Kyrgyzstan

total: 289,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)

state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station 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 Kyrgyz-language content up to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2023)

.kg

total: 5.07 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 78% (2021 est.)

general assessment: the country s telecom sector (specifically the mobile segment) has been able to prosper; Kyrgyzstan has opened up its telecom market to competition; the mobile market has achieved high levels of penetration (140% in 2021) along with a fairly competitive operating environment with four major players; mobile broadband has come along strongly, reaching over 125% penetration in 2019 before falling back slightly during the COVID-19 crisis; slow-to-moderate growth is expected for both segments in coming years, supported by the anticipated rollout of 5G services which began testing in 2022 with a pilot service in 2023 which has been delayed into 2024 (2024) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 130 per 100 persons (2022) 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)

total subscriptions: 299,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions: 8.511 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2021 est.)

milk, potatoes, maize, wheat, barley, sugar beets, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $3.859 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $2.892 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Moody's rating: B2 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: NR (2016) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

-$5.18 billion (2022 est.) -$737.696 million (2021 est.) $374.257 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$3.457 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; natural resource rich; growing hydroelectricity and tourism; high remittances; corruption limits investment; COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending

soms (KGS) per US dollar - 87.856 (2023 est.) 84.116 (2022 est.) 84.641 (2021 est.) 77.346 (2020 est.) 69.789 (2019 est.)

$3.628 billion (2022 est.) $3.292 billion (2021 est.) $2.435 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, refined petroleum, gold, precious metal ore, dried legumes (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Russia 43%, Kazakhstan 18%, Uzbekistan 10%, Turkey 6%, UAE 4% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$13.988 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 88.7% (2022 est.) government consumption: 16.8% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: 14.2% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 29.9% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -87.4% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 9.7% (2023 est.) industry: 22.6% (2023 est.) services: 50.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

28.8 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 4.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.2% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$10.655 billion (2022 est.) $5.928 billion (2021 est.) $4.051 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, footwear, refined petroleum, cars, fabric (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 64%, Russia 10%, Uzbekistan 4%, Turkey 4%, Kazakhstan 4% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

4.93% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

10.75% (2023 est.) 13.92% (2022 est.) 11.91% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

3.069 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

33.3% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

47.09% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$45.461 billion (2023 est.) $42.826 billion (2022 est.) $39.302 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

6.15% (2023 est.) 8.97% (2022 est.) 5.51% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$6,400 (2023 est.) $6,100 (2022 est.) $5,800 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

18.59% of GDP (2023 est.) 26.58% of GDP (2022 est.) 32.56% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$3.237 billion (2023 est.) $2.799 billion (2022 est.) $2.983 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

19.54% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

4.04% (2023 est.) 4.06% (2022 est.) 4.1% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 8.2% (2023 est.) male: 7.6% (2023 est.) female: 9.2% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

10.197 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from consumed natural gas: 859,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

production: 3.637 million metric tons (2022 est.) consumption: 3.352 million metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 1.321 million metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 738,000 metric tons (2022 est.) proven reserves: 28.499 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity: 4.408 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 13.465 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 457 million kWh (2022 est.) imports: 2.806 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.738 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.6%

fossil fuels: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 85.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

26.992 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

production: 31.026 million cubic meters (2022 est.) consumption: 438 million cubic meters (2022 est.) imports: 406.974 million cubic meters (2022 est.) proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2022 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 40 million barrels (2021 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 37.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.47 megatons (2020 est.)

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

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

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

agricultural land: 55.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 39.5% (2018 est.)

salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - 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

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

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)

0.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

23.62 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal: 220 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 340 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,113,300 tons (2015 est.)

total : 199,951 sq km land: 191,801 sq km water: 8,150 sq km

slightly smaller than South Dakota

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

0 km (landlocked)

highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m mean elevation: 2,988 m

41 00 N, 75 00 E

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

10,043 sq km (2020)

total: 4,573 km border countries (4): China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km

agricultural land: 55.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 39.5% (2018 est.)

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - 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

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

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)

Asia

none (landlocked)

major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes

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

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

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

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

name: Bishkek geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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"

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

history: previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by 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 5-year terms rather than one 6-year term, reduced the number of seats in Kyrgyzstan's legislature from 120 to 90, and established a Kurultay - a public advisory council 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

conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022) embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016 mailing address: 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040 telephone: [996] (312) 597-000 FAX: [996] (312) 597-744 email address and website: ConsularBishkek@state.gov https://kg.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); (since 26 October 2024) chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822 FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275 email address and website: kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg)

chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) head of government: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president 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) election results: 2021: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV (Mekenchil) 79.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.8%, other 14% 2017: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president; Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan) 54.7%, Omurbek BABANOV (independent) 33.8%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, other 4.9% note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

parliamentary republic

31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

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

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, 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

highest court(s): 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

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

description: unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kenesh (90 seats statutory, current 88; 54 seats allocated for proportional division among political party lists from the national vote and 36 seats allocated for candidates running in single-seat constituencies; members serve 5-year terms; parties must receive 5% of the vote to win seats in the Council) elections: last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - AJK 17.3%, Ishenim 15%, Yntymak 12.1%, Alyans 9.2%, Butun Kyrgyzstan 7.8%, Yiman Nuru 6.8%, other 30%; seats by party - AJK 15, Ishenim 12, Yntymak 9, Alyns 7, Butun Kyrgyzstan 6, Yiman Nuru 5, other 36; composition - men 70, women 19, percentage women 21.1%

name: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic) lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV note: adopted 1992

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n)

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

white falcon; national colors: red, yellow

Afghan's Party Alliance Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) or AJK Cohesion Ishenim (Trust) Light of Faith Mekenchil or the "Patriotic" Political Party Social Democrats or SDK United Kyrgyzstan Yntymak (Unity)

18 years of age; universal

Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during 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. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.

Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also started a relationship with NATO in 1992 and joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994 the Kyrgyz military s primary responsibility is defense of the country s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; elements of the military were called out in 2020 to respond to post-election demonstrations for example, and the National Guard s missions include counterterrorism, responding to emergencies, and the protection of government facilities; the military also participates in UN and CSTO peacekeeping missions; border disputes with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the threat posed by militant Islamic groups, have been particular areas of concern for both the military and internal security forces; the military s closest security partner is Russia, which provides training and material assistance, and maintains a presence in the country, including an airbase; the military also conducts training with other regional countries such as India, traditionally with a focus on counterterrorism the Kyrgyz military was formed in 1992 from Soviet Army units then based in Kyrgyzstan following the dissolution of the USSR (2023)

Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard; Internal Troops; State Committee for National Security (GKNB): State Border Service (2024)

approximately 15,000 active-duty troops (9,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Air Force/Air Defense; 3,000 National Guard) (2023)

the Kyrgyz military inventory is comprised almost entirely of Russian and Soviet-era weapons and equipment; in recent years, the military has acquired small amounts of material from other suppliers such as Turkey, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2024)

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary service for men in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 12-month 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 (2023)

0-14 years: 29.1% (male 922,086/female 873,245) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,935,200/female 2,013,733) 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 164,032/female 263,805)

total: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

18.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

women married by age 15: 0.3% women married by age 18: 12.9% (2018 est.)

1.8% (2018)

39.4% (2018)

5.3% of GDP (2020)

66.2% (2023 est.)

6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Kyrgyzstan is a sparsely populated country whose population is unevenly distributed. More than 50% of the population lives in or around the two cities of Bishkek and Osh and their surrounding districts, which together account for about 12% of the country s area. Kyrgyzstan s population continues to grow rapidly owing to its high fertility rate and the traditional preference for larger families, a low mortality rate, a growing share of women of reproductive age, and measures to support families with children. The country has a youthful age structure; over 45% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2022. Nevertheless, Kyrgyzstan is transitioning from an agricultural society with high fertility and mortality rates to an industrial society with lower fertility and mortality rates. As part of the USSR, Kyrgyzstan s rapid population growth was not problematic because its needs were redistributed among the Soviet States. As an independent state, however, population growth became burdensome. International labor migration continues to serve as a safety valve that decreases pressure on the labor market and resources (healthcare, education, and pensions), while also reducing poverty through much-needed remittances. The main destinations for labor migrants are Russia and Kazakhstan, where wages are higher; almost a third of Kyrgyzstan s working-age population migrates to Russia alone. Outmigration was most pronounced in the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, when ethnic Russians, Ukrainians, and Germans left Kyrgyzstan, changing the proportion of ethnic Kyrgyz in the country from barely 50% in 1992 to almost three-quarters today. While Kyrgyzstan is a net emigration country, it does receive immigrants. The majority of immigrants are from the Commonwealth of Independent States particularly Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan but more recent arrivals also include persons from China, Turkey, and Turkmenistan. Chinese immigrants work primarily in construction and gold mining, while Turkish immigrants mainly work in construction, trade, education, and services. Border areas between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan experience irregular migration, but many of these migrants plan to move on to Europe.

total dependency ratio: 63.5 youth dependency ratio: 56.4 elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 potential support ratio: 13.9 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 89.9% of population total: 93.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 10.1% of population total: 6.4% of population (2020 est.)

6.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.)

1.19 (2024 est.)

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2014)

total: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 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.

total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.) male: 68.9 years female: 77.2 years

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.5% (2018)

1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023)

50 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

total: 28.3 years (2024 est.) male: 26.9 years female: 29.8 years

22.6 years (2019 est.)

noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

16.6% (2016)

2.21 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

total: 6,172,101 male: 3,021,318 female: 3,150,783 (2024 est.)

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

0.79% (2024 est.)

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

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2021)

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 25.4% (2020 est.) male: 48% (2020 est.) female: 2.8% (2020 est.)

2.45 children born/woman (2024 est.)

urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods

a prime transit route and transshipment route for illegal drugs transiting north from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe; illicit drugs are primarily smuggled into the country from Tajikistan

stateless persons: 482 (2022)

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Kyrgyzstan was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyzstan/

28 (2024)

EX

1 (2024)

number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 709,198 (2018)

4,195 km gas (2022), 16 km oil (2022) (2022)

total: 424 km (2022) broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge

total: 34,000 km (2022) paved: 22,600 km (2020) unpaved: 7,700 km (2020)

576 km (2022)