from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Kyrgyzstan
Introduction
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. 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. Current concerns include: privatization of
state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and
political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving
interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic 41 00 N, 75 00 E
coordinates:
Map Asia
references:
Area: total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than South Dakota
comparative:
Land total: 3,878 km
boundaries: border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km,
Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime none (landlocked)
claims:
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 lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
extremes: highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and
resources: rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and
natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury,
bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use: arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth
walnut forest (2005)
Irrigated 10,720 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - water pollution; many people get their water directly
current from contaminated streams and wells; as a result,
issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil
salinity from faulty irrigation practices
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
agreements: Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien
note: Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and
high-altitude lakes
People
Population: 5,213,898 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.9% (male 821,976/female 789,687)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,607,396/female 1,669,612)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 126,847/female 198,380)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 23.6 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)
Population 1.32% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 22.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 34.49 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 39.72 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 28.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 68.49 years
expectancy at male: 64.48 years
birth: female: 72.7 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.69 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 3,900 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%,
Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages: Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 54 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city*
divisions: (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: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
holiday:
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by
President Askar AKAYEV and passed in a national
referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expands the
powers of the president at the expense of the
legislature; following the spring 2005 demonstrations,
a new Constitutional Council was appointed and the
reform process is ongoing
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14
branch: August 2005); note - former President Askar AKAYEV
resigned effective 11 April 2005 following widespread
protests that forced him to flee the country on 24
March 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Feliks KULOV (since
1 September 2005); First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar
USENOV (since 10 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister;
note - the new constitution of November 2006 calls for
the legislature to appoint the prime minister and
members of the Cabinet after the elections of 2010
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 president for
approval by Parliament; note - the new constitution of
November 2006 calls for the legislature to appoint the
prime minister and members of the Cabinet after the
elections of 2010
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president;
percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai
BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%; Feliks KULOV
approved as prime minister 55-8
Legislative unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh (75
branch: seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five year terms)
elections: elections for the new unicameral body or
Jorgorku Kenesh were held 27 February 2005, but the
vast majority of positions remained undecided and were
contested in a runoff election on 13 March 2005;
election irregularities caused widespread protests that
resulted in the president being forced to flee the
country
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms
branch: by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the
president); Constitutional Court; Higher Court of
Arbitration
Political Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian
parties and Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian
leaders: Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan
(Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV]; Ar-Namys
(Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National
Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken
(Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic Movement of
Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan
Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV];
Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV];
Future of Kyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany
Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan) [Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan
El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz National Party [Bakyt
BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV];
Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz
AITMATOV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action)
[Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan
or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party of Justice and
Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants
[Esengul ISAKOV]
Political Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human
pressure Rights [Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic
groups and Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs
leaders:
International AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
organization (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
participation: IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
representation chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
representation embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
from the US: mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40
description: 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
Economy - Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a
overview: 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. Kyrgyzstan has
been 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. 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. Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by
adopting relatively liberal economic policies. The drop
in output at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5%
decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back in
2003-05. The government has made steady strides in
controlling its substantial fiscal deficit and reduced
the deficit to 1% of GDP in 2005. The government and
international financial institutions have been engaged
in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and
economic growth strategy, and in 2005 agreed to pursue
much-needed tax reform. Progress fighting corruption,
further restructuring of domestic industry, and success
in attracting foreign investment are keys to future
growth.
GDP $10.08 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $2.144 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real -0.6% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $2,000 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 35.3%
composition by industry: 20.8%
sector: services: 43.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - agriculture: 55%
by occupation: industry: 15%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment 18% (2004 est.)
rate:
Population 40% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 3.9%
income or highest 10%: 23.3% (2001)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 29 (2001)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 5.2% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 12.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $516.3 million
expenditures: $539.9 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits
products: 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 7.1% (2004 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 13.77 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 7.6%
production by hydro: 92.4%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 8.783 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 4.13 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 108 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 1,990 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 11,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 6 million cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 1.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2004 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 1.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)
imports:
Current $-134 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $759 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium,
commodities: natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - UAE 35.6%, Russia 18.6%, China 13.4%, Kazakhstan 12.6%
partners: (2005)
Imports: $937.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
commodities: foodstuffs
Imports - China 43.2%, Russia 19.8%, Kazakhstan 11.9%, Turkey
partners: 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of $612.3 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $2.428 billion (31 December 2004 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $50 million from the US (2001)
recipient:
Currency
(code):
Currency code: KGS
Exchange soms per US dollar - 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004),
rates: 43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002), 48.378 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 438,200 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 541,700 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: development of telecommunications
system: infrastructure is slow; fixed line penetration remains
low and concentrated in Bishkek
domestic: two wireless telephony service providers, but
penetration remains low
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
and 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line
Radio AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2
broadcast (1998)
stations:
Radios: 520,000 (1997)
Television NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay
broadcast programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and
stations: Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: 210,000 (1997)
Internet .kg
country code:
Internet 18,928 (2006)
hosts:
Internet NA
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 280,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 37 (2006)
Airports - total: 18
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 19
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2006)
Railways: total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)
Waterways: 600 km (2006)
Ports and Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)
branches:
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 1,193,529
available for females age 18-49: 1,219,080 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 871,493
for military females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 61,091
reaching females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $19.2 million (FY01)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.4% (FY01)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - delimitation with Kazakhstan is complete; disputes in
international: 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: 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