2021 Edition

Background

A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Interim President Roza OTUNBAEVA led a transitional government and following a nation-wide election, President Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to step down after serving one full six-year term as required in the country’s constitution. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election that was the most competitive in the country’s history, although international and local election observers noted cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In October 2020, protests against legislative election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation from the presidency, and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In January 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formerly elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In April 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of draft constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Preliminary results from the legislative election in November 2021 suggest that pro-government parties will hold a majority in the Jogorku Kengesh (Kyrgyzstan’s legislature). Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, a history of tense, and at times violent, interethnic relations, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.  

Area

land

191,801 sq km

total

199,951 sq km

water

8,150 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

lowest point

Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m

mean elevation

2,988 m

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 75 00 E

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

Irrigated land

10,233 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 1063 km, Kazakhstan 1212 km, Tajikistan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1314 km

total

4,573 km

Land use

agricultural land

55.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.)

forest

5.1% (2018 est.)

other

39.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

Major lakes (area sq km)

Salt water lake(s)

Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq kmnote - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes

Major rivers (by length in km)

Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m] ) - 3,078 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains

Terrain

peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country

Age structure

0-14 years

30.39% (male 930,455/female 882,137)

15-24 years

15.7% (male 475,915/female 460,604)

25-54 years

40.02% (male 1,172,719/female 1,214,624)

55-64 years

8.09% (male 210,994/female 271,480)

65 years and over

5.8% (male 132,134/female 213,835) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

20.06 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

39.4% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

6.5% (2018)

Death rate

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.5

potential support ratio

13.2 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.7

youth dependency ratio

52.1

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 84.4% of population

improved: total

total: 89.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 15.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 10.7% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.9% of population

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Kyrgyz 73.5%, Uzbek 14.7%, Russian 5.5%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,200 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

21.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

30.49 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.45 years (2021 est.)

male

67.97 years

total population

72.07 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.5% (2018)

male

99.7%

total population

99.6%

Major urban areas - population

1.060 million BISHKEK (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

28.5 years (2020 est.)

male

26.1 years

total

27.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.6 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Kyrgyzstani

noun

Kyrgyzstani(s)

Net migration rate

-4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.6% (2016)

Physicians density

2.21 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

6,018,789 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains

Population growth rate

0.9% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 99.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2020)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.78 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.52 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.4% (2018 est.)

male

7.8%

total

9.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

37.1% of total population (2021)

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)

note

note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital

etymology

founded in 1868 as a Russian settlement on the site of a previously destroyed fortress named "Pishpek"; the name was retained and overtime became "Bishkek"

geographic coordinates

42 52 N, 74 36 E

name

Bishkek

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan

dual citizenship recognized

yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president; amended 2017, 2021; note - voters approved a constitutional referendum in April 2021 that transitioned Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and implemented changes that allow the president to serve for two five-year terms rather that one six-year term, reduces the number of seats in Kyrgyzstan's legislature from 120 to 90, and establishes a Kurultay - a public advisory council

history

previous 1993; latest adopted by referendum 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010; note - constitutional amendments that bolstered some presidential powers and transferred others from the president to the prime minister were passed in late 2017

Country name

conventional long form

Kyrgyz Republic

conventional short form

Kyrgyzstan

etymology

a combination of the Turkic words "kyrg" (forty) and "-yz" (tribes) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) creating the meaning "Land of the Forty Tribes"; the name refers to the 40 clans united by the mythic Kyrgyz hero, Manas

former

Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Kyrgyz Respublikasy

local short form

Kyrgyzstan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alan MELTZER (July 2021)

email address and website

ConsularBishkek@state.govhttps://kg.usembassy.gov/

embassy

171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016

FAX

[996] (312) 597-744

mailing address

7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC  20521-7040

telephone

[996] (312) 597-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Baktybek AMANBAYEV (since 7 July 2021)

email address and website

kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg; kgconsulate.washington@mfa.gov.kghttps://mfa.gov.kg/en/dm/-Embassy-of-the-Kyrgyz-Republic-in-the-USA-and-Canada

FAX

[1] (202) 449-8275

honorary consulate(s)

Maple Valley (WA)

telephone

[1] (202) 449-9822

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)

election results

Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV 79.5%, Adakhan MADUMAROV 6.5%, other 14%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2021 (next to be held in 2027)

head of government

Prime Minister Sadyr JAPAROV

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (90 seats; 54 seats allocated for proportional division among political party lists from the national vote and 36 seats allocated for candidates running in single-mandate constituencies; members serve 5-year terms; parties must receive 5% of the vote to win seats in the legislature)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held NA)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV

name

"Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)

note

note: adopted 1992

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

National symbol(s)

white falcon; national colors: red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Alliance [Mirlan JEENCHOROEV]Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Homeland) [Aybek MATKERIMOV]Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan MADUMAROV]Ishenim (Trust in Kyrgyz) [Rysbat AMATOV]Yntymak (Unity) [Marlen MAMATALIEV]Yyman Nuru (Light of Faith) [Nurjigit KADYRBEKOV]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, sugar beet, maize, wheat, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, carrots/turnips

Budget

expenditures

2.409 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

2.169 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Moody's rating

B2 (2015)

Standard & Poors rating

NR (2016)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$792 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$306 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$8.066 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$8.372 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked, mountainous, lower middle income country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only cotton is exported in any quantity. Other exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and - in some years - electricity. The country has sought to attract foreign investment to expand its export base, including construction of hydroelectric dams, but a difficult investment climate and an ongoing legal battle with a Canadian firm over the joint ownership structure of the nation’s largest gold mine deter potential investors. Remittances from Kyrgyz migrant workers, predominantly in Russia and Kazakhstan, are equivalent to more than one-quarter of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP.Following independence, Kyrgyzstan rapidly implemented market reforms, such as improving the regulatory system and instituting land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. The government has privatized much of its ownership shares in public enterprises. Despite these reforms, the country suffered a severe drop in production in the early 1990s and has again faced slow growth in recent years as the global financial crisis and declining oil prices have dampened economies across Central Asia. The Kyrgyz government remains dependent on foreign donor support to finance its annual budget deficit of approximately 3 to 5% of GDP.Kyrgyz leaders hope the country’s August 2015 accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will bolster trade and investment, but slowing economies in Russia and China and low commodity prices continue to hamper economic growth. Large-scale trade and investment pledged by Kyrgyz leaders has been slow to develop. Many Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and politicians complain that non-tariff measures imposed by other EAEU member states are hurting certain sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, such as meat and dairy production, in which they have comparative advantage. Since acceding to the EAEU, the Kyrgyz Republic has continued harmonizing its laws and regulations to meet EAEU standards, though many local entrepreneurs believe this process as disjointed and incomplete. Kyrgyzstan’s economic development continues to be hampered by corruption, lack of administrative transparency, lack of diversity in domestic industries, and difficulty attracting foreign aid and investment.

Exchange rates

currency

soms (KGS) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

53.654 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

64.462 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

69.914 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

69.914 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

68.35 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$2.352 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$2.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$3.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, precious metals, various beans, refined petroleum, scrap copper (2019)

Exports - partners

United Kingdom 56%, Kazakhstan 13%, Russia 13%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

39.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption

18.9% (2017 est.)

household consumption

85.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-79% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

33.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

14.6% (2017 est.)

industry

31.2% (2017 est.)

services

54.2% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.442 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2001

29 (2001)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

27.7 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.9% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

4.4%

Imports

Imports 2017

$4.953 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$5.86 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$5.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, footwear, clothing and apparel, broadcasting equipment, walnuts (2019)

Imports - partners

China 53%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 7%, Uzbekistan 7%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

10.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

3.1% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.5% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

1.1% (2019 est.)

Labor force

2.841 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

48%

industry

12.5%

services

39.5% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.1% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

55.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

56% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$32.46 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$33.95 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$31.02 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

3.9% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

4.3% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4.6% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$5,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$5,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$4,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$1.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$2.177 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

2.59% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

3.18% (2019 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.4% (2018 est.)

male

7.8%

total

9.6%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

4,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

40 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

10.52 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

184 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

24% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

76% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

331 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.046 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

13.04 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

186.9 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

169.9 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

28.32 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

34,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

6,996 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4.19 (2019 est.)

total

269,091 (2019)

Broadcast media

state-funded public TV broadcaster KTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations with national reach; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019)

Internet country code

.kg

Internet users

percent of population

38% (2019 est.)

total

3.32 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line penetration 5 per 100 persons remains low and concentrated in urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 134 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

fixed-line declining as 4G LTE mobile is universally available; brief interruptions of service with security as pretext; ICT sector rocked by allegation of corruption in 2020; digital radio-relay stations and fiber-optic links; 5G in development; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and computers from China; Chinese Economic Corridor investment into domestic backbone; World Bank investment into digital infrastructure with aims to provide broadband Internet to 60% of the population; social disparity evident in pandemic as many school children could not attend classes on-line (2020 )

international

country code - 996; connections with other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, 9 members post-Soviet Republics in EU) 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) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4.66 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

298,855 (2019)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

134.4 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

8,622,565 (2019)

Airports

total

28 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

11

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

over 3,047 m

1

total

18

under 914 m

3 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

10

under 914 m

8 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EX

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

709,198 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

17

number of registered air carriers

5 (2020)

Pipelines

3566 km gas (2018), 16 km oil (2013)

Ports and terminals

lake port(s)

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol)

Railways

broad gauge

424 km 1.520-m gauge (2018)

total

424 km (2018)

Roadways

total

34,000 km (2018)

Waterways

600 km (2010)

Military - note

Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force

Military and security forces

Kyrgyz Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard; State Border Service; Internal Troops; State Committee for National Security (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Kyrgyz Armed Forces have approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,500 Land Forces; 2,500 Air Force/Air Defense; 1,000 National Guard) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Kyrgyz Armed Forces' inventory is comprised of mostly older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; Kyrgyzstan relies on donations of military equipment, which come mostly from Russia under a 2013 agreement between Bishkek and Moscow (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.7% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.6% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.6% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.5% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 1-year service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2021)

Disputes - international

disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas

Illicit drugs

a prime transshipment location; illegal drugs move from Afghanistan to Russia, and sometimes into Europe  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

18 (2020)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstanis abroad; Kyrgyz men, women, and children are exploited in forced labor in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other European countries specifically in agriculture, construction, textiles, domestic service, and childcare; sex traffickers exploit Kyrgyz women and girls domestically and in India, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates; problems with police misconduct and corruption include allegations that police threaten and extort sex trafficking victims and accept bribes from alleged traffickers to drop cases; street children who beg or do domestic work are vulnerable to traffickers

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Kyrgyzstan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government adopted a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) that established formal policies on victim identification and the provision of social services;  the government established an interagency focus group to accelerate implementation of the NRM and improve law enforcement investigations; authorities increased investigations but did not prosecute or convict any traffickers; the government conducted limited training on the NRM; some officials reportedly  dropped charges or tipped off suspects and allowed victims to be pressured or paid to drop charges against alleged traffickers; the government’s written plan, if implemented, would meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, Kyrgyzstan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

9.79 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

4.47 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

18.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

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; air pollution due to rapid increase of traffic

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

55.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.)

forest

5.1% (2018 est.)

other

39.5% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

Salt water lake(s)

Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq kmnote - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes

Major rivers (by length in km)

Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m] ) - 3,078 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

23.618 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

336 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

224 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

37.1% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,113,300 tons (2015 est.)