2000 Edition

Background

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, inter-ethnic relations, and terrorism.

Area

land

191,300 sq km

total

198,500 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

highest point

Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

lowest point

Kara-Darya 132 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

border countries

China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

total

3,878 km

Land use

arable land

7%

forests and woodland

4%

note

Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest

other

45% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

44%

Location

Central Asia, west of China

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 36% (male 843,038; female 825,519) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,337,268; female 1,393,397) 65 years and over: 6% (male 107,405; female 178,603) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

26.29 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.15 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

77.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 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

female

67.9 years (2000 est.)

male

59.06 years

total population

63.37 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96% (1989 est.)

male

99%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

Kyrgyzstani

noun

Kyrgyzstani(s)

Net migration rate

-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

4,685,230 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.43% (2000 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: 0.6 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.22 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 oblastlar (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)

Capital

Bishkek

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

former

Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Kyrgyz Respublikasy

local short form

none

Data code

KG

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND

embassy

171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

(3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV

telephone

(202) 338-5141

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)

election results

Askar AKAYEV reelected 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

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held November or December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA December 1998)

FAX

(202) 338-5139

(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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

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)

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 at later dates

elections

Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000); Legislative Assembly - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000)

note

the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party ; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA ; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK ; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK ; Dignity Party ; Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party ; Justice Party ; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK ; Movement for the People's Salvation ; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar ; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE ; Peasant Party ; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Social Democratic Party or PSD

Political pressure groups and leaders

Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights ; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$225 million

Currency

1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn

Debt - external

$1.1 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$329.4 million (1995)

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 electricity. 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 had 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. The government has adopted a series of measures to combat such severe problems as excessive external debt, inflation, inadequate revenue collection, and the spillover from Russia's economic disorders. Kyrgyzstan had moderate growth in 1999 of 3.4% with a similar rate expected for 2000.

Electricity - consumption

11.102 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

1.1 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

850 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

12.206 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

10.78%

hydro

89.22%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

soms (KGS) per US$1 - 46.235 (January 2000), 39.008 (1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996), 10.822 (1995)

Exports

$515 million (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports - partners

Germany 37%, Kazakhstan 17%, Russia 16%, Uzbekistan 8%, China 3% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

45%

industry

20%

services

35% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.2% (1993)

Imports

$590 million (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Russia 24%, Uzbekistan 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Germany 6%, China 5% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-3.4% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

37% (1999 est.)

Labor force

1.7 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

6% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

520,000 (1997)

Telephone system

poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones

domestic

principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, probably limited to Bishkek region

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; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line

Telephones - main lines in use

357,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)

Televisions

210,000 (1997)

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

paved

16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)

total

18,500 km

unpaved

1,646 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

natural gas 200 km

Ports and harbors

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Railways

broad gauge

370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

total

370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

Waterways

600 km (1990)

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,172,899 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 951,395 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

48,551 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area; periodic target of Islamic terrorists from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

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

LAOS