1998 Edition

Area

total: 198,500 sq km land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Climate

dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

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: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 75 00 E

Geography-note

landlocked

Irrigated land

9,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 4% other: 45% (1993 est.) note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest

Location

Central Asia, west of China

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Terrain

peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Age structure

0-14 years: 36% (male 817,229; female 800,248) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,285,520; female 1,337,259) 65 years and over: 6% (male 104,105; female 177,920) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

22.03 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%

Infant mortality rate

74.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Kirghiz (Kyrgyz)-official language, Russian-official language note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the constitution to make Russian an official language, along with Kirghiz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens predominate

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.77 years male: 59.45 years female: 68.3 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Net migration rate

-9.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

4,522,281 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

0.37% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 oblasttar (singular-oblast) and 1 city* (singular-shaar); 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)

Constitution

adopted 5 May 1993 note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature

Country name

conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code

KG

Executive branch

chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV (since 25 March 1998) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Askar AKAYEV elected president; percent of vote-Askar AKAYEV 75%; note-elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival

FAX

[1] (202) 338-5139 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne SIGMUND embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-21, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73

[7] (3312) 22-35-51

Flag description

red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz 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 the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt

Government type

republic

Independence

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year term by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD [Zh. IBRAMOV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK [Absamat MASALIYEV, chairman]; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan [Zh. SHARSHENALIYEV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [A. ALIYEV]; Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Rivival Party or ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Djumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Zhumagazy USUPOV]; Peasant Party; Agrarian Party Political pressure groups and leaders: National Unity Democratic Movement; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan DYRYIDAYEV]

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

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) elections: Assembly of People's Representatives-last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly-last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Assembly of People's Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA; note-not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly; Legislative Assembly-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-NA; note-not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections

National capital

Bishkek

National holiday

National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

wool, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle

Budget

revenues: $225 million expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn

Debt-external

$746 million (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $56 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,695 million ($390 million disbursements)

Economy-overview

Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer. Foreign assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic turnaround in 1996-97.

Electricity-capacity

3.632 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

2,090 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

13.7 billion kWh (1996 est.)

Exchange rates

soms (KGS) per US$1-14.6 (January 1997), 11.2 (yearend 1995), 10.6 (yearend 1994)

Exports

total value: $506 million (1996) commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes partners: China, UK, FSU

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$9.7 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 47% industry: 12% services: 41% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,100 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

10% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $890 million (1996) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: Turkey, Cuba, US, Germany

Industrial production growth rate

10.8% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

15% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.7 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 40%, industry and construction 19%, other 41% (1995 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

1 state-run radio broadcast station

Radios

825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000)

Telephone system

poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay international: 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

Telephones

342,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 note: receives Turkish broadcasts

Televisions

875,000

Unemployment rate

8% (December 1996 est.)

Airports

54 (1994 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

natural gas 200 km Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Railways

total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Waterways

600 km (1990)

Military branches

Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense note: border troops controlled by Russia

Military expenditures-dollar figure

151 million soms (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 1,124,900 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 912,596 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 45,066 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Illicit drugs

limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia