 

fiscal year 2000 identifies about $386 million in assistance over a 10-year period to the five 

Central Asian republics that is not included in U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants. 

For data on security and economic assistance for fiscal years 2002 through 2004, we reviewed the 

Department of State’s fiscal year 2004 congressional budget justification. For fiscal year 2002, we 

used budget authority amounts as reported in the fiscal year 2004 budget justification. For fiscal 

years 2003 and 2004, we used requested amounts as reported in the same document.5

 For 

assistance provided to Afghanistan in fiscal year 2003, State Department officials told us to use 

assistance provided in fiscal year 2002 supplemental appropriations as reported in the fiscal year 

2004 budget justification. 

For security assistance, we also included data on obligations for cooperative threat reduction 

and U.S. equipment and services drawdowns for fiscal years 1993 through 2003, which was not 

included in U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants nor the Department of State’s congressional budget 

justification. We obtained this data from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense 

Security Cooperation Agency, respectively. In addition, we discussed and verified security and 

economic assistance amounts with State Department and USAID officials. 

 

4

The President’s budget for fiscal year 2004 defines an obligation as a binding agreement that will result in 

the immediate or future payment of funds. 

5

The President’s budget for fiscal year 2004 defines budget authority as the authority provided by law to 

incur financial obligations that will result in outlays.
Enclosure I 

Page 7 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia 

To describe foreign and multilateral aid flows to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the five 

Central Asian republics for 1993 through 2001, we reviewed data on official development 

assistance from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. At the time of our 

review, data on official development assistance for 2002 were not available. Official development 

assistance is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official agencies to promote economic 

development and welfare. In contrast to U.S. security and economic assistance, which is reported 

as obligations, official development assistance is reported as net disbursements (actual 

payments) and reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments. 

To describe the economic, political, and demographic characteristics of these countries, we 

relied on numerous sources. We obtained maps of the individual countries from Central 

Intelligence Agency publications, along with information about land area, population under the 

age of 15, life expectancy, literacy, ethnic groups (with the exception of Pakistan, which we 

obtained from a Library of Congress publication), religions, type of government and legal system, 

and key transnational issues. We obtained information on population, population growth rates, 

and most economic and trade data from Global Insight and information on Afghanistan’s external 

debt from the Asian Development Bank. We obtained data on the percentage of women holding 

seats in lower or single houses of governments from the United Nations Development Program. 

We obtained information on political rights and religious freedom from Freedom House and its 

Center for Religious Freedom. We compiled information on economic freedom from the Heritage 

Foundation, and on corruption from Transparency International.6

 In all cases, we used the most 

recently available data from these sources. 

 

6

Transparency International’s corruption index is a 10-point numerical scale with extremes of highly 

corrupt (0) and highly clean (10), but does not identify degrees of corruption within that scale. We 

therefore identified as corrupt all countries rated with scores of less than 3 on this 10-point index. 
Enclosure II 

Page 8 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Afghanistan 

▲U.S. embassy 

♦The U.S. has access to military facilities in Bagram, Kandahar, Khost, 

Lwara, Mazar-e Sharif, and Pul-i-Kandahar. 

Afghanistan’s land area is about 650,000 square kilometers (slightly 

smaller than Texas). The country is landlocked.

Afghanistan has been called the crossroads of 

Central Asia and is bordered by China, Iran, 

Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 

Following U.S. military action, the Taliban regime fell 

in Afghanistan in late 2001, and an interim 

government was installed to write a new constitution 

and prepare for national elections. The United States 

has removed sanctions affecting Afghanistan that 

were placed on the Taliban and Taliban-controlled 

areas of the country. U.S. priorities for Afghanistan 

are focused on conducting the war on terrorism, 

building security arrangements, fostering internal 

governance, and providing humanitarian and 

development assistance. Afghanistan’s population is 

ethnically diverse. A majority of the population is 

Sunni Muslim, but the country has a significant Shi’a 

minority. Afghanistan’s literacy rate is less than 50 

percent for the total population, and is even lower 

among women. More than 40 percent of the 

population is under the age of 15. Afghanistan is 

economically underdeveloped and is the world’s 

largest producer of opium. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the United 

States obligated 

about $226 million in 

total assistance, 

about $224 million of 

which was economic 

aid. In fiscal year 

2002, budgeted 

assistance totaled 

about $401 million. 

Requested assistance 

for fiscal years 2003 

and 2004 totals about 

$964 million. 

0

200

400

600

Security Assistance 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.8 9.3 197.6 146.5

Economic Assistance 45.0 2.7 14.1 16.9 30.9 0.0 20.4 31.3 62.4 391.8 230.2 389.2

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

International aid flows 

totaled about $2.1 

billion from 1993 to 

2001. Aid from the 

United States and 

other countries totaled 

about $1.3 billion while 

multilateral aid totaled 

about $828 million. 

Primary donors include 

Germany, the 

Netherlands, Sweden, 

Norway, the United 

Kingdom, the United 

States, the European 

Commission, and the 

United Nations. 

0

150

300

450

Multilateral ODA 136.6 102.5 122.6 109.7 115.7 70.8 40.7 54.7 74.4

Other countries' ODA 81.2 102.1 117.9 91.5 134.7 95.3 76.6 89.0 325.7

U.S. ODA 49.6 61.3 2.3 2.2 0.0 0.0 34.1 2.5 7.8

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments. 
Enclosure II 

Page 9 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 28.0 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

2.6 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

42.0 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

46.6 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

36.0 

51.0 

21.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

N/A 

Hazara

10.0%

Uzbek

8.0%

Tajik

25.0%

Other

13.0%

Pashtun

44.0%

Shi'a 

Muslim

15.0%

Other

1.0%

Sunni 

Muslim

84.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. Note: N/A = not available.

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Transitional 

Type of legal system Is in the process of being rebuilt in accordance with Islamic principles, international 

standards, rule of law, and Afghan traditions 

Source: CIA.

Afghanistan was not rated for religious freedom by Freedom House’s Center for Religious Freedom. Afghanistan 

was also not rated for economic freedom by the Heritage Foundation or for corruption by Transparency International. 

Afghanistan was rated for political rights and civil liberties by Freedom House in its survey, Freedom in the World, 

2001-2002. However, because of political changes in Afghanistan over the past year, we did not include the rating. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 9.4 10.0 9.6 10.0 9.8 9.1 11.1 

Real GDP growth rate (percent) 6.0 6.0 -4.0 4.2 -1.8 -6.5 21.2 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 408 413 382 386 369 337 398 

Inflation (consumer prices, 

percentage) 14.0 14.0 16.0 25.0 45.0 40.0 5.3 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.4 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 5,600 5,600 5,600 2,700 5,300 N/A N/A 

Government expenditures as a 

percent of GDP N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Sources: Global Insight and Asian Development Bank. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Major producer of opium and hashish. Political factions profit from the drug trade. 

• Close ties with Pashtuns in Pakistan make the long border between Afghanistan and Pakistan difficult to control. 

Source: CIA.
Enclosure III 

Page 10 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Kazakhstan 

▲U.S. embassy. 

There was an average of 123 Peace Corps volunteers in Kazakhstan 

during fiscal year 2002. 

Kazakhstan’s land area is about 2,720,000 square kilometers (about four 

times the size of Texas). The county is landlocked.

Kazakhstan has the largest landmass of the 

Central Asian republics and shares its borders with 

China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, 

Uzbekistan, and the Caspian Sea. After the 

September 2001 attacks, Kazakhstan provided 

overflight rights and allowed for the transshipment 

of supplies to U.S. forces based in Uzbekistan and 

Kyrgyzstan. U.S. priorities for the country include 

promoting security cooperation, nonproliferation, 

internal reform, and energy development. 

Kazakhstan has significant oil and gas reserves. 

State Department officials estimate that 

Kazakhstan has the potential to be one of the 

world’s top five oil exporters in 15 years. 

Kazakhstan’s population is highly literate and 

nearly one third are under the age of 15. Most are 

Kazakh, though the country has a significant 

Russian minority. Islam and Russian Orthodox are 

the predominant religions. Key transnational 

issues include cultivation and trafficking of drugs, 

border security, and water and environmental 

problems. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the United 

States obligated 

about $586 million in 

assistance. Of this 

amount, $193 million 

was for security 

assistance, including 

$180 million for 

cooperative threat 

reduction. In fiscal 

year 2002, budgeted 

aid totaled about $58 

million. Requested 

assistance for fiscal 

years 2003 and 2004 

totals $100 million. 

0

40

80

120

160

200

Security Assistance 0.2 51.0 81.5 43.2 0.4 8.8 2.3 2.2 3.1 5.6 12.7 4.1

Economic Assistance 5.9 121.2 45.6 33.0 10.6 29.9 49.7 51.6 46.8 52.2 47.2 36.3

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) International aid flows 

totaled about $1.2 

billion from 1993 to 

2001. Aid from the 

United States and 

other countries 

totaled about $1 

billion while 

multilateral aid totaled 

about $221 million. 

Primary donors 

include Germany, 

Japan, the United 

States, and the 

European 

Commission. 

0

100

200

300

Multilateral ODA 2.3 21.2 31.6 33.4 38.8 33.0 28.8 15.3 16.5

Other countries' ODA 8.8 26.7 33.5 35.3 73.9 140.1 109.4 120.4 77.2

U.S. ODA 10.6 13.9 9.1 70.0 40.3 66.7 47.3 60.5 56.9

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure III 

Page 11 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 14.8 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

0.0 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

26.0 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

63.4 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

98.0 

99.0 

98.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

10.4 

Uzbek

2.5%

Ukranian

3.7%

Other

10.4%

Russian

30.0%

Kazakh

53.4%

Russian 

Orthodox

44.0%

Muslim

47.0%

Other

7.0%

Protestant

2.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Republic; current president expanded his powers by decree 

Type of legal system Based on civil law system 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 44.0 44.8 43.8 45.1 49.4 55.9 60.5 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) 0.5 1.7 -1.9 2.7 9.6 13.2 8.2 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 2,804 2,888 2,887 3,012 3,314 3,765 4,075 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 39.3 17.4 7.1 8.3 13.2 8.4 6.0 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 5.9 6.5 5.4 5.6 9.1 8.6 8.4 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 4.2 4.3 4.4 3.7 5.1 6.4 6.3 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 98.2 119.3 182.7 215.3 137.7 173.4 210.6 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 19.8 19.1 15.6 16.2 15.0 15.0 16.8 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Significant cultivation and trafficking of cannabis; transshipment point for drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia, 

Western Europe, and North America. 

• Working with China and Russia to settle boundaries, control migration, and limit illegal activities and trade. 

• Water and environmental disputes with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (as a result of the shrinking of 

the Aral Sea); dispute with Kyrgyzstan over water and hydroelectric power. 

Source: CIA.

5.5 Not free

4.0 Partly free

3.50 Mostly unfree

2.3 Corrupt

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10

5.5 Not free

4.0 Partly free

3.50 Mostly unfree

2.3 Corrupt

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure IV 

Page 12 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Kyrgyzstan 

▲U.S. embassy 

There was an average of 68 Peace Corps volunteers in Kyrgyzstan during 

fiscal year 2002. 

♦The U.S. has access to military facilities in Manas and Osh. 

Kyrgyzstan’s land area is about 200,000 square kilometers (slightly smaller 

than South Dakota). The country is landlocked.

Bordered by China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and 

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan has played an important 

regional role in the war on terrorism, providing 

base access and overflight rights for U.S. and 

coalition forces. U.S. priorities for Kyrgyzstan have 

focused on expanding security relationships and 

support for political and economic reform. 

Kyrgyzstan’s population is highly literate and a 

majority is Kyrgyz. More than a third of the 

population is under the age of 15, and a majority 

of the population is Muslim. According to State 

Department officials, Kyrgyzstan is more politically 

advanced than most of its Central Asian neighbors 

but still has a poor human rights record. 

Kyrgyzstan is the only Central Asian republic to 

accede to the World Trade Organization, having 

done so in 1998. Kyrgyzstan has increasingly 

become a transshipment point for drugs; has 

periodically dealt with Islamic insurgents from 

Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; and has 

ongoing water and territorial disputes with 

Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the United 

States obligated about 

$317 million in 

assistance, about $309 

million of which was 

economic aid. In fiscal 

year 2002, budgeted 

assistance totaled 

about $85 million. 

Requested assistance 

for fiscal years 2003 

and 2004 totals about 

$92 million. 

0

30

60

90

Security Assistance 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 2.3 2.0 1.5 2.2 11.6 5.0 7.0

Economic Assistance 73.2 49.5 28.5 18.9 5.8 17.6 43.3 38.8 33.2 73.1 38.0 41.9

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

Between 1993 and 

2001, international aid 

flows totaled about 

$2.1 billion. Aid from 

the United States and 

other countries 

totaled about $906 

million while 

multilateral assistance 

totaled over $1.2 

billion. Primary 

donors include Japan, 

the United States, the 

Asian Development 

Bank, and the World 

Bank. 

0

200

400

Multilateral ODA 28.5 98.4 210.8 145.4 204.5 162.1 160.5 115.9 113.8

Other countries' ODA 34.0 77.4 90.3 79.7 48.0 63.6 108.2 81.5 48.8

U.S. ODA 69.7 25.5 21.5 31.1 8.7 32.3 32.0 25.6 28.5

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure IV 

Page 13 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 5.0 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

1.5 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

34.4 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

63.6 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

97.0 

99.0 

96.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

10.0 

Kyrgyz

52.4%

Russian

18.0%

Uzbek

12.9%

Other

14.2%

Ukrainian

2.5%

Other

5.0%

M uslim

75.0%

Russian 

Orthodox

20.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Republic 

Type of legal system Based on civil law system 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 10.5 11.7 11.9 12.3 13.0 13.7 13.4 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) 7.1 9.9 2.1 3.7 5.4 5.3 -1.8 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 2,290 2,482 2,497 2,549 2,653 2,770 2,699 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 31.9 23.5 10.4 35.9 18.7 6.9 2.5 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 137.9 151.6 250.3 363.9 347.5 368.0 362.6 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 22.2 21.8 21.4 19.1 17.3 16.6 17.4 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Increasingly used as a transshipment point for drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe. 

• Periodic target of Islamic insurgents from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 

• Water and hydroelectric power disputes with Kazakhstan; territorial disputes with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 

Source: CIA.

5.5 Not free

4.0 Partly free

3.35 Mostly unfree

2.2 Corrupt

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure V 

Page 14 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Pakistan 

▲U.S. embassy; ■ U.S. consulates 

♦The U.S. has access to military facilities in Jacobabad and other 

locations. 

Pakistan’s land area is about 800,000 square kilometers (about twice the 

size of California).

Pakistan shares its borders with Afghanistan, 

China, India, and Iran. Pakistan has become an 

important U.S. partner in the war on terrorism, 

providing basing and overflight rights for U.S. and 

coalition forces in Operation Enduring Freedom. 

The United States has waived sanctions imposed 

on Pakistan for its development and testing of 

nuclear weapons and in response to the 1999 

military coup. U.S. priorities for Pakistan include 

promoting enhanced security cooperation and 

nonproliferation and encouraging political reform 

and economic development. Pakistan’s population 

is predominantly Muslim and nearly 40 percent are 

under the age of 15. Pakistan has a poor 

economic outlook and is highly indebted. Key 

transitional issues include its continued conflict 

with India over Kashmir, drug trafficking, and its 

long border with Afghanistan that is difficult to 

control. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 to 

2001, the United States 

obligated about $384 

million in total 

assistance, all of which 

was economic 

assistance. In fiscal 

year 2002, budgeted 

assistance totaled about 

$1 billion. Requested 

assistance for fiscal 

years 2003 and 2004 

totals about $686 

million. 

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Security Assistance 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 75.9 50.4 74.2

Economic Assistance 62.4 57.5 19.4 18.3 46.1 19.4 65.6 4.0 91.7 974.2 251.0 310.4

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

International aid flows 

totaled more than $10 

billion from 1993 to 

2001. Aid from the 

United States and 

other countries 

totaled about $4.5 

billion while 

multilateral aid totaled 

about $5.7 billion. 

Primary donors 

include Japan, the 

Asian Development 

Bank, the United 

Nations, and the 

World Bank. 

-500

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Multilateral ODA 663.6 1,285.2 598.7 677.0 577.6 562.2 315.6 235.3 826.5

Other countries' ODA 460.0 633.8 427.5 417.4 155.2 615.8 383.3 402.3 354.6

U.S. ODA 63.8 -61.3 -92.9 -112.2 -82.8 -43.9 79.6 91.8 788.1

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

 reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure V 

Page 15 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 144.7 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

2.4 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

39.9 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

61.8 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

43.0 

55.0 

29.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

21.1 

Sindhi

12.1%

Pashtun 

13.8%

Punjabi

59.1% Other

3.0%

Muhajir

7.7%

Baloch

4.3%

Shi'a 

Muslim

20.0%

Other

Sunni 3.0%

Muslim

77.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, Library of Congress, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Federal republic 

Type of legal system Based on English common law with certain added provisions to accommodate its status as 

 an Islamic state 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 308.5 311.7 319.7 331.3 346.1 354.8 367.5 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) 3.9 1.0 2.6 3.7 4.4 2.5 3.6 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 2,460 2,426 2,429 2,458 2,506 2,509 2,540 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 10.4 11.4 6.2 4.1 4.4 3.1 4.0 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 9.3 9.3 9.6 9.0 9.2 8.9 10.5 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 14.1 13.6 12.2 12.0 11.3 12.0 14.4 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 320.4 323.7 336.5 376.7 372.8 389.9 310.5 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 24.3 22.6 23.1 22.7 23.4 23.6 24.4 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Key transshipment point for heroin from Southwest Asia to western markets. 

• Continuing armed dispute with India over the status and sovereignty of Kashmir and disputes with India over 

maritime boundaries and Indus River water sharing. 

• Close ties between Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan make long border difficult to control. 

Source: CIA.

5.5 Not free

6.0 Unfree

3.30 Mostly unfree

2.6 Corrupt

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure VI 

Page 16 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Tajikistan 

▲U.S. embassy 

♦The U.S. has access to military facilities in Dushanbe, Khujand, Kulyab, 

and Kurgan-Tyube. 

Tajikistan’s land area is about 140,000 square kilometers (slightly smaller 

than Wisconsin). The country is landlocked.

Tajikistan shares its borders with Afghanistan, 

China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan 

provided access to bases for U.S. forces in the 

war on terrorism. U.S. priorities for Tajikistan 

include expanding security cooperation and 

encouraging political and economic reform. The 

country’s 5-year civil war ended with a 

powersharing peace accord implemented in 2000. 

As a result, Tajikistan is the only Central Asian 

country in which a religiously affiliated political 

party is represented in parliament. Tajikistan is the 

poorest of the former Soviet republics, and 

international aid flows are an important source of 

economic support for the country. Like the other 

Central Asian republics, Tajikistan’s population is 

highly literate, and a large percentage is under the 

age of 15. Majorities of the population are Tajik 

and Muslim. Tajikistan is a major transshipment 

point for drugs and has been used as a staging 

ground for Islamic insurgents into Uzbekistan. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the U.S. 

obligated about $195 

million in total 

assistance, of which 

about $193 million was 

economic assistance. 

In fiscal year 2002, 

budgeted assistance 

totaled about $94 

million. Requested 

assistance for fiscal 

years 2003 and 2004 

totals about $68 

million. 

0

40

80

120

Security Assistance 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.3 1.1

Economic Assistance 17.2 53.5 9.5 3.8 11.6 10.9 27.4 21.9 37.5 90.1 22.3 44.5

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

Between 1993 and 

2001, international aid 

totaled about $1 billion. 

Aid from the United 

States and other 

countries totaled about 

$382 million. Multilateral 

assistance totaled about 

$621 million. Primary 

donors include 

Germany, the 

Netherlands, 

Switzerland, the United 

Kingdom, the United 

States, the European 

Commission, and the 

World Bank. 

0

100

200

Multilateral ODA 4.8 44.4 29.0 65.3 53.8 129.0 92.3 107.5 95.1

Other countries' ODA 5.8 12.0 24.7 26.2 25.7 16.8 17.1 16.7 25.6

U.S. ODA 20.1 20.8 20.4 23.3 14.2 27.2 20.8 23.5 41.1

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

 agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

 reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure VI 

Page 17 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 6.6 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

2.1 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

40.4 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

64.3 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

98.0 

99.0 

97.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

12.7 

Tajik

64.9% Other

6.6%

Russian

3.5%

Uzbek

25.0%

Sunni 

Muslim

85.0%

Shi'a 

Muslim

5.0%

Other

10.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Republic 

Type of legal system Based on civil law system 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Not rated 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Not rated 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 5.6 5.7 5.9 6.1 6.7 7.4 8.0 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) -4.4 1.7 5.3 3.7 8.3 10.2 9.8 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 944 946 980 1,000 1,058 1,142 1,228 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 502.4 88.0 43.2 27.5 32.9 38.6 10.6 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 112.6 148.3 201.2 182.4 152.1 196.3 233.0 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 17.9 15.9 17.4 17.6 14.5 15.0 15.3 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Major transshipment point for drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe. 

• Water and environmental disputes with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (as a result of the shrinking of 

the Aral Sea). 

• Unresolved border and territorial disputes with China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. 

Source: CIA.

6.0 Not free

3.95 Mostly unfree

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure VII 

Page 18 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Turkmenistan 

▲U.S. embassy 

There was an average of 54 Peace Corps volunteers in Turkmenistan 

during fiscal year 2002. 

Turkmenistan’s land area is about 490,000 square kilometers (slightly 

larger than California). The country is landlocked.

Turkmenistan borders Afghanistan, Iran, 

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Caspian Sea. A 

former Soviet republic, Turkmenistan has declared 

itself as permanently neutral and has not provided 

formal military assistance in the war on terrorism. 

However, it aided the international community in 

transporting humanitarian relief to Afghanistan. 

U.S. priorities for Turkmenistan are focused on 

encouraging internal reform, strengthening 

security relationships, and promoting energy 

development. Turkmenistan has the world’s fifth 

largest natural gas reserves, and it is the world’s 

tenth largest producer of cotton. The country’s 

population is highly literate. More than one-third of 

the population is under age 15, and more than 

three-quarters are Turkmen and Muslim. The 

country is not politically free—independent and 

opposition political activity are prohibited—and 

corruption is pervasive. It faces problems with 

drug trafficking and environmental disputes with its 

neighbors. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the United 

States obligated 

about $153 million in 

assistance, about 

$149 million of which 

was economic aid. In 

fiscal year 2002, 

budgeted assistance 

totaled about $20 

million. Requested 

assistance for fiscal 

years 2003 and 2004 

totals about $20 

million. 

0

20

40

Security Assistance 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.0 0.4 1.1 1.1

Economic Assistance 38.6 32.3 6.0 32.2 3.3 4.8 12.3 10.6 8.5 19.3 8.4 9.7

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

International aid flows 

totaled about $294 

million from 1993 to 

2001. Aid from the 

United States and 

other countries 

totaled about $218 

million while 

multilateral flows 

totaled about $76 

million. Primary 

donors include Japan, 

Turkey, the United 

States, the European 

Commission, and the 

United Nations. 

0

40

80

Multilateral ODA 0.5 13.3 10.3 11.1 9.0 9.0 9.6 5.9 7.3

Other countries' ODA 7.1 1.3 3.3 2.0 4.4 14.2 7.0 19.0 51.3

U.S. ODA 28.3 15.0 18.1 13.3 0.0 2.6 8.8 7.8 14.3

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

 agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

 reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure VII 

Page 19 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 4.9 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

1.9 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

37.3 

Life expectancy at birth 

(years) 

61.1 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

98.0 

99.0 

97.0 

Seats in lower or single 

house held by women 

(percentage) 

26.0 

Turkmen

77.0%

Uzbek

9.2%

Russian

6.7%

Other

7.1%

Muslim

89.0%

Other

2.0%

Eastern 

Orthodox

9.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Republic 

Type of legal system Based on civil law system 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Not rated 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 15.9 14.0 14.7 17.1 20.2 24.2 28.1 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) -6.7 -11.3 5.0 16.0 17.6 20.5 15.7 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 3,499 3,051 3,152 3,612 4,202 5,006 5,685 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 992.4 83.6 16.7 19.7 14.0 14.9 10.8 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 1.7 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.5 2.6 3.0 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 1.4 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.8 2.3 2.3 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 39.5 175.2 284.9 172.7 64.1 68.7 66.0 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 21.4 26.6 25.9 19.8 25.3 24.2 30.3 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Increasing transshipment point for drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe. 

• Water and environmental disputes with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (as a result of the shrinking of the 

Aral Sea). 

• Dispute with Iran about seabed and maritime boundaries in the Caspian Sea. 

Source: CIA.

4.15 Repressed

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure VIII 

Page 20 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Uzbekistan 

▲U.S. embassy 

There was an average of 54 Peace Corps volunteers in Uzbekistan during 

fiscal year 2002. 

♦The U.S. has access to military facilities in Chirchik, Khanabad, and Tuzel.

Uzbekistan’s land area is about 450,000 square kilometers (slightly larger 

than California). The country is landlocked.

Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populated 

country and borders Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, 

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. After 

the September 2001 attacks, it became an 

important U.S. strategic partner in the war on 

terrorism, allowing the U.S. to base forces at its 

military facilities. In March 2002, the United 

States and Uzbekistan signed the Declaration 

on the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation 

Framework, which affirms a joint commitment to 

establish stability and security in Central Asia. 

U.S. priorities for Uzbekistan include enhancing 

security cooperation and encouraging political 

and economic reform. A former Soviet republic, 

Uzbekistan is strategically placed but politically 

repressed. The country carries a large amount 

of debt. Uzbekistan’s population is highly 

literate, predominantly Uzbek and Muslim, and 

more than a third of the population is under age 

15. Key transnational issues include increased 

drug trafficking, radical Islamic groups, and 

severe water and environmental problems. 

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. Security and Economic Assistance, Fiscal Years 1993-2004 

(Total obligations, constant fiscal year 2002 U.S. dollars in millions) 

From fiscal year 1993 

to 2001, the United 

States obligated 

about $208 million in 

assistance, about 

$188 million of this in 

economic aid. In fiscal 

year 2002, budgeted 

assistance totaled 

about $160 million. 

Requested assistance 

for fiscal years 2003 

and 2004 totals about 

$100 million. 

0

40

80

120

160

200

Security Assistance 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 6.8 2.2 2.3 2.4 5.9 37.1 9.8 11.3

Economic Assistance 1.7 28.6 13.0 12.1 4.8 14.1 34.6 32.8 46.7 123.3 34.2 44.6

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sources: Departments of Defense and State and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Note: Fiscal year 2002 assistance amounts are budget authority levels and fiscal year 2003 and 2004 

amounts are requested levels from Department of State budget documents.

International Aid Flows 

Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance, 1993-2001 

(Net disbursements, constant 2002 U.S. dollars in millions)

Between 1993 and 

2001, international aid 

to Uzbekistan totaled 

about $1.1 billion. Aid 

from the United 

States and other 

countries totaled 

about $975 million 

and multilateral aid 

totaled about $161 

million. Primary 

donors include 

Germany, Japan, the 

United States, the 

European 

Commission, and the 

United Nations. 

0

100

200

300

Multilateral ODA 4.4 18.4 16.7 24.5 18.6 21.2 22.2 17.7 17.1

Other countries' ODA 68.4 9.6 77.2 66.5 131.5 144.7 124.2 138.3 87.5

U.S. ODA 1.2 4.6 1.1 6.7 2.2 4.7 18.6 37.0 51.0

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Note: Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as aid flows to a country provided by official 

 agencies to promote economic development and welfare. ODA is reported as net disbursements and 

 reflects total inflows of grants and loans minus total outflows of loan repayments.
Enclosure VIII 

Page 21 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Demographics 

Key indicators Ethnic groups Religions 

Population (millions) 25.8 

Growth rate 

(percentage) 

1.6 

Under 15 years old 

(percentage) 

35.5 

Life expectancy at 

birth (years) 

63.9 

Literacy (percentage) 

male 

female 

99.0 

99.0 

99.0 

Seats in lower or 

single house held by 

women (percentage) 

7.2 

Other

6.6%

Kazakh

3.0%

Tajik

5.0%

Russian

5.5%

Uzbek

80.0%

Muslim

88.0%

Eastern 

Orthodox

9.0%

Other

3.0%

Sources: Global Insight, CIA, and United Nations Development Program. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government Republic 

Type of legal system Evolution of Soviet civil law 

Source: CIA. 

Political rights and 

civil liberties 

Religious freedom 

Economic freedom 

Corruption 

Sources: Freedom House, Center for Religious Freedom, Heritage Foundation, and Transparency International. 

Economics and Trade 

Key indicators 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Gross domestic product (GDP) 

(purchasing power parity, 

2002 U.S. dollars in billions) 61.9 63.4 66.3 69.1 71.8 75.1 79.3 

Real GDP growth rate (percentage) 1.6 2.5 4.4 4.3 4.0 4.5 5.7 

GDP per capita (purchasing power 

parity, 2002 U.S. dollars) 2,701 2,717 2,786 2,862 2,933 3,013 3,129 

Inflation (consumer prices, percentage) 54.0 71.0 29.0 29.1 24.9 27.3 25.1 

Exports (U.S. dollars in billions) 3.5 3.7 2.9 2.7 2.7 3.3 3.0 

Imports (U.S. dollars in billions) 4.2 3.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 3.1 2.8 

External debt/exports ratio 

(percentage) 67.4 70.2 120.6 157.7 170.1 154.7 175.6 

Government expenditures as a percent 

of GDP 39.9 32.5 33.1 31.0 29.5 27.0 25.6 

Source: Global Insight. 

Key Transnational Issues 

• Increasing transshipment point for drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe. 

• Periodic incursions by radical Islamic groups based in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. 

• Water and environmental disputes with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan (as a result of the shrinking of 

the Aral Sea); border disputes with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. 

Source: CIA. 

6.5 Not free

6.0 Unfree

4.25 Repressed

2.9 Corrupt

Not free

7

Unfree

7

Repressed

5

Highly corrupt

0

Free

1

Free

1

Free

1

Highly clean

10
Enclosure IX 

Page 22 GAO-03-634R Central and Southwest Asia

Sources 

Map and land area: CIA World Factbook 2002, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. 

Peace Corps volunteers: http://www.peacecorps.gov/indexf.cfm. 

U.S. access to military facilities: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/centcom.htm.

U.S. Assistance 

U.S. security and economic assistance: U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants Online (the Greenbook), 

http://qesdb.cdie.org/gbk/index.html, Department of State Congressional Budget Justifications for fiscal years 

2003 and 2004, http://www.state.gov/m/rm/c6112.htm, and the Department of Defense. 

International Aid Flows 

U.S., other countries’, and multilateral official development assistance (ODA): Organization for Economic 

Cooperation and Development, net disbursements of official development assistance and official aid, 

http://www.oecd.org/htm/M00005000/M00005347.htm. 

Demographics 

Population and growth rate: Global Insight, international online analysis, detailed forecast files, 2002, 

http://www.globalinsight.com. 

Percent of population under 15 years old, life expectancy at birth, and literacy rates: CIA World 

Factbook 2002, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. 

Percent of seats in lower or single house held by women: UNDP Human Development Indicators 2002, 

http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2002/en/indicator/indicator.cfm?File=indic_513_1_1.html. 

Major ethnic groups: CIA World Factbook 2002, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. 

• Pakistan: Pakistan: A Country Study, Library of Congress, 1994, 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/pktoc.html. 

Major religions: CIA World Factbook 2002, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. 

Governance, Rights, and Freedoms 

Type of government and legal system: CIA World Factbook 2002, 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html. 

Political rights and civil liberties: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2001-2002, 

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2002/countries.htm. 

Religious freedom: Freedom House Center for Religious Freedom, Religious Freedom in the World: A Global 

Report on Freedom and Persecution, 2002, http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/publications/rfiw/fig1.htm. 

Economic freedom: The Heritage Foundation, Index of Economic Freedom, 2003 

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index. 

Corruption: Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2002, 

http://www.transparency.org/cpi/index.html#cpi. 

• Kyrgyzstan: Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 1999, 

http://www.transparency.org/cpi/index.html#cpi.

Economics and Trade 

Economic and trade data: Global Insight, international online analysis, detailed forecast files, 

http://www.globalinsight.com. 

• Afghanistan external debt: Asian Development Bank, Key Indicators of Developing Asian and Pacific 

Countries, 2002, http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Key_Indicators/2002/default.asp. 

Key Transnational Issues 

CIA World Factbook 2002, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html.

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