In the first half of 2026, more than 9,000 citizens of Turkmenistan traveled to Uzbekistan for educational purposes. Thus, Turkmenistan ranked first among countries by the number of foreign citizens coming to Uzbekistan to study.

According to data from the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, 9,207 citizens of Turkmenistan arrived in the neighboring country for educational purposes in January–June 2026. This was the highest figure among foreign citizens who came to Uzbekistan to pursue education.

This situation demonstrates the growing cooperation between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the field of education and between higher education institutions of the two countries. Cooperation programs between educational institutions, student exchange programs and various educational opportunities contribute to the growing interest among young people in receiving education abroad.

Overall, in the first six months of 2026, the number of foreign citizens who came to Uzbekistan to study exceeded 21,000. Compared with the same period of the previous year, this figure doubled.

India ranked second in terms of the number of foreign students, with 3,723 people. It was followed by Tajikistan with 1,915 students, China with 951 students, and Kyrgyzstan with 834 students.

In recent years, cooperation in the field of education among the countries of Central Asia has become increasingly active. The implementation of joint programs between higher education institutions, the expansion of student exchanges, vocational training and increased grant opportunities are creating conditions for greater educational mobility in the region.

The fact that Turkmenistan ranks first among the countries whose citizens come to Uzbekistan to study is one of the indicators demonstrating the high level of academic ties between the young people of the two countries.