# Islam Karimov

_1st President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (1938–2016)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/islam-karimov
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov was an Uzbek politician who served as the first president of Uzbekistan, from the country's independence in 1991 until his death in 2016. He was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan from 1989 to 1991, the last to hold the post. The party was reconstituted as the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O‘zXDP); which Karimov led until 1996. He was the President of the Uzbek SSR from 24 March 1990 until he declared the independence of Uzbekistan on 1 September 1991.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 30 January 1938 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Samarkand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P19))
- **Died:** 2 September 2016 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P570))
- **Place of death:** Tashkent ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Soviet Union; Uzbekistan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; statesperson ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P106))
- **Political party:** Communist Party of Uzbekistan; Communist Party of the Soviet Union; People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan; Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P102))
- **Education:** Tashkent State Technical University; Tashkent State University of Economics ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P69))
- **Spouse:** Tatyana Karimova ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P26))
- **Official website:** fondkarimov.uz ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P856))
- **Positions held:** President of Uzbekistan (1 September 1991 – 2 September 2016); Member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee (14 July 1990 – 14 September 1991); president ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P39))
- **Awards:** Cross of Recognition; Order of the Red Banner of Labour; Order of Friendship of Peoples; Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class; Hero of Uzbekistan; Order of "Mustakillik"; Order of Outstanding Merit; Order of Friendship; Order of Amir Temur; Grand Cross with collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great; Order of Stara Planina; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Order of the Golden Eagle; Order of the Golden Fleece ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P166))
- **YouTube:** UCIvJScgndQalGOoeeICNuUQ ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558#P2397))

## Questions

**When was Islam Karimov born?**  
Islam Karimov was born on 30 January 1938 in Samarkand.

**What positions has Islam Karimov held?**  
Positions held by Islam Karimov include: President of Uzbekistan (1991–2016); Member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee (1990–1991); president.

**Where did Islam Karimov study?**  
Islam Karimov was educated at Tashkent State Technical University, Tashkent State University of Economics.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Islam Karimov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Karimov) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57558](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57558) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Karimov Ufa.jpg by Russian Presidential Press and Information Office (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karimov_Ufa.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Islam Karimov, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Karimov Ufa.jpg — Russian Presidential Press and Information Office, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Islam Karimov". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/islam-karimov. Retrieved 6 November 2026.