Uzbekistan has ranked near the bottom in Central Asia for internet freedom in 2026, according to a study by Cloudwards. The country scored 24 out of 100, placing it ahead of only Turkmenistan in the region.
Across Central Asia, Tajikistan recorded the highest score with 56 points, followed by Kyrgyzstan with 52. Kazakhstan took a middle position at 36, while Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with 16 points, remained among the most restrictive environments for internet users.
Globally, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and New Zealand topped the rankings with 92 points each, reflecting minimal censorship and strong protections for online expression.
At the other end of the scale, North Korea scored zero, while Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan each received four points.
The study assessed countries based on access to websites and services, levels of censorship, restrictions on VPN use and freedom of expression online. Higher scores indicate fewer limitations for users.
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