TASHKENT, July 21. /Dunyo IA/.  At the beginning of the 2025/2026 academic year, 1 million 535 thousand students were enrolled in higher education institutions of Uzbekistan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the information of the National Statistics Committee, the number of students stood at 337.4 thousand during the 1991/1992 academic year. Over the 35 years of independence, this figure has increased by 1 million 197.6 thousand people, expanding nearly 4.6 times.

According to statistical data, the dynamics of student enrollment by academic year are as follows:

1991/1992 – 337.4 thousand people;

1995/1996 – 192.1 thousand;

2000/2001 – 183.6 thousand;

2005/2006 – 278.7 thousand;

2010/2011 – 274.5 thousand;

2015/2016 – 264.3 thousand;

2020/2021 – 571.5 thousand;

2021/2022 – 808.4 thousand;

2022/2023 – 1 million 42.1 thousand;

2023/2024 – 1 million 314.5 thousand;

2024/2025 – 1 million 432.8 thousand;

2025/2026 – 1 million 535.0 thousand people.

Particularly high growth rates in student numbers have been observed since 2020, reflecting the country's ongoing reforms aimed at expanding access to higher education, increasing the number of universities, and broadening academic programs.

According to experts, the higher education system of Uzbekistan has expanded substantially over the years of independence. The nearly fivefold increase in the student population underscores a consistent state policy focused on developing human capital, enhancing the accessibility of higher education and training qualified personnel for the national economy.