Abstract
The article discusses the process of conducting a population census in the Uzbek SSR in 1937. It also sheds light on the underlying motives of the Soviet government representatives in charge of conducting the census, as well as the specific goals outlined. The article highlights that during the census process conducted in 1937 in the republic’s territories, population statistics were compiled by the Central Statistical Administration, and the final results of this initiative were analyzed separately based on regional statistical sources. Furthermore, it mentions that the subsequent years were anticipated to witness the regulation of the socio-economic and political life in the republic based on the outcomes of this census. Moreover, the article discusses how the regulations of the census conducted in 1937 were analyzed in comparison with previous years’ census regulations. The article also touches upon the challenges and shortcomings of the preparatory work for the census process and provides some scientific conclusions and recommendations. In addition, it emphasizes the political atmosphere of the 1930s, marked by the Great Purge, and how this environment influenced both the accuracy of census data and the attitudes of local officials responsible for data collection. The study underlines that the census was not merely a demographic exercise but also a political tool used by the Soviet authorities to monitor loyalty, suppress dissent, and justify administrative decisions. It reveals that many census workers and statisticians faced persecution due to alleged “incorrect” results that contradicted the state’s expectations. By critically analyzing archival materials, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of how political repression and bureaucratic control shaped demographic policies in the Uzbek SSR.