Map of Kyrgyzstan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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. Nation-wide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July of 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises expansion of democracy and political freedoms interethnic relations and combating terrorism.


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Location: Central Asia west of China

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N 75 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 198,500 km²
Land: 191,300 km²
Water: 7,200 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries
Total: 3,878 km
Border countries: (4) China 858 km; , Kazakhstan 1,051 km; , Tajikistan 870 km; , Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
Extremes 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: 7.3%
Permanent crops: 0.35%
Other: 92.35%
Note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2001)

Irrigated land: 10,740 km² (1998 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: landlocked; entirely mountainous dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks glaciers and high-altitude lakes


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Population: 5,146,281 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: 1.29% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: 40% (2004 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Kyrgyzstani
Adjective: Kyrgyzstani

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

Languages: Kyrgyz (official) Russian (official)

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 827,751/female 796,029)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 1,571,476/female 1,632,506)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 123,992/female 194,527) (2005 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 23.39 years
Male: 22.52 years
Female: 24.27 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.29% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 22.48 births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 7.13 deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male/female
Total population: 0.96 male/female (2005 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 35.64 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 40.97 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 30.03 deaths/1000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.16 years
Male: 64.16 years
Female: 72.38 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 3,900 (2003 est.)
Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98.7%
Male: 99.3%
Female: 98.1% (1999 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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

Government type: republic

Capital: Bishkek

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 31 August (1991)

Constitution: 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

Legal system: based on civil law system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14 August 2005); note - former President Askar AKAYEV resigned effective 11 April 2005 following widespread protests that forced him to flee the country on 24 March 2005
Head of government: Prime Minister Feliks KULOV (since 1 September 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for NA 2010); prime minister nominated by the president for approval by Parliament
Election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%; Feliks KULOV approved as prime minister 55-8

Legislative branch
Elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000; Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000; elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh were held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority of positions remained undecided and were to be contested in a runoff election scheduled for 13 March 2005; election irregularities caused widespread protests that resulted in the president being forced to flee the country; new legislative elections have not yet been rescheduled
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

Judicial branch: 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

Political parties and leaders: Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin ALIYEV]; Alga Kyrgyzstan (Forward Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future of Kyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan) [Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz National Party [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV]; Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]

International organization participation: AsDB CIS EAPC EBRD ECO FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt (signatory) ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF Interpol IOC IOM ISO (correspondent) ITU MIGA NAM (observer) OIC OPCW OSCE PCA PFP SCO UN UNAMSIL UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNMIK UNMIL UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
In the us chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 338-5,141
In the us fax: [1] (202) 338-5,139
In the us consulates: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
From the us embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720,016
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
From the us 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 the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: 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 4% in 2003 and 3.2% in 2004. 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 and 2004. The government has made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to reduce the deficit to 3% 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $8.495 billion (2004 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (2004 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1700 (2004 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 38.5%
Industry: 22.8%
Services: 38.7% (2004 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: 6% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 2.7 million (2000)
By occupation agriculture: 55%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 18% (2004 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 40% (2004 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.9%
Highest 10: 23.3% (2001)

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (2001)

Budget
Revenues: $431.3 million
Expenditures: $445.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.2% (2004 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $-87.92 million (2004 est.)

Exports: $646.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Commodities: cotton wool meat tobacco; gold mercury uranium natural gas hydropower; machinery; shoes
Partners: UAE 28.2% Russia 19.1% China 12% Kazakhstan 11.1% Switzerland 6.3% (2004)

Imports: $775.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Commodities: oil and gas machinery and equipment chemicals foodstuffs
Partners: China 26.3% Russia 22.3% Kazakhstan 17.1% Turkey 5.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $498.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt external: $1.97 billion (2004 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: soms per US dollar - 42.65 (2004) 43.648 (2003) 46.937 (2002) 48.378 (2001) 47.704 (2000)


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Electricity
Production: 11.72 billion kWh (2002)
Consumption: 10.21 billion kWh (2002)
Exports: 1.062 billion kWh (2002)
Imports: 375 million kWh (2002)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 16 million m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 2.016 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 2 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 394,800 (2002)
Mobile cellular: 53,100 (2002)

Telephone system
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

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .kg
Hosts: 12,299 (2004)
Users: 152,000 (2002)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $19.2 million (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 1.4% (FY01)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 52 (2004 est.)
With paved runways total: 16
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 10
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 36
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)

Railways
Total: 470 km
Broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)

Roadways

Waterways: 600 km (2004)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: delimitation with Kazakhstan is complete; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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