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Background:
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A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and
proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in
1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned
enterprises, expansion of democracy and political freedoms,
interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.
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Location:
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Central Asia,
west of China |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller
than South Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km,
Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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dry continental
to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana
Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone |
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Terrain:
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peaks of Tien
Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m |
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Natural resources:
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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 |
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Land use:
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arable land:
7.04%
permanent crops: 0.39%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth
walnut forest (1998 est.)
other: 92.57% |
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Irrigated land:
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10,740 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked;
entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many
tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes |
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Population:
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5,081,429 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
32.3% (male 835,599; female 804,384)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 1,535,447; female 1,594,972)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 120,555; female 190,472)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
23.1 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 24 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.25% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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22.13
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.19 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-2.45 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
36.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 42.23 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 67.84 years
male: 63.84 years
female: 72.05 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kyrgyz 64.9%,
Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur
1%, other 5.7% (1999 census) |
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Religions:
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Muslim 75%,
Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5% |
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Languages:
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Kyrgyz - official
language, Russian - official language
note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature
made Russian an official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Bishkek |
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Administrative divisions:
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7 provinces (oblastlar,
singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty,
Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty,
Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as
their administrative centers (exceptions have the
administrative center name following in parentheses) |
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Independence:
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31 August 1991
(from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
31 August (1991) |
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Constitution:
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adopted 5 May
1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed
in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly
expands the powers of the president at the expense of the
legislature |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV
(since 22 May 2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV
resigned on 22 May 2002 when five demonstrators were killed in
a clash with police in March of 2002; First Deputy Prime
Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV (since 19 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%,
other candidates 12%; note - election marred by serious
irregularities
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a
five-year term; elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to
be held November or December 2005); prime minister appointed
by the president; note - President AKAYEV has publicly stated
that he will not seek reelection when his current term expires
in 2005 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Supreme
Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of
People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative
Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); note - in accordance with a 2003
referendum, the Parliament is slated to become unicameral with
75 deputies after the 2005 elections
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and
Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NA; note - total seats by party in the Supreme
Council were as follows: Union of Democratic Forces 12,
Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4, independents 73,
other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5
February 1995 elections; the 2000 election results include
both the Assembly of People's Representatives and the
Legislative Assembly
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last
held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA
February 2005); Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February
and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
(judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council
on the recommendation of the president); Constitutional Court;
Higher Court of Arbitration |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Agrarian Labor
Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; ar-Namys (Honor) Party [Feliks
KULOV]; Ata-Meken or Fatherland [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner
National Revival Party or ASABA [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV];
Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic
Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic
Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [Tokon SHAILIYEVA]; El Muras
(People's Heritage) [Toktokan BOROMBAYEVA]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan
Progressive and Democratic Party [B. ASANOV]; Erkindik
(Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Justice Party [Chingiz
AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Jumgalbek
AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Jumagazy USUPOV];
My Country Party of Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; National
Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Novoe
Vremya [leader NA]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat
M. MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek
IMANALIEV]; Party of the Veterans of the War in Afghanistan
[leader NA]; Peasant Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Melis
ESHIMKANOV]; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan [J.
SHARSHENALIYEV]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [J. IBRAMOV];
Union of Democratic Forces (composed of Social Democratic
Party of Kyrgyzstan or PSD [J. IBRAMOV], Economic Revival
Party, and Birimdik Party) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Council of Free
Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan
DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of
Entrepreneurs |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264 |
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Economy - overview:
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Kyrgyzstan is a
poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural
economy. 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, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan
has been fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms,
such as an improved regulatory system and land reform.
Kyrgyzstan was the first CIS country to be accepted into the
World Trade Organization. With fits and starts, inflation has
been lowered to an estimated 7% in 2001, 2.1% in 2002, and
4.0% in 2003. 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.
Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by adopting relatively
liberal economic policies. The drop in output at the Kumtor
gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP
growth bounced back to 6% in 2003. The government has made
steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit
and aims to reduce the deficit to 4.4 percent of GDP in 2004.
The government and the international financial institutions
have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty
reduction and economic growth strategy. Further restructuring
of domestic industry and success in attracting foreign
investment are keys to future growth. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $7.725 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $1,600 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
35%
industry: 25%
services: 40% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2003 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.7 million
(2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 55%,
industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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7.2% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$207.4 million
expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) |
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Industries:
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small machinery,
textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs,
refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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13.45 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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10.46 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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2.25 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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200 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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2,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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20,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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16 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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2.016 billion cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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tobacco, cotton,
potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep,
goats, cattle, wool |
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Exports:
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$548 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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cotton, wool,
meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes |
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Exports - partners:
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Switzerland
19.8%, Russia 16.5%, UAE 14.2%, China 8.4%, Kazakhstan 7.6%,
US 7.4%, Uzbekistan 5.8% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$601 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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oil and gas,
machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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Kazakhstan 21.1%,
Russia 19.9%, Uzbekistan 10.2%, China 10.1%, US 8%, Germany
5.3% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.5 billion
(2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$50 million from
the US (2001) |
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Currency:
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Kyrgyzstani som
(KGS) |
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Currency code:
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KGS |
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Exchange rates:
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soms per US
dollar - 43.65 (2003), 46.94 (2002), 48.38 (2001), 47.7
(2000), 39.01 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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394,800 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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53,100 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one
cellular provider, probably limited to Bishkek region
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 - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected
internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic
line |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 12 (plus 10
repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA (repeater
stations throughout the country relay programs from Russia,
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.kg |
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Internet hosts:
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5,930 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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152,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 420
km
broad gauge: 420 km 1.520-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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600 km |
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Pipelines:
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gas 367 km; oil
13 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol
or Rybach'ye) |
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Airports:
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61 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 17
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Air and Air
Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 1,347,312 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
59,759 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$19.2 million
(FY01) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.4% (FY01) |
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Disputes - international:
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boundary with
China is fully demarcated; delimitation with Kazakhstan is
largely complete with only minor disputed areas; disputes in
Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with
Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but
serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar
progress for some 130 km of border |
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Illicit drugs:
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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 |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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