Other ethnic groups, as of 1996 estimates, include Russians (2.1% of the population), Tajiks (4,8%), Kazakhs (3%), Karakalpaks (2.5%), and Tatars (1.5%).

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs website > World Population Prospects: The 2019 revision.

Sources:[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] [19] [20] [21] [22] Total fertility rate (TFR) and crude birth rate (CBR):[23] In 2002, the estimated TFR was 2.92; Uzbeks 2.99, Russians 1.35, Karakalpak 2.69, Tajik 3.19, Kazakh 2.95, Tatar 2.05, others 2.53; Tashkent City 1.96, Karakalpakstan 2.90, Fergana 2.73; Eastern region 2.71, East Central 2.96, Central 3.43, Western 3.05.

[28] The government supported the use of modern contraceptives to control fertility rates because of national economic difficulties that followed the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Nevertheless, factors such as class and level of education have been shown to give women more freedom in their choice of contraception methods.

Estimates of ethnic composition in 1996 from CIA World Factbook:[39] Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

President Islam Karimov, the radical nationalist group Birlik (Unity), and the Uzbek Popular Front promoted this change.

These parties believed that Uzbek would stimulate nationalism and the change itself was part of the process of derussification, which was meant to deprive Russian language and culture of any recognition.

Birlik held campaigns in the late 1980s to achieve this goal, with one event in 1989 culminating in 12,000 people in Tashkent calling for official recognition of Uzbek as the state language.

[50] In 1995, the government adopted the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on State Language, which mandates that Uzbek be used in all public spheres and official jobs.

The same departments and agencies involved in creating this permit are consequently working to substantially reduce the costs as well as simplifying the procedure.

On July 4, 2007, the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov signed three agreements that would address labor activity and protection of the rights of the working migrants (this includes Russian citizens in Uzbekistan and Uzbek citizens in Russia) as well as cooperation in fighting undocumented immigration and the deportation of undocumented workers.

[57] Economic difficulties have increased labor migration to Russia, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, South Korea, and Europe over the past decade.

Migrants typically are people from the village, farmers, blue-collar workers, and students who are seeking work abroad.

Without proper registration, undocumented migrants are susceptible to underpayment, no social guarantees and bad treatment by employers.

[60] The decision to migrate is complicated by the fact that many Russians or other minority groups who have a "homeland" may view Uzbekistan as the "motherland".