Kyrgyzstan

Location

• Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
• 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

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Bishkek	900,000	Capital
Osh	322,164
Jalal-Abad	123,239
Karakol	84,351
Tokmok	71,443
Uzgen	49,410
Kara-Balta	48,278
Balykchy	42,875
Naryn	41,178
Bazar-Korgon	41,011

Size

• 76,641 square miles
• 198,500 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than South Dakota

History

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.

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Languages

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.

Religions

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

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by referendum in 2021 amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)head of government: President Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)most recent election date: 10 January 2021election 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%expected date of next election: 2027note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: 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 courtssubordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 90 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 11/28/2021parties elected and seats per party: Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) (15); Ishenim (Trust) (12); Yntymak (Harmony) (9); Alyans (Alliance) (7); Butun Kyrgyzstan (United) (6); Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) (5); Independents (34)percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%expected date of next election: November 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $4.84 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $4.452 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
• Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
• Agricultural Products: milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 54% (2022 est.)arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 46.9% (2022 est.)forest: 7% (2022 est.)other: 38.9% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports