Country Guide

Kyrgyzstan Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan


Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E


Map references:
Asia


Area:
total:199,951 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 87
land:191,801 sq km
water:8,150 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota


Land boundaries:
total:3,051 km
border countries:China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point:Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m


Natural resources:
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc


    Land use:
arable land:6.38%
permanent crops:0.37%
other:93.24%
note:Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut forest (2011)


Irrigated land:
10,210 sq km (2005)


Total renewable water resources:
23.62 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
23.62 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
NA


Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective:Kyrgyzstani


Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uighur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)


Languages:
Kyrgyz (official) 64.7%, Uzbek 13.6%, Russian (official) 12.5%, Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)


Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%


Population:
5,604,212 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 114


Age structure:
0-14 years:29.8% (male 854,029/female 815,300)
15-24 years:18.8% (male 536,355/female 519,440)
25-54 years:39.4% (male 1,079,691/female 1,127,520)
55-64 years:7.1% (male 171,960/female 224,450)
65 years and over:4.9% (male 105,651/female 169,816) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:53.2 %
youth dependency ratio:46.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.3 %
potential support ratio:15.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:25.7 years
male:24.7 years
female:26.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.04% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 115


Birth rate:
23.33 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 69


Death rate:
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 141


Net migration rate:
-6.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 199


Urbanization:
urban population:35.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.31% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BISHKEK (capital) 839,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.63 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
22.6


Maternal mortality rate:
71 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:28.71 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 67
male:32.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:24.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:70.06 yearscountry comparison to the world: 153
male:65.89 years
female:74.51 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.68 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 72


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
47.8% (2005/06)


Health expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2010)


Physicians density:
2.47 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
4.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 97.1% of population
rural: 82.3% of population
total: 87.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.9% of population
rural: 17.7% of population
total: 12.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 91.9% of population
rural: 91.7% of population
total: 91.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8.1% of population
rural: 8.3% of population
total: 8.2% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 95


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 109


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 101


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
15.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 118


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
2.7% (2006)country comparison to the world: 116


Education expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 25

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.2%
male:99.5%
female:99% (2009 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:14.6%country comparison to the world: 86
male:13.6%
female:16.2% (2006)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form:Kyrgyzstan
local long form:Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form:Kyrgyzstan
former:Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Bishkek
geographic coordinates:42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference:UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblustar, singular - oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular - shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol)


Independence:
31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)


Constitution:
previous 1993; latest adopted 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010 (2010)


Legal system:
civil law system which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Almazbek ATAMBAEV (since 1 December 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister Joomart OTORBAEV (since 2 April 2014, acting since 26 March 2014); First Deputy Prime Minister Tayyrbek SARPASHEV (since 2 April 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Valeriy DIL, Abdyrakhman MAMATALIEV, Elvira SARIEVA (all since 2 April 2014)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and security are appointed solely by the president
elections:president elected by popular vote for one six-year term; election last held on 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the president selects the party that will form a coalition majority and government
election results:Almazbek ATAMBAEV elected president; percent of vote - Almazbek ATAMBAEV 63.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV 14.7%, Kamchybek TASHIEV 14.3%, other 7.8%; Jantoro SATYBALDIEV elected prime minister; parliamentary vote - 111-2


Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 10 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ata-Jurt 28, SDPK 26, Ar-Namys 25, Respublika 23, Ata-Meken 18


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts
subordinate courts:Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Feliks KULOV]
Ata-Jurt (Homeland) [Kamchybek TASHIEV, Akhmat KELDIBEKOV, Sadyr JAPAROV]
Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAEV]
Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan MADUMAROV]
Respublika [Omurbek BABANOV]
Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) [Almazbek ATAMBAEV]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet (Justice) Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]


International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mukhtar JUMALIEV (since 7 December 2010)
chancery:2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 449-9822
FAX:[1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s):New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Pamela L. SPRATLEN (since 15 April 2011)
embassy:171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX:[996] (312) 551-264


Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of a 'tunduk' - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth


National symbol(s):
gyrfalcon


National anthem:
name:'Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni' (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)

lyrics/music:Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
note:adopted 1992

Economy

Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a dominant agricultural sector. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. The economy depends heavily on gold exports - mainly from output at the Kumtor gold mine - and on remittances from Kyrgyzstani migrant workers primarily in Russia. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and exports began to increase. The overthrow of President BAKIEV in April 2010 and subsequent ethnic clashes left hundreds dead and damaged infrastructure. Under President ATAMBAYEV, Kyrgyzstan has developed a plan for economic development in coordination with international donors, and has also expressed its intent to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Progress in fighting corruption, improving transparency in licensing, business permits and taxations, restructuring domestic industry, and attracting foreign aid and investment are key to future growth.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$13.32 billion (2012 est.)
$13.44 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.234 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
-0.9% (2012 est.)
6% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$2,400 (2012 est.)
$2,400 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
9.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
2.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
15% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:78.1%
government consumption:17.6%
investment in fixed capital:25.3%
investment in inventories:8%
exports of goods and services:51.2%
imports of goods and services:-80.2%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:20.8%
industry:34.4%
services:44.8% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool


Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals


Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Labor force:
2.344 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 115


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:48%
industry:12.5%
services:39.5% (2005 est.)


Unemployment rate:
8.6% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
18% (2004 est.)


Population below poverty line:
33.7% (2011 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.8%
highest 10%:27.8% (2009 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.4 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 99
29 (2001)


Budget:
revenues:$2.128 billion
expenditures:$2.458 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
29.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
2.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
13.73% (22 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
2.5% (31 December 2010 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
28.43% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$1.479 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.372 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$1.776 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$1.634 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.011 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$932.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$165 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$1.125 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-$1.497 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$1.881 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.921 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
gold, cotton, wool, garments, meat, tobacco; mercury, uranium, electricity; machinery; shoes


Exports - partners:
Kazakhstan 26.2%, Uzbekistan 26.1%, Russia 14.6%, China 7%, UAE 6.1%, Afghanistan 5.2% (2012)


Imports:
$5.082 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$4.967 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs


Imports - partners:
China 55.2%, Russia 17.4%, Kazakhstan 7.9% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.199 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$2.066 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$3.859 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$3.746 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.005 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$1.685 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$39.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$39.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
soms (KGS) per US dollar -
48.87 (2013 est.)
47.005 (2012 est.)
45.964 (2010 est.)
42.905 (2009)
36.108 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
14.9 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Electricity - consumption:
7.326 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98


Electricity - exports:
2.62 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
3.64 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
20.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
79.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Crude oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
40 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
16,640 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


Refined petroleum products - exports:
2,433 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Refined petroleum products - imports:
35,040 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Natural gas - production:
10 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Natural gas - consumption:
462.5 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Natural gas - imports:
390 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.793 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
489,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 98


Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.8 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 94


Telephone system:
general assessment:telecommunications infrastructure is being upgraded; loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are being used to install a digital network, digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links
domestic:fixed-line penetration remains low and concentrated in urban areas; multiple mobile-cellular service providers with growing coverage; mobile-cellular subscribership was about 115 per 100 persons in 2011
international:country code - 996; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run TV broadcaster operates 2 nationwide networks and 6 regional stations; roughly 20 private TV stations operating with most rebroadcasting other channels; state-run radio broadcaster operates 2 networks; about 20 private radio stations (2007)


Internet country code:
.kg


Internet hosts:
115,573 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 81


Internet users:
2.195 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74

Transportation

Airports
28 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 122


Airports - with paved runways
total:18
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:11
under 914 m:3 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:10
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
8 (2013)


    Pipelines
gas 480 km; oil 16 km (2013)


Railways
total:470 kmcountry comparison to the world: 112
broad gauge:470 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:34,000 km (2007)country comparison to the world: 94

Waterways
600 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79


Ports and terminals
lake port(s):Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol)

Military

Military branches
Ground Forces, Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; service obligation - 1 year, with optional fee-based 3-year service in the callup mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,456,881
females age 16-49:1,470,317 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,119,224
females age 16-49:1,257,263 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:56,606
female:54,056 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
NA% (2012)
3.74% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas


Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs:172,000 (June 2010 violence in southern Kyrgyzstan between the Kyrgyz majority and the Uzbek minority) (2012)
stateless persons:15,473 (2012); note - most stateless people were born in Kyrgystan, have lived there many years, or are married to a Kyrgyz citizen; in 2009, Kyrgyzstan adopted a national action plan to speed up the exchange of old Soviet passports for Kyrgyz ones; stateless people are unable to register marriages and births, to travel within the country or abroad, to own property, or to receive social benefits



    Illicit drugs
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook