Uzbekistan Microfinance and Pawnshop Loans Reach $2.62 bn in 2025

In 2025, microfinance organisations (MFOs) and pawnshops in Uzbekistan issued loans totalling 31.8 trln soums ($2.62 bn), double the amount recorded in 2024, according to the central bank’s market report.

MFOs accounted for 28.9 trln soums ($2.38 bn), while pawnshops provided 2.9 trln ($239 mln). Individuals made up 91% of borrowers, with companies taking 9%. Most personal loans were under 10 mln soums/$824 (62%), 15% ranged from 10 to 20 mn soums ($824-$1,648), and 14% were between 20 and 50 mln soums ($1,648–$4,121).

Loans to legal entities showed that 22% were between 200 and 300 mln soums ($16,484–$24,726), 21% under 50 mln ($4,121), and 20% ranged from 100 to 200 mln ($8,242–$16,484).

In 2025, 32 new MFOs with 234 branches began operating in Uzbekistan. By January, 223 institutions were active, with the highest concentration in the capital, 77 MFOs and 46 pawnshops, followed by Fergana region with 20 MFOs and five pawnshops.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan has climbed 43 spots to rank 48th out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s newly released «Women, Business and the Law» (WBL) 2026 report.

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