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 interethnic relations and combating terrorism.

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N 75 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 198,500 km²
Water: 7,200 km²
Land: 191,300 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: 7.04%
Permanent crops: 0.39%
Note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (1998 est.)
Other: 92.57%

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

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 4,892,808 (July 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 1.46% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: 55% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Kyrgyzstani
Adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 52.4% Russian 18% Uzbek 12.9% Ukrainian 2.5% German 2.4% other 11.8%

Languages
Note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 836,593; female 819,615)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,436,371; female 1,492,884)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 117,405; female 189,940) (2003 est.)

Median age
Total: 22.7 years
Male: 21.8 years
Female: 23.6 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 1.46% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 26.06 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 9.1 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.37 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male/female
Total population: 0.96 male/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 75.34 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 65.5 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 84.72 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.66 years
Male: 59.49 years
Female: 68.03 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.12 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: over 500 (2001 est.)
Deaths: less than 100 (2001 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97%
Male: 99%
Female: 96% (1989 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
Conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
Local short form: none
Former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy

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)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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
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

Legislative branch
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)

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: Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken or Fatherland [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T. A. SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks KULOV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; 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]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; 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)

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
In the us fax: [1] (202) 338-5,139
In the us consulates: New York
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 338-5,141
In the us chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
From the us embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720,016 Bishkek
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

Economy overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small 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. Growth was held down to 2.1% in 1998 largely because of the spillover from Russia's economic difficulties but moved ahead to 3.6% in 1999 5% in 2000 and 5% again in 2001. The drop in output at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and again in 2003. On the positive side 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 growth rate: 5.3% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 35%
Industry: 25%
Services: 40% (2002 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: 7.2% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: 55% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.2%
Highest 10: 27.7% (1999)

Distribution of family income gini index: 34.6 (1999)

Budget
Revenues: $207.4 million
Expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.1% (2002 est.)

Exports: $488 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: cotton wool meat tobacco; gold mercury uranium natural gas hydropower; machinery; shoes
Partners: Switzerland 19.9% Russia 16.5% UAE 14.2% China 8.5% Kazakhstan 7.6% US 7.4% Uzbekistan 5.7% (2002)

Imports: $587 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: oil and gas machinery and equipment chemicals foodstuffs
Partners: Kazakhstan 21.1% Russia 19.9% Uzbekistan 10.2% China 10.1% US 8.1% Germany 5.3% (2002)

Debt external: $1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Exchange rates: soms per US dollar - 46.94 (2002) 48.38 (2001) 47.7 (2000) 39.01 (1999) 20.84 (1998)

Electricity
Production: 13.45 billion kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 7.6%
Production by source hydro: 92.4%
Production by source other: 0% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 10.46 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 2.25 billion kWh (2001)
Imports: 200 million kWh (2001)

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.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 351,000 (1997)
Mobile cellular: NA

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: 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

Internet
Country code: .kg
Service providers isps: NA
Users: 51,600 (2001)

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

Airports: 68 (2002)
With paved runways total: 18
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (2002)
With unpaved runways total: 50
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 36 (2002)

Pipelines: gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2003)

Railways
Total: 420 km
Broad gauge: 420 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)

Waterways: 600 km (1990)

Disputes international: Kyrgyzstan's constitutional court has ruled that 1270 km² ceded to China in a 2000 delimitation agreement were legally transferred; delimitation with Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor disputed areas; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; serious disputes with Uzbekistan around Uzbek enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts

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