Khorazm Region

Khorazm Region, also known as the Khorezm or Xorazm Region, (Xorazm viloyati, Хоразм вилояти, خوارزم ولایتی) is a viloyat (region) of Uzbekistan located in the northwest of the country in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River. It borders with Turkmenistan, Karakalpakstan, and the Bukhara Region. It covers an area of 6,050 km2. The population is estimated at 1,959,300 (2023), with 67% living in rural areas. The capital is Urgench (pop. est. 147 300). Other major towns include Xonqa, Khiva, Shovot, and Pitnak.



The climate is a typically arid continental climate, with cold winters and extremely hot, dry summers.

The city of Khiva in Khorezm Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with world-famous architectural monuments, making Khiva one of the main centers for international tourism in the country. The economy of Khorezm Region is primarily based on cotton. Cotton is by far the main crop, although rice production has increased significantly in the last several years. (though the Uzbek government discourages rice production near to deserts, over water usage concerns) There are also many orchards and vineyards, melon and gourd plantations and potato fields. Khorezm Region is famous for its "gurvak" melon in Uzbekistan. Industry is also heavily oriented to cotton, with cotton refining, cottonseed oil extraction and textiles predominating. Khorezm is a place where many famous scholars were born, such as Abu Rayhan Biruni and al-Khwārizmī. The region has a well-developed transportation infrastructure, with over 130 km of railways and 2000 km of surfaced roads. The region is connected by rail to European Russia and the Caucasus. People in Khorezm speak in Khorezmian, which is an Oghuz dialect of Turkic Languages that is different from Karluk (in which most of other Uzbek regions' people speak)

Administrative divisions


The Region consists of 11 districts (listed below) and two district-level cities: Urgench and Khiva.

There are 3 cities (Urgench, Khiva, Pitnak) and 56 urban-type settlements in the Khorazm Region. In March 2020 the new Tuproqqalʼa District was created out of the larger, eastern part of Hazorasp District. Gurlen is one of the most unique districts in the region.

The most interesting place in Khorezm is Aqdarband village. Ancestors of the people of Aqdarband came from Iran in 15th age to protect Khiva.