According to eningbo, Uzbekistan in 2012 was a Central Asian country, located between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. It had a population of around 29 million people, with the majority being Uzbek by ethnicity. The capital city of Tashkent was home to over two million people, making it the largest city in Central Asia. The economy was largely based on agriculture and natural resources such as oil and gas, with a GDP growth rate of 7% in 2012 and a GDP per capita of $3,000. Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state, where political dissent is not tolerated. The government controls most aspects of public life including press freedom and human rights abuses are widespread. Despite this, Uzbekistan has experienced economic growth since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country has also been investing heavily in infrastructure projects such as the construction of new roads and railways to improve transport links across the country. Uzbekistan is known for its ancient cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara which are home to many historical sites including mosques, madrasas and minarets dating back centuries. Additionally, Uzbekistan is home to diverse wildlife such as snow leopards, brown bears, wolves and wild boar which can be found in its national parks and reserves. In recent years there has been an increase in tourism thanks to improved air links with other countries as well as increasing numbers of cultural festivals taking place throughout the year. Uzbekistan in 2015 was a country of great potential and growth. Despite being one of the poorest countries in Central Asia, Uzbekistan had seen steady growth since 2009, with its GDP increasing by an average of 6.5% every year since then. Unemployment had dropped to 5%, while inflation was kept low at 10%. The population had grown as well, reaching 31 million people in 2015, up from 28 million in 2009. Politically, the country was led by President Islam Karimov who had been in power since 1989. During this time period, he focused on policies such as improving public education and healthcare, creating more jobs and encouraging foreign investment into the country. In addition to these domestic issues, Uzbekistan also sought to strengthen its relationship with its neighbors such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan through trade agreements and diplomatic initiatives. The country also saw significant advancements in technology during this time period with many Uzbek citizens gaining access to the internet for the first time ever due to government initiatives such as Uzinfocom which provided free internet access across the nation. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter experienced rapid growth during this time as well, helping to facilitate communication between people from different parts of the world like never before. Other advancements included driverless cars becoming more commonplace on roads across Uzbekistan and 3D printing becoming increasingly popular for creating custom products from home or even small businesses. Check computerannals for Uzbekistan in 2003.