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  Kyrgyzstan  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Kyrgyzstan
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. Nationwide 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 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. The political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyz parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change. By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAYEV-era 2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed referendum initiated by BAKIYEV. The president then dissolved parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in December 2007 elections. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.
   Geography    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
10,720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
46.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
Per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
   People    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,284,149 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 817,663/female 785,167)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 1,645,270/female 1,709,522)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 127,600/female 198,927) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 24.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.354% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.08 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.962 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.641 male(s)/female
total population: 0.962 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 33.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 38.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 68.81 years
male: 64.8 years
female: 73.02 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.68 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official), Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)
   Government    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President Askar AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expanded the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in November 2006, President BAKIYEV and the opposition negotiated a new constitution granting greater powers to the parliament and the government; amendments added on 30 December 2006 redistributed some power back to the president, but both November and December 2006 versions were annulled in September 2007, and a new version was approved by referendum on 21 October 2007; the BAKIYEV-initiated referendum was criticized by Western observers for voting irregularities, particularly ballot stuffing
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Igor CHUDINOV (since 24 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and security, appointed solely by the president
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the president selects the party that will nominate a prime minister
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh (90 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held 2012)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the Jorgorku Kenesh on the recommendation of the president; their age limit is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Ak Jol [Avtandil ARABAYEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir NIFADYEV, co-chairs]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and Unity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Union of Democratic Forces [Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
AsDB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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, natural gas, and electricity. Following independence Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. 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. The economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005. GDP grew more than 6% in 2007, partly due to higher gold prices internationally. The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007. The government and international financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy; in 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10.38 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$2.458 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 31.7%
industry: 19.8%
services: 48.4% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 55%
industry: 15%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
30.3 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.4% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $684.4 million
expenditures: $764.1 million (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.15 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.206 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
2.684 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,965 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,221 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,770 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28.77 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
709.7 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
680.9 million cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.432 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$677.3 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.04 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Switzerland 26.1%, Kazakhstan 20.4%, Russia 19.3%, Afghanistan 9.4%, China 4.8% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.509 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Russia 38.1%, China 14.4%, Kazakhstan 11.7%, US 5.7% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$268.5 million from the US (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.293 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.966 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$41.99 million (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
som (KGS)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
soms per US dollar - 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
440,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
541,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is growing; fixed line penetration remains low and concentrated in urban areas
domestic: 4 mobile cellular service providers with growing coverage
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, 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2006)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 3 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 20, shortwave NA (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
7 (1 countrywide and 6 regional stations) (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.kg
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
80,990 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
298,100 (2006)
   Transportation    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
   Military    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,193,529
females age 18-49: 1,219,080 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 871,493
females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 61,091
females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Kyrgyzstan Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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; major consumer of opiates

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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