Women’s participation in entrepreneurial activity is one of the key indicators used to assess how effectively a country utilises its economic potential. Data on the number of individual entrepreneurs published in the National Statistics Committee’s SIAT open data system, updated on 29 June 2026, also reflect the changes taking place in this area. According to these data, women accounted for 39.4 per cent of all individual entrepreneurs in 2021, while their share had risen to 43.4 per cent by 2025. An increase of almost 4 percentage points is not merely a statistical change; it represents an important trend indicating the expanding participation of women in economic activity.
To illustrate this change, in 2021, four out of every ten individual entrepreneurs were women, whereas by 2025 this figure had increased to 4.3. Over the same period, the proportion of men among individual entrepreneurs declined from 60.6 to 56.6 per cent. These figures demonstrate a gradual shift in the gender composition of individual entrepreneurship, with women accounting for an increasingly larger share. Importantly, this growth should be assessed not only as a change in the relative proportions of men and women among entrepreneurs, but also in terms of the expanding opportunities for women to earn an independent income and realise their economic potential.
However, the national average does not fully reflect the situation across individual regions. Regional data reveal considerable differences in the level of women’s participation in entrepreneurial activity. In particular, women account for 53.9 per cent of individual entrepreneurs in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The figure stands at 52.0 per cent in Navoi Region, 50.9 per cent in Syrdarya Region and 50.7 per cent in Khorezm Region. This means that women make up more than half of all individual entrepreneurs in these areas.
At the same time, the figures remain relatively low in some regions. Women account for 31.2 per cent of individual entrepreneurs in Namangan Region, 35.4 per cent in Fergana Region and 36.1 per cent in Tashkent City. The gap between the highest and lowest regional figures amounts to 22.7 percentage points. This disparity should not be viewed merely as a difference between statistical values. Rather, it reflects the uneven levels of women’s participation in individual entrepreneurship across the country.
These disparities highlight the need to take regional characteristics into account when promoting women’s entrepreneurship. Although the overall national trend is positive, the share of women engaged in individual entrepreneurship remains considerably lower in certain regions. Identifying the reasons behind this situation requires a separate examination of regional economic structures, the sectors in which businesses operate and the opportunities available to prospective entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, the figures themselves indicate that supporting women’s entrepreneurship requires more than a uniform approach: regional differences must also be taken into consideration.
Women’s participation in entrepreneurship is important not only for generating personal income but also for strengthening the economic resilience of families. Running an independent business enables women to apply their knowledge and skills in practice, realise their professional potential and take a more active part in economic decision-making. Furthermore, having multiple sources of household income can create additional opportunities to improve a family’s financial stability. Thus, the development of women’s entrepreneurship can contribute not only to higher economic activity but also to improved family well-being.
This trend is also closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG 5 — “Gender Equality” — calls for equal opportunities for women in economic and social life. Greater female participation in entrepreneurship helps strengthen women’s economic independence and expand their role in economic decision-making.
SDG 8 — “Decent Work and Economic Growth” — is likewise associated with encouraging economic activity, expanding entrepreneurial opportunities and creating sustainable sources of income. From the perspective of SDG 10 — “Reduced Inequalities” — reducing disparities in access to economic opportunities is of particular importance. In this regard, women’s participation in entrepreneurship deserves attention not only as a factor in advancing gender equality but also as a means of narrowing disparities in economic opportunities between regions.
In conclusion, the increase in women’s share of individual entrepreneurs from 39.4 to 43.4 per cent represents a positive change in the structure of economic activity. At the same time, the 22.7-percentage-point gap between regions demonstrates that this process is not progressing evenly across the country. Therefore, the development of women’s entrepreneurship should be assessed not only by the overall increase in women’s share, but also by the extent to which opportunities to engage in entrepreneurial activity are expanding for women in different regions. After all, sustainable economic development also depends on whether all segments of the population are able to benefit from the opportunities available.
Madinabonu Sharifova,
Chief Specialist, NGO “Centre for Sustainable Development”