Editing Uzbek language (section)

== Development ==
1900: Early 20th Century  
Speakers: Approximately 2–4 million.  
The Uzbek-speaking population was primarily concentrated in Central Asia, within the territories of the Russian Empire, including present-day Uzbekistan, parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.  
Global Rank: Likely around 30–40th place.  
Uzbek was not widely recognized globally as it was primarily spoken in rural and regional areas.

1950: Soviet Era  
Speakers: Around 7–8 million.  
The population grew due to natural growth and urbanization under the Soviet Union. Uzbek became one of the officially recognized languages of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.  
Global Rank: Approximately 25–30th place.  
As a regional language in the USSR, Uzbek gained institutional support in education and media, increasing its influence within Central Asia.

1991: Post-Soviet Independence  
Speakers: Around 16–20 million.  
After Uzbekistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbek was declared the official language of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This led to a revival of Uzbek culture and a shift away from Russian dominance in education and government.  
Global Rank: Around 20–25th place.  
With the fall of the USSR, Uzbek gained prominence as a national language, and its number of speakers increased due to population growth.

2024: Current Status  
Speakers: Estimated 35–40 million.  
Uzbek is primarily spoken in Uzbekistan but also in neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as by diaspora communities worldwide.  
Global Rank: 18–20th place.  
Uzbek is now one of the top 20 most spoken languages globally, thanks to Uzbekistan's large population (over 36 million) and Uzbek-speaking minorities in surrounding countries. It is increasingly recognized on digital platforms, in media, and in academia.