Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan⌘K
Overview
- Background
- 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.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 191,801 sq km
- Water
- 8,150 sq km
- Total
- 199,951 sq km
- 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
Land Use
- Other
- 39.4% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 6.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 54% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
- Highest point
- Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
- Mean elevation
- 2,988 m
- Irrigated land
- 10,041 sq km (2022)
- Map references
- Asia
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 4,573 km
- Border countries
- China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km
- Maritime claims
- none (landlocked)
- Natural hazards
- major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
- 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
- Natural resources
- abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
- Area comparative
- slightly smaller than South Dakota
- Geographic coordinates
- 41 00 N, 75 00 E
- 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, in the Tien Shan mountains
Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)
- 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
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)
- Major rivers (BY length in km)
- 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
People & Society
Languages
- 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.)
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.62 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 18.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 26.9 years
- Total
- 28.6 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 29.8 years
Population
- Male
- 3,043,940
- Total
- 6,219,751 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 3,175,811
Nationality
- Noun
- Kyrgyzstani(s)
- Adjective
- Kyrgyzstani
Tobacco Use
- Male
- 50.7% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 26% (2025 est.)
- Female
- 3.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 37.8% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age Structure
- 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)
- Ethnic groups
- 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.)
Child Marriage
- Women married BY age 15
- 0.3% (2018)
- Women married BY age 18
- 12.9% (2018)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 56 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 44.6 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 8.8 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 11.4 (2025 est.)
- Physician density
- 1.85 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health Expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 5.4% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 7.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Hospital bed density
- 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 2.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: rural
- rural: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 90.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 9.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 6.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 19.6% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 24 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 0.75% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 1.18 (2025 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, in the Tien Shan mountains
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 68.9 years
- Female
- 77.2 years
- Total population
- 72.9 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: rural
- rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 3.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 16.6% (2016)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 22.6 years (2019 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 57.4% (2023 est.)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 2.9% (2023 est.)
School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)
- Male
- 12 years (2024 est.)
- Total
- 13 years (2024 est.)
- Female
- 13 years (2024 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- Flag
- description: red field with a yellow sun in the center that has 40 rays that run counterclockwise on the front of the flag and clockwise on the reverse; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines in a stylized representation of a tunduk, the circular opening at the top of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt
meaning: the sun's rays represent the Kyrgyz tribes; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth
Capital
- Name
- Bishkek
- Etymology
- the meaning of the name is unknown; the city was founded in 1862 as a Russian settlement on the site of an Uzbek fortress named Bishkek; the Russian version of the name was Pishpek, and the original name only came back into use in 1991
- Time difference
- UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 42 52 N, 74 36 E
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
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
- 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
Country Name
- Etymology
- named for the local Kyrgyz people, with "-stan" coming from the Persian word ostan, meaning "country;" the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir, or "steppe," and gismek, "to wander;" the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and -is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents
- Local long form
- Kyrgyz Respublikasy
- Local short form
- Kyrgyzstan
- Conventional long form
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Conventional short form
- Kyrgyzstan
- Independence
- 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
- Legal system
- civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
- Government type
- parliamentary republic
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)
- Subordinate courts
- Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts
- 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
Executive Branch
- Note
- note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
- Cabinet
- Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
- Chief of state
- President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)
- 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%- Head of government
- Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)
- Most recent election date
- 10 January 2021
- Election/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)
- Expected date of next election
- 2027
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
- National color(s)
- red, yellow
National Heritage
- 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)
- Political parties
- Afghan's Party
Alliance
Cohesion
Fatherland Kyrgyzstan
Ishenim
Light of Faith
Mekenchil
Social Democrats or SDK
United Kyrgyzstan
Legislative Branch
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 90 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- other systems
- Legislature name
- Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh)
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 11/30/2025
- Expected date of next election
- November 2030
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 22.2%
- Parties 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)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)
- History
- adopted 1992
- Lyrics/music
- Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
- National symbol(s)
- white falcon
- National coat of arms
- adopted in 1992, the coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan highlights two of its best-known geographic features, Issyk-Kul Lake and the Tien Shan mountain range; the falcon, the national symbol, stands for nobleness and purity, and light blue for courage and generosity; the word “Kyrgyz” appears at the top of the emblem, and “Republic” at the bottom; the wheat, cotton, and rising sun were symbols used during the Soviet era
- 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)
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 449-8275
- Chancery
- 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 449-9822
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 11 June 2025)
- Email address and website
kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg)
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Fax
- [996] (312) 597-744
- Embassy
- 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
- Telephone
- [996] (312) 597-000
- Mailing address
- 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022)
- Email address and website
ConsularBishkek@state.gov
https://kg.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- 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
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Legislature
KYRGYZSTAN · LEGISLATURE
Supreme Council
90 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
90
Majority line
46
Largest party
Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan
Parties
9
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Sadyr Japarov
- Head of State
Adylbek Kasymaliev
- Head of Government
Economy
Budget
- Note
- note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- Revenues
- $4.84 billion (2023 est.)
- Expenditures
- $4.452 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $7.6B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2020
- $2.435 billion (2020 est.)
- Exports 2021
- $3.292 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $3.628 billion (2022 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $14.7B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2020
- $4.051 billion (2020 est.)
- Imports 2021
- $5.928 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $10.655 billion (2022 est.)
- Industries
- small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
- Labor force
- 3.197 million (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 40.2%
- Note
- note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- Public debt 2023
- 40.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 32.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 26.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 18.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- soms (KGS) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 77.346 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 84.641 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 84.116 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 87.856 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 87.15 (2024 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $3.617 billion (2023 est.)
- Economic overview
- 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
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 3.5%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 4.1% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 4% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 3.3% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)
- Imports partners
- China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $8,012
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $6,100 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $6,600 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $7,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 9.0%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 9% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 9% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 9% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)
- Exports commodities
- gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
- Imports commodities
- cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)
Current Account Balance
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- -$5.2B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- Current account balance 2020
- $374.257 million (2020 est.)
- Current account balance 2021
- -$737.696 million (2021 est.)
- Current account balance 2022
- -$5.18 billion (2022 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 19.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $17.478 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY End Use
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Household consumption
- 88.3% (2023 est.)
- Government consumption
- 16% (2023 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 12.5% (2023 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 22% (2023 est.)
- Exports of goods and services
- 36.9% (2023 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -95.5% (2023 est.)
- Population below poverty line
- 33.3% (2021 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 5.0%
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 11.9% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 13.9% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 10.8% (2023 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 9.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $50.907 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $42.826 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $46.686 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $50.907 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 6.3% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 6.8% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 7.7% (2024 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
- Note
- note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $2.799 billion (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $3.237 billion (2023 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
- $5.089 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 24.7% (2024 est.)
- Services
- 52.1% (2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 8.6% (2024 est.)
Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share
- Note
- note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- Lowest 10%
- 4.4% (2022 est.)
- Highest 10%
- 22% (2022 est.)
Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income
- Note
- note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2022
- 26.4 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Exports
- 1.672 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 1.443 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- Production
- 3.685 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 4.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 28.499 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Total petroleum production
- 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Crude oil estimated reserves
- 40 million barrels (2021 est.)
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Exports
- 428.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 3.929 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 14.872 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 3.944 million kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 2.363 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas
- Imports
- 406.698 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Production
- 28.638 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 435.336 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 99.6%
- Electrification urban areas
- 100%
- Electrification total population
- 99.7% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 27.58 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Fossil fuels
- 14.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Hydroelectricity
- 85.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 89% (2023 est.)
- Broadcast media
- state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK operates Ala-Too 24 news channel and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 TV stations are struggling to increase Kyrgyz-language content to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting 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 (2023)
- Internet country code
- .kg
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 185,000 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 7.72 million (2024 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 107 (2024 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 456,000 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 6 (2023 est.)
Transport
- Airports
- 28 (2025)
Railways
- Total
- 424 km (2022)
- Broad gauge
- 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge
- Heliports
- 1 (2025)
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- EX
Environment
- Climate
- dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Land Use
- Other
- 39.4% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 6.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 54% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 37.8% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 1.113 million tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 14.6% (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 224 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 336 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 11.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 854,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 6.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 4.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 40.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 23.618 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International Environmental 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
Military & Security
- Military note
- the Kyrgyz military’s primary responsibility is defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; the military also participates in UN and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping missions, as well as bilateral and multinational exercises; particular issues of concern include border security and terrorism; 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
Kyrgyzstan has been a member of 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 (2025)
Military Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 3.0%
- Military expenditures 2020
- 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military expenditures 2022
- 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military expenditures 2023
- 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military expenditures 2024
- 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
- Military and security forces
- Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces (Kygyz Army), Air Defense Forces (Kyrgyz Air Force), National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service
State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025) - Military service age and obligation
- 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 (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- 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 armaments from other suppliers such as Türkiye, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2025)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- limited available information; estimated 10-15,000 active Armed Forces, including the National Guard (2025)
Terrorism
- Terrorist group(s)
- 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
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in Persons
- 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 remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyz-republic/
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Idps
- 12 (2024 est.)
- Refugees
- 25,413 (2024 est.)
- Stateless persons
- 925 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index23.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4156 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.18as of 2024-Q4113 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusNot Free (17/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Kyrgyzstan — vintage 2026-Q1: Kyrgyzstan factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/kyrgyzstan
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata