Uzbekistan's new pensioners lack full work history, share rises to 61%

August 25, 2026 at 04:52 PM2 min

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The share of newly assigned pensions in Uzbekistan granted without a full work history reached 61% in 2025, up from 6% in 2010, according to the Pension Fund. Among all pensioners, the share without full work history rose to 39% in 2025 from 3% in 2010. The trend reflects persistent informal employment and underreported wages, even as 47% of pensioners receive between 820,000 and 1 million soums.

Key Facts

In 2025, 61% of newly assigned pensions in Uzbekistan were granted without a full work history, up from 6% in 2010.
The share of all pensioners without a full work history reached 39% in 2025, compared with 3% in 2010.
Uzbek legislation requires 25 years of work history for men and 20 years for women to qualify for a full pension.
47% of pensioners receive monthly pensions between 820,000 and 1 million soums.

Pension Coverage Trends

The Pension Fund reports that the share of newly assigned pensions without a full work history rose from 6% in 2010 to 61% in 2025. Among the total pensioner population, the share without a full work history increased from 3% in 2010 to 39% in 2025. Current legislation requires 25 years of work history for men and 20 years for women to receive a full pension. When the required work history is not met, pensions are assigned proportionally based on the available work history.

Informal Employment Factors

Experts attribute the rise in pensions without full work history to persistent informal employment, underreported wages, and unpaid social taxes. Failure to submit employment records to archives and periods without formal employment coverage also contribute to the trend. Informal work may provide short-term income or cost savings, but it reduces future work history and pension amounts. Formalizing employment relations, legal wage accounting, and social tax payment are essential for future social security.